Antigua Classics and Race Week - some good and bad stuff.
Posted at 10:18 AM, Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Have had some great and not so great moments so far this break.
Dealing with the sad moment first - we've just receipted an email advising us that our booking to carry Swagman home with Dockwise has been cancelled! Good eh? Only three weeks before it was due to sail - stuck out here on the boat with limited comms - and a big mob of equally let down skippers all chasing up the bvery few alternates around. Might even mean we've got to sail her home ourselves- and I've not the time to be doing that!
Bummer really. Bloody shipping contracts - so easy for them to evade responsibilities..........
Challenges, challenges..........
On the othe hand theres been the good stuff.
The family company, the local scene, and all these yachts all taking part in Antigua Classics Week, have combined to make our first few days almost good enough to forget the challenges....
Up until yesterday most of the classic yachts were berthed at Antigua Yacht Club in Falmouth Harbour - making a night time wander along the dock a thing of wonder. The glossy varnish, shiny brightwork and smart clever young crew climbing like ants over yachts big and small, really does create an ambiance it's been worth experiencing.
Have already bumped into pals made earlier in the year - and had a few heavy heads in the mornings.
A few of the classics are over our side in English Harbour - so even when we choose to laze and sit it out on deck or beach, we see them leave each morning and slide past us returning each night.
Here's a glimpse of the 40 odd crew on one of the bigger schooners coming in. (I'll get and add any missing boat names later). They even appear to have one designated crew member who's job it is to sort out and line up shoes for when they all step ashore after a race!
Below is my favorite looker. Not the biggest, but oh so pretty under way.
These guys also either don't have, or don't like use, their engine.
They've spent the week so far anchored overnight alongside us off English Habour, and make quite a dash each evening as they sailed into the crowded bay.
Under full canvas on a beam reach they come in powered up and its caused some consternation amoung newly arrived cruisers. They head straight in flat out, to then spin in the narrow harbour entry right at the last minutes to pint to windward and drop all sails as they loose speed coming up to an anchoring spot.
They've not got it wrong yet. I'm always tempted to applaud.
Heres one of the real race boats - Ranger. She is a modern built classic and really does move out.
She spends her time match racing similar sized Valsheda most days. On Sunday when we went out to sail around the course, Ranger got a boats nose in front pre start and stayed that way over the whole course.
Can you see the bow man perched behind the sail here as they power up into their start sequence? I think he was seen to be mouthing sometihng like 'P**s off Swagman, you're in our way!'
Had some mixed weather since arriving.
Hot and sunny most of the time but yesterday early morning bucketed down for 10 hours solid. Today (Tuesday) the suns up, so we've a small shop to do, then plan to slide off and hang at anchor for a day or so behind Green Island up the east coast before returning back to Falmouth Harbour and more shoreside party time.
Oh, and have moved Swagman from the Cruisers in Race Week, into Performance Cruiser Division. Should see us legging it with other entries like Dahler 47's etc - so will be interesting to see how we go.
I'll of course, keep you posted.
Cheers
JOHN
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