Aft Starboard
20/01/11
After sailing for a WHOLE 216 miles!! we anchored in Gorda Sound without event, this was followed by a swim from the ship in the lovely blue water, Captain Barbara was sighted pushing one of our wheelchair users overboard.... a huge spash followed! The other wheelies were gracefully lowered in, much to their delight. "Romantic" dinner on decks followed with the engineers rum puch and most of the crew got a good night's sleep. Those on anchor watch had an eneventful time - and failed to to see the tennis scores on the adjacent mega-yacht's mega-plasma as she swung in the breeze.
Next morning after breakfast, we did assisted climbs and were then ferried ashore by the permanent crew in the rib and DOTI boat to Bitter End on Virgin Gorda.
A lovely resort was taken over by the great crew from Tenacious. We soon commandeered a table for 30 and settled in for a few beers - at nearly US$7 a bottle!!
By 6pm everyone was on board (any thoughts of desertion were thwarted by the US$750/night room rate) The engineers' barbecue yesterday evening was delicious with a medley of meat salad and delightful fresh fruit.... of course more beers and wine were also had.
Another uneventful anchor watch (more tennis!) meant most people got another good night's sleep and we were off at 6.15 to try get to St Barts.
With the wind predominantly on the nose we motored off making good (if somewhat bumpy!) progress. A few brave and foolhardy souls made the needed ascents to do a Sea-Stow of the sails - and carried out an impeccable job!!
Hopefully we will be in St Barts by 10pm - all helped by this watch's excellent helmsmanship and sail setting!!
Simon, John, Geoff, Jinty, Mandy, Rick, Stu, Elaine and Jackie