The Picton Castle just sailed from Anguilla headed north for Bermuda (hurricanes permitting – none in the forecasts yet), after wandering through the Eastern Caribbean or Lesser Antilles – Carriacou, Grenada, Bequia, Martinique, Dominica, Saint Martin and Anguilla for a month or more. Much sailing on and off the hook, many beautiful bays and coves, lots of small boat handling. Next port St George’s, Bermuda.
Pretty shallow at Road Bay, some swells come around the north point making it a bit rolly at times. Here at low and hot Anguilla we are getting some good things done for the ship. Finishing up some new sailmaking. Bending on a new duradon foresail. Replacing running rigging, getting our last schoolbooks ashore. Always painting topsides and looking after the rigging. Oiling the main decks. And actually, varnishing the quarterdeck. After struggling for years seeking the right mixture or coating for that deck, we just varnished the quarterdeck. Works great, best coating for this quarterdeck ever. We like the quarterdeck for sailmaking so a clean deck is very nice. Varnished decks are strong, durable, long lasting, and varnish fills the checks well. And not slippery. Who knew? Sailing our funky Sea Never Dry dory in Senegalese colours and with Norwegian flag sails around here too. Even with a new bottom she leaks enough to make bailing a crew slot.
Many of us went for a sail in the 50-foot Carriacou sloop Tradition, owned by friends and shipmates. Built as a cargo and fishing (and smuggling) sloop in 1978 at Carriacou, she is painted red as was traditional for many Grenada sloops and schooners. Tradition is owned by Deb Vos (PC crew Voyage of the Atlantic) and Laurie Gumbs, Anguillan for many generations and whose father was Sir Emile Gumbs, second Prime Minister and owner/skipper of the great schooner from Anguilla Warspite, still sailing on the $10 EC bill. Never sailed in this famous schooner myself but saw her plenty in Roadtown, BVI and she came to Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas once or twice in my day when in trade. Lost in 1989 hurricane. What shame she was lost. But a fun and simple sail in Tradition, greatly enjoyed by all that went. A great sailing day on a sweet vessel under Captain Thomas – https://tradition-sailing.com/about/
Much chillin’ was done by all at Anguilla, our last tropical tradewind island of this world voyage. Crew scattered all over the island. No doubt much snorkeling and swimming. Bankie Banx’s place over at Rendezvous Bay, with cool breezes and live music was a hit. Elvis’s Beach Bar at the north end of Sandy Ground beach was a regular stop for many and a fine place for a swim. Elvis, Brett and Charmain making us feel very welcome. The village jetty is in good shape for our landings and folks could not be friendlier. 11-year old Dawson found a water park at Aurora Anguilla, and he spent a day there.
0700 morning swims off the ship are a good thing in these Caribbean islands. The water is warm. I’ll sign off now. 1,600 miles from here to Lunenburg by way of Bermuda and we are gearing up to sail north. Conditions look good now, but no guarantee these conditions will last forever. Carpe diem.
