Jolly Harbour

We were somewhat eager to make it to Jolly Harbour in Antigua as we have two boats we know from our SSCA group in Florida currently there. It was a short stop overnight off Guadeloupe before continuing on, we managed to catch more fish so this season is turning out OK on that front.

When we arrived in Jolly Harbour we caught up on email and found we had just missed Julie on s/v Believe but Rick was still on the boat. There first granddaughter is due imminently so Julie got the first flight out to be with them and Rick stayed to settle  Believe in at the marina for his trip. So with that we dighied straight in to see him before his flight.

Rick and Devin on the bow of s/v Believe

We ahve been ocean apart for a while

Below deck on Believe

We stay for coffee with Rick as we catch up on our respect travel, Believe has been in Europe while we have cruised the Caribbean and only just crossed to Antigua a few days ago. Rick and Julie left a yer ahead of us in 2011 but have spent most of that time in northern Europe and latterly in the Mediterranean.

We decide to go for lunch to the boatyard cafe, they are absolutely fabulous after all and Rick seems to have found them too. We also bump into Steve and Joy form s/v Ocean Angel, at the dock for a chat on their progress.

Rick, Steve and Devin in the boatyard

Well the next day Rick flies out, we can stop the rushing and get back to our cruising pace. Our first walk is up the hill so the south of the anchorage and along the beach. We get a great view of the anchorage with Moosetracks front and center.

You have to love the water color around Antigua

Moosetracks at anchor

The weather is really windy while we are anchored out and the waves get pretty high in the anchorage. Not too comfortable but we are so used to sleeping aboard it doesn't bother us too much. we also get used to a wet 'dinghy' bum when we go ashore.

A very windy few weeks at anchor here

A nice schooner

A great sunsets too

Steve and Joy have been having an awful start to their season and discovered their fuel tank leak when they returned this year. The engine had to come out to get at the fuel tank so it was really quiet a major job and required them to be on the seawall of the boatyard to get a crane over the boat. The first repair to the tank was not done correctly and still leaked, unfortunately this was discovered after putting fuel back in it of course. So it has to come out again, thankfully Steve checked this before putting the engine back in!

So once the fuel tank sat on the dock for a couple of days with fuel in it and Steve confirmed it was sound, we put it back in. Then of course we scheduled he lift for the engine to go back in.

This is Ocean Angles engine

It belongs in here

We of course are on island time, but the crew showed up within 10 minutes and we are all go. First bringing the travel lift alongside the boat then lifting the engine over the companionway.

Down it comes into the cockpit

then down the companionway

then onto the engine bed mounts

Checking the alignment on the mounts

That's one relieved Admiral

We were so glad to see the job finally finished and of course so were Joy and Steve, their winter cruise can now finally start all be it a month late. So a few days and a lot of chores later Ocean Angel joins us in the anchorage.

We get an email from Rick and Julie that their granddaughter has arrived and they have scheduled their flights back to believe. We are so glad we will get time to see Julie. It's funny the things you sometimes get a kick out of, one such thing was bringing one of our many boat mascots, Rickie, out to meet his parents. Rickie was a gift from Rick and Julie several years ago when we first bought Moosetracks.

Ricky meets his parents

As we were all in the same anchorage for the first time in who knows how long we have to have a meal together. Julie and Rick organised us all and we get together on Ocean Angel for a wonder evening of catching up and reminiscing.

Dinner on Ocean Angel

A fond farewell

Bring me more wine?

The next day Believe is off south, Rick and Julie are on  bit of a time crunch to haul out this year to go on their annual trip to Rwanda to volunteer in local villages with medical aid. They also plan to join the Susie II OCC rally this year in the western Caribbean.

A last walk on the beach and some shopping before we leave for St Martin.

A gorgeous beach at Jolly Harbour

A wonder last sunset too

It was a sad day just before leaving when we learned of a great sailing friend of ours had passed away suddenly from and accidental fall. Harry Schell was a great mentor and friend from the SSCA group that we all belonged to in St Petersburg, Florida. We dinghied over to Ocean Angel and had a sundowner evening celebrating Harry's life as we are sure he would have wanted it. Our hearts go out to his wife Melinda in such a tragic and sudden loss.

So we are off to St Martin to get lots and lots of boat parts for our haul out late this year or early next year. We have some big projects and a lot of parts and supplies to bring in, St Martin is duty free so we are planning ahead.

We hope all our friends are well and enjoying life.