A Wild Ride

Our crossing from Guadeloupe back to Antigua was a rollicking rollercoaster of a sail. With both jib and mainsail reefed, we charged into 10-foot seas and 25 knots of wind with gusts to 30. We howled along, making 7 or 8 knots for most of the crossing. It was, however, a bit hard on the inner ear.

Both Frisha and I had had experience with the motion sickness tablets we carry on board. They knock you out for about 14 hours; really not great. So we eschewed them. Although WW does tend to suffer from seasickness, we have been afloat long enough for him not to feel the pitch, roll, shudder and heave. I remain...sensitive. In turn, I, Frisha and Whit felt the need to lie down for a bit. But that was all it took. A half-hour repose and we were back in the cockpit, watching the seas churn down on our stern, our wake scrolling out behind us.

Frisha's comment while taking this picture: "Who says cats don't heel?"

I commented that I find it nerve-wracking to see a wave higher than our transom coming at us. Frisha, always sympathetic, said, “Boats float. It's one of their features.”

It was a beautiful sunny day and we made the 40-mile crossing in about six hours, leaving at 8ish and arriving at 2ish. To add to the splendid sailing, Montserrat was showing off and spewing muck up to a great height.

Montserrat doing its thing.

After we had anchored and tidied up post-sail, we rested a bit from our labours, then set off to the tot where Whit would be our guest. Gentlemen guests must drink the full 2.5 oz tot of the more, um, vigorous of the two rums on offer; ladies get a half tot. Whit downed his easily and claimed he’d enjoyed the whole procedure.

From the tot we proceeded to Johnny Coconat’s for our guests’ farewell pizza dinner. This is becoming something of a tradition. We bring 'em in on pizza, and send them out the same way.

In the morning, we all did our Tot Club keep fit, continuing the work on Fort Charlotte. We had lunch at the Galley Bar, where Donald appeared to drive Frisha and Whit to the airport. We were very sorry to see them go. It had been a great, fun week.