Hi All,
We are sitting on the beach at the Barbados Yacht Club resting after an action packed couple of weeks.
We left Rodney Bay St Lucia on Friday 11 Jan to sail across to Barbados. The trip across was our worst. Two friends of David Onyons members of the Maldon Little Ships Club (MLSC) David and I are all experienced helms and we had a new friend with us who had never sailed a boat before although he had owned river boats back in the UK.
The wind has been strong around St Lucia and Barbados for several weeks which has increased the wave heights so we had a rough crossing. Fortunately we were able to take it in turns to be ill or steer the boat. We finally arrived and anchored at Port St Charles Barbados at 4-30am and managed to sleep until we were able to visit customs and book ourselves into Barbados. During the trip one of David’s friends stated that out of all his ocean experience including the Atlantic twice this was he worst ever trip.
Later that morning we continued our journey to Carlisle Bay and anchored off shore at the Barbados Cruising Club.
We rested for the next few days visiting Bridgetown to sight see and do some shopping and meeting up with friends at the Club where we had met and sailed against them.
Other friends of David Onyons and his girl friend had travelled directly to Barbados. Unfortunately one friend Bill who sailed with us last year had travelled out a week before and had an unfortunate accident. He was found in the sea face down and unfortunately died. This has put a cloud over our adventure this year.
We took part in the regatta on Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th. The courses were on the west side of the island in waters which were much calmer than the seas on the east side. We managed an overal 2nd in our class but because there were only three in this class we looked at the times of other racing boats and were pleased with our overall performance.
Monday 20 January was a rest day and a day for getting Happy Morning ready for the race around the island.
On the day of the race, 21st January, we were up bright and early so we could load the crew on board.
Our crew was made up with David Onyons Captain, myself first mate and foredeck, David Harris main trimmer, Simon Onyons genoa trimmer, Ian Gaskell 2nd genoa trimmer, Graham ex pilot and GP now our navigator, one ex Mount Gay Rum girl Belinda weight on the rail. Two crew members didn’t turn up but we were lucky a Canadian Leon was standing on the shore and asked if he could join us, and it was sooner obvious he was an experienced racing sailor and now a new friendship is beginning to form.
We headed off northward to round the island clockwise. Along the west coast the conditions were very good, but that changed as we sailed round the north end avoiding reefs, no short cuts here. Turning south on the east side we had approximately 3 hours of hammering into Atlantic waves and strong winds. At east point we had to maintain a southerly course until clear of more reefs. At this point fast boats which started after us this being a form of pursuit race, came past, Idea a 70 footer and also a Volvo 70. You could hear their sheets groaning as they were eased as we all started to bear off and head west along the south coast. More reefs to avoid on the south west corner of the island and then a long run to the finish. The tall Hilton hotel near the finish line was a welcome land mark. Then the finish, and we had successfully and safely completed another Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados race. Congratulations amongst the crew and promises to do better next year.
No rest the next day we were off for a Safari ride in a jeep around the island followed by the evening party and prize giving. This year most of us were in bed before 1-00am.
Simon Onyons had to get back to family and work so we have started to loose crew.
Tomorrow Saturday we go and log out of the island with Customs etc and Sunday up early for the 18 hour or so trip back to St Lucia.
For now another rum punch and enjoy the cool weather, yes the weather here is not as warm as usual.
Regards
Mike D