Engine Saga 2 or How to Show Guests a Good Time

After rum punch on Django and a bit more boat motion than Margaret found entirely agreeable, we took our guests to the Wednesday night do at HotHotHot, with WW et al. providing the entertainment. We then adjourned to the boat where a bit of a swell wrapping itself around the reef continued to provide quite a bit of motion. Margaret took a Gravol and slept like a baby. David lay awake listening to the slap of waves on the hull and failed to find the motion soothing.

After breakfast on Thursday, we set off for Jolly with a nice breeze aft and a following sea. David and Margaret had read my earlier post about just this run, in reverse, so were having fun identifying the places I’d described. We had a fabulous run and arrived at Jolly in just two and a half hours. We went straight in to the dock where WW consulted with Carl and with the people who run the travel lift.

Django at the Jolly Harbour wall, stern view.

Django at the Jolly Harbour wall, bow view.

As had to be the case, the part had not arrived but would be in about 4 p.m. We’d have to wait till Friday. When asked about three hours of travel lift time for Friday, our buddy at the boatyard office said, “No.” This, it must be understood, is standard. Nothing can be done. Everything is impossible. That is, until you chat for a while. So we are to go in at 10 a.m. and tie up by the haul-out well and hope the travel lift can finish early and we'll have it till 1:30. That is how "no" works in Antigua.

The schedule in the boatyard office is a typical grid: columns for haul-outs by hour, rows for days of the week. Across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the words, “Work Hard”. Across Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the words, “Stay Cool”. There is something of a life philosophy there, I think.

Marooned, as it were, for a day, we took Django out to anchor and then went in to the dinghy dock. We caught a bus into St. John’s where we visited the market and the cruise ship dock and simply walked the amazing streets. It’s an incredible town. Our guests continue to prove interested in everything.  Even in a haul out. How fantastic is that?

Django at anchor outside Jolly Harbour.

Approaching Django at anchor outside Jolly Harbour.

Excellent guest Margaret.

Excellent guest David.

Back on board, your humble correspondent had a bit of a snooze while guests and skipper swam, then went over to the party boat De Boat to investigate. Turns out it has a bar and restaurant. Perhaps, post engine repair, we will go there to dine.

With almost no sea motion in this bay, everyone slept well. Margaret is helping WW bring up the dinghy, preparatory to heading in for haul out. l am typing. David is reading. All’s right with the world. We hope to leave for Guadeloupe tomorrow, engine permitting. The seas and winds couldn’t be nicer. Not too much of either. We plan to spend a couple of days at Deshaies, then bring our crew back to English Harbour for their departure next Wednesday.

But I must not prognosticate. 

Photos kindness of David and Margaret.