In Antigua: Let the season begin!

It’s good to be back in Antigua but I will admit that as “past president” of Salty Dawg and here for what may be the last time for many years, is a bit sad. While I am excited about heading to Europe next spring, but I have come to really enjoy my time here in Antigua and it will be hard to leave in the Spring.

My crew Bob and I arrived here yesterday afternoon after completing a 400 mile run from Trinidad. We were delayed in our departure by nearly 5 days due to a lot of details that needed to be completed and that time being stuck in the marina was frustrating to us both. And, it was hot, much hotter than Antigua, oddly. I guess being that much farther south makes a big difference.

Amos, after doing all that work over the last few months aboard Pandora, saw us off and tossed our lines on that last morning.

As a result of the nearly 5 day delay, we were not able to stop as many places along the way.

However, I think that Bob enjoyed the run once we were finally underway.

As have mentioned in the past, the landscape in Trinidad is dramatic and as we headed out the scenery evoked Jurassic Park.

Sadly, we had to motorsail into the NE wind for the first day, probably putting more hours on the engine than I did all last season. Normally, I would have waited a day until the wind was favorable but we were just too pressed for time.

Once things settled down and tthe wind shifted back to the east, it was beautiful on the water. I think that I may send this photo to the Cloud Appreciation Society and see if they choose to publish it. I have had a number of photos chosen over the years. It’s a fun group that sends out a cloud photo every day, year round.

Due to being so late in our departure, we had to cover a lot more distance on that first hop than we had planned. The run from Trinidad, non-stop, was over 300 miles, the longest leg I have taken in the Caribbean in all the years that I have been sailing here. Our normal run is generally less than 75 miles.

Along the way we passed a number of islands. But much of that was done in the dark.

We made landfall in Les Saintes. I have written about this favorite spot many times. It is very picturesque. Check out this post that I did on our final visit last season.

After a day there, we did a short run to Deshais, a tiny village at the top of Guadeloupe. The sail was really nice in the lee of the island. The lighthouse at the southern tip, not far from Les Saintes.

As we made our way up the coast of Guadeloupe, we were approached, at speed, by a Guadeloupe coast guard boat. They roared up, came very close, within feet of us, waved and roared off. They smiled. I have no idea what they were looking for. “Oh, those guys, they look harmless. There have to be some bad guys out there somewhere. Let’s find them.”

In Deshais, we took a short hike up a stream to one of my favorite spots, a fresh water swimming hole. Bob and I both loved the experience.

The vegetation along the stream was very lush. I have always had a soft spot for tree ferns. This tiny one would look great on my back porch.

On our last evening in Deshais, we were treated to a classic Caribbean Sunset. A very nice way to finish up a cruise with Bob, even if it was a bit of an abbreviated forced march.

Pandora on her mooring in Deshais, as we returned from getting a few baguettes and croissants to tide us over on the run to Antigua, our final leg.

So, here I am alone on Pandora for a night as Bob has moved ashore to the Admiral’s Inn where his wife will join him for a week on the island. Friends of mine, Lynn and Mark, will join me for a few days until Kalunamoo arrives later this week.

The Salty Dawg fleet should begin arriving in a day or so, with dozens arriving each day. With about 80 boats headed this way it’s going to get busy in the Dockyard. Not yet so they wait.

I have seen a number of the folks that I know since arriving yesterday and the common refrain that I have heard is “let the season begin. The Dawgs are coming!”

I’m excited.