I first became aware of the group when Brenda and I were tied up in Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbor<\/a> last April.\u00a0There was this mysterious group lined up in a circle.\u00a0 What were they?\u00a0 Druids?\u00a0 I was intrigued.\u00a0 One thing lead to another and when I arrived in Antigua the following November, and was looking for interesting things to do with fellow participants in the Salty Dawg Rally, 55 boats worth, I thought it would be fun to have them participate in one of the evening toasts.<\/p>\n Mike and Ann, two of the senior members of the club, agreed and invited our group to participate in one of their meetings.\u00a0 \u00a0While the club meets in various different locations around the English Harbor and Falmouth areas, we thought that the most fitting would be at Copper and Lumber<\/a>, a wonderful historic building located in the Dockyard.<\/p>\n We assembled, some 40 of us, and easily outnumbered the Tot Club members in the inner courtyard at Copper and Lumber.\u00a0 \u00a0It was a wonderful event and when I later did a survey of rally participants, it was one of the most popular events that we did. So, earlier in the spring, Brenda flew out of St Lucia and I returned to Antigua to prepare for my run north.\u00a0 I had nearly two weeks in Antigua to work on becoming a member.\u00a0 I began “totting” on a near daily basis.\u00a0 You might say “Bob, how hard can that be, taking a tot of rum each day?”\u00a0 Actually, I am not a big guy and don’t have a lot of “reserve buoyancy” to absorb that much rum.<\/p>\n At one point, when I called Brenda before I headed back to Pandora in the evenings, following yet another tot on my journey to become a member, “Bob, I can’t wait until you call me and your voice isn’t slurred.”<\/p>\n I’ll admit that there was more than one morning when I woke up, shall we say,\u00a0 not feeling my best. The problem is that an “aspiring member” must take a “full measure”, a solid two ounces, of rum in a “single go”, each evening.\u00a0 \u00a0For me, that’s a lot of rum.\u00a0 Fortunately, once you are a full member you can pour your own, and don’t have to take a full two ounces, so it’s more manageable.\u00a0 \u00a0I should note that on your first night, and the night you become a member, you have to take two tots.\u00a0 \u00a0Those were not my best nights, according to Brenda.\u00a0 Me, I’m not sure I recall…<\/p>\n The Club is well known in Antigua and has members or guests with some pretty nice boats or homes who offer to host meetings of the club.\u00a0 One such event was held and sponsored by an aspiring member aboard Ashanti, a 115′ schooner.\u00a0 What a boat.\u00a0\u00a0I wrote about that event in this post.\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>She’s spectacular and after leaving Antigua has begun a round the world journey via the Panama Canal.\u00a0 But, I passed, by the skin of my teeth, I expect.\u00a0 Here’s me and Simon on the night of my “induction” following my exhaustive oral testing by an official club “examiner”.\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/3-22-17a-001.jpg\")
The group has met each day since july 31st, 1991 to carry on the tradition, ended on July 31st, 1970, of the British Navy of issuing a “tot” of rum each day<\/a> and making one of seven proscribed daily toasts along with a toast to the Queen.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/11-18-17a-006.jpg\")
Of course, I was really taken by the club, the tradition and the great folks that are members and just had to join.\u00a0 \u00a0The problem is that in order to join you have to commit to taking seven tots over a 14 day period and, on top of that, have to memorize all sorts of facts about Lord Nelson and his battles.\u00a0 \u00a0Yes, I am repeating myself as I have written about all this in a number of past posts but bear with me on this.\u00a0 \u00a0If you feel compelled to read ALL of these posts, go to the search window and type in “Tot Club”.\u00a0 It’s that easy…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_8935.jpg\")
The club was also hosted, twice, aboard an 80′ Oyster by a member, another spectacular venue.\u00a0\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_0527.jpg\")
And, another event at a home overlooking Falmouth Harbor.\u00a0 What a view.\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/falmouth-harbor.jpg\")
So, after 8 days and more tots than I can count, or remember, I took my test and passed.\u00a0 And, let me tell you, I would not have passed if it weren’t for the help of Simon, a member that took nearly a half day to tutor me on the finer points of club and British Navy history along with facts about the various battles that Lord Nelson was involved in.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_0591.jpg\")
As well as Ann, my sponsor, and her husband and one of the founders of the club, Mike.\u00a0 If it weren’t for them I would not be a member.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_0596.jpg\")
I am looking forward to the arrival of the Salty Dawg Rally to Antigua next November and, as “Antigua Port Captain, the opportunity to introduce rally participants to The Royal British Navy Tot Club of Antigua and Barbuda.\u00a0 Just try saying that three times fast after a ” full measure”.\u00a0 And, believe me, that’s way easier than memorizing all that Nelson lore.<\/p>\n