Week ending 17th March
Nightsong
Thu 25 Mar 2010 16:14
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Dear Blog
The Loomes arrived the day after the Chadds and
Nicholsons left and we decided to have bit less ambitious a week trying to
explore Nevis and Montserrat only, a round trip of only about 100 miles. After
another meal at Trappas between English and Falmouth harbours, we spent the
following morning provisioning before leaving for Green Island on the east coast
of Antigua in appalling rainy conditions where we anchored in much the same spot
as the week before (saw 'A' Abramovitch 387ft yacht again on the way - acting v
suspiciously and appearing out of the nil visibility quite close to us). Next
morning up and away for Nevis leaving Antigua to starboard ie southabout.
Wind E 4/5 so we went quite well under main and jib arriving Charlestown (or
rather Pinney's beach but closer to town than before) about 1500hrs. Ashore in
dinghy for customs clearance, shopping etc in the morning - then we took a
taxi round the island. Beautiful and interesting and full of history (where
Nelson's wife came from). Stopped at a 300 yr old Anglcian church where the
attached photo was taken (St Kitts in background).
 Then on to various sugar plantations converted to
hotels before returning to the boat and a 2nd night at Pinney's beach. Next day
after a walk and swim on the lovely beach off to Montserrat a distance of 35 odd
miles. Anchored in Little Bay with 2 other boats - a bit rolley but better than
some other nights. Next day ashore for extended customs/immigration etc
clearance and a wonderful tour of the island with Joe Phillip in his taxi. First
we went to the Montserrat Volcano Centre wherre we saw an excellent movie and
viewed the volcano - the down into the Belham valley into one of the exclusion
zones - drove around on the mud/lava river bed 15ft above where it used to be
before the June 1997 explosion. Pictures of Joe standing under a telegraph wire
and buried house testify to the amazing experience
  The northern part of the island is mountainous,
stunningly green and easily the most beautiful Caribbean island I have seen.
Apparently it all used to be like this before 1997. Back to Little Bay for an
excellent lunch in Tina's a local restaurant before returning on board for
swimming and snorkelling in the wonderfully clear water.
Next day back to Jolly Harbour, Antigua the same
spot as before in the milky milky water before returning to English Harbour
again for laundry and provisioning on the final day of the Loomes' visit. AJB
left the jib to be repaired by North Sails - alas it is nearly unrepairable
having suffered from extensive delamination and I will be lucky if it lasts the
Atlantic - but the worst places were patched and mended
professionally
Mccanns arrive the following day!
AJB
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