Christmas in The Cayman Islands

When we planned this trip 6 years ago one of my objectives was to Sail to Grand Cayman to see our buddy Tim. Woo hoo, we did it! It was only just over 10,000 miles sailing. The last leg from South America was 640 nautical miles, pretty much the length of the uk. It took us 6 days. The first 2 were uncomfortable, the next 3 were champagne sailing and the last day there was no wind so we had to motor. 

Halfway

We arrived in Georgetown harbour at the same time as 4 cruise liners, they are big, and we were escorted to the customs dock by the super friendly harbour patrol amidst the madness of 4 cruise liner passengers being shipped ashore.

Mandy waiting for me at Customs dock while I check in my speargun.

 (Not allowed here)

When I came the Cayman islands 35 years ago to see Tim I thought to myself "Wouldn't it be cool to sail into Georgetown harbour?" Not in a zillion years did I think I would ever do it. But here we are, on a mooring ball in Georgetown watching the cruise liners come and go with our own private coral reef, protected by a massive barracuda and a visibility to die for. We have named him Barry the cooda. Yes, a lot of thought went into that name.

Our boats

Sailing is doing boat jobs in exotic locations. Mandy replacing missing deck bungs.

Looks like we are close but we are not

We went out fishing with Tim and his son, Alfie. That was a new experience for us, trawling up and down the west coast of Cayman. No fish caught the first time but a great day had by all.

Then we went out with Alfie and Fernanda and caught 4 black fin tuna. Well we caught more, let one go as it was too small and 2 got away.

And Mandy has now learned how to gut fish.

Not only did she gut the fish she then cooked a wonderful fish, roast potatoes and mushy peas.

They have these crazy cars powered by jet ski engines, they look sureal driving across the water.

And the place goes mad with Christmas decs

Even the roundabouts are decorated

Wonderful Christmas in the sun with Tim and family

Cayman has all the English foods Mandy misses

We met up with Flodge, Nikki & Nina who where out here for Christmas. Flodge and I have been mates for 63 years and it was quite surreal that he was visiting Cayman the same time as us. Only had a day together but managed to fit in most things.

He had a go at one of those mad cars

Then we had an amazing Christmas day at Tim's with all his family. Proper Christmas dinner, Turkey, ham, sprouts, egg nog the whole thing.

Then it was new year. We went to Fidel Murphy's Irish bar at 7 to celebrate UK new year then back to Tim's to celebrate Cayman new year at midnight. Quite a wild night..... I think.

Happy new year - Here's to finding a million dollars floating in the ocean