Mir, Mandy & Me

It squalls. One minute you are baking in the sun, sitting in the shade with all the windows open for ventilation pleasantly sailing along with 15 knots of wind. Then a squall hits for only 5 minutes and the heavens open, it goes dark and the wind gusts up to 35 knots. Everyone runs around shutting windows to prevent beds and stuff from getting soaked. Then the squall passes and it's back to baking and you dry out in minutes. It is quite a laugh, someone shouts squall and we all jump up and start the routine. This happens many times a day and this is supposedly the dry season. So as the wind goes from 0 - 60 in a few seconds we sail around with half a gib out like below. So we don't get battered when the wind gets up suddenly. Nick and Jen joined us in baking Barbados where we spent a week sailing up and down the coast enjoying Bridgetown, Holetown and Speightstown where I celebrated my 64 orbit of the sun. Birthday boy, tequila and wine. Wine being the more expensive in Barbado...

Nothing like a pina colada after crossing an ocean  ( Boat in background) Our first anchorage and landfall, Port St Charles. As pretty as the brochures. Barbados is certainly living up to its reputation. The locals are so friendly they make me smile every time I talk to someone. For example I was walking down the road with Richie and this old Rasta walking towards us said, with a big smile..... "Farda an Sun, I"  So many memories Every sunset is amazing Bridgetown Tying our dinghy to a dock The ubiquitous rum punches And some pina coladas Waiting for a lift Evening exercise Sun protection - Linda? Mandy having a go at my tethered diving gear Mandy can't find the boat Binlids Nikki volunteered to go up the mast to do some maintenance and checks. It is so useful having a climbing instructor on board. Tom, Nikki's fella, came to visit and to escort my daughter home. The Caboose, great beach bar in the shade. Delicious Rum punches and fish cutters. Nikki destroying Richie...