We’ve been working our way around the boat doing what we can in advance of having Swagman measured on Thursday for a racing handicap plus slipping for storage on Friday.

It’s meant washing all sheets to remove encrusted salts; mousing all halyards to keep them from the UV, digging up sun covers for winches and other deck goodies, pickling the watermaker so bacteria will not grow inside its pipes, and all the other small chores needed to leave her neat and tidy.

But we’ve not had to do this in a smelly dockyard (not that many out here are smelly anyway).

We sailed up the coast to anchor behind Green Island and its big platform reef for two days.  Fabulous location.  One can sit part protected from winds by the unihabited Green Island itself, and have nothing twix you and Africa but the long low platform reef with its turquoise waters.  The big Atlantic rollers come over the horizon all jagged and bumpy, only to smash on the reef in front of us, and barely a ripple reaches the hull.   At night there’s nothing to see except stars.  Brilliant.

On shore, we found the one palm tree on its deserted beach – this is 200 metres from Swagman.

Tried laying under it for shade one arvo – but soon got restless.

Lots of snorkelling and swimming.  Beginning to feel a little bit fitter after the ravages of the festive parties.

One bit of 'rescue work' interrupted the lazin.  As we sat on the boat watching one of the local wooden 35 foot sloops reach across Nonsuch Bay behind us, we saw it aiming straight at 'Middle Reef' - a wide platform reef as the name implies, in the middle.  Maybe the sun was at the wrong angle but the boat hit with a big crunch and sat there, sails filled and angled over, high and dry.

Off we both went in the dinghy to arrive along with a bigger rib to offer help.  The skipper, a US chap so assume the boat and he came from the prestigious 'Middle Reef Club' situated on the main island shore, probably misjudged the depth of water or maybe the afternoon sun made it hard for him to see.  But with the bigger rib towing him from the bow and us pushing his heavy hull from the side, we inched him ever so slowly off the reef until he leant over in a gust of wind and whoosh - was off.

Only drama for us was as he came over and off, his hull which up until then was cantered right over away from us, rolled back down onto the bow of our 3 metre rib, pushing it underwater.

But that's the beauty of a RIB.  They still float with water up to the brim and the even the petrol tank floating around inside.  So we both got just a bit wet, and top marks to Sue for simply grabbing the bailer and frantically heaving the water overboard rather than panicking.  It took a good ten minutes to empty the rib and begin to dry out - and we scotted off back to Swagman feeling we'd done our good deed for the day. 

Came back to anchor off Galleon Beach just inside English Harbour yesterday.  Booked a room for our last night at the shoreside resort here.  Our room is the third building on the beach – just visible to the right of the photo.

Lots more swimming.  Sue met up with a friendly turtle this morning on her daily swim to shore and back.  Not sure who was more alarmed.  They both accelerated after the meet up!  Met him again myself this morning as he surfaced right in front of me - scaly headed with big eyes - gave even me a bottom clenching moment.

Had Flame the W.Aussie boat with old work mate Paul from Perth arrive yesterday.  Should be having drinks and a meal with them tonight – but not sure as Sues pretty keen to try and use up provisions we’ve got on board.  And we’ve still got lots.

Will need to give lots away – but not sure yet if Flame wants them of its best to share with boatboys in the yard………….. 

A few other new boats have arrived.  Some really fancy like Maltese Facon as well as a big group of classic 100 footers – but top marks go from us to the paint job on this one…………

Go on.  Guess its nationality!

No more to report.  Weathers still great.  Beers still cold.  Waters still clean and warm.  And the UK beckons……….ah well.

Cheers

JOHN