Season #26 started off in Antigua, Jolly Harbor Marina, as we launched the boat on January 8th. As we have posted before, the Jolly Harbor Marina is the best-run, best-customer-service marina we have ever used in 36 years of boating. The team run by Lindsey is the best, because they have a motto of…”Captain, what can we do for you to help?” This attitude runs through all the marina staff and it shows. This is also the attitude of the Antiguan people, they are kind, caring and very helpful. So, the season started, and we are elated to be back up and running.
Move to Condo
We have found these Jolly Harbor Condos a perfect way to prepare or to tear down your boat. We have rented two different condos here and they have docks behind the condo where we can tie up our boat. So, right after launch, we moved the boat to the condo dock and we moved into the condo. The boat down below is a wreck, so we never try to sleep aboard until all the sails and canvas are up. Once rigged and the beds made and interior cleaned we move in. This usually takes us 4-5 days. Here is the boat behind the condo!
Mission #1, DEEP BAY
We finished the set up of the boat and moved onto the boat Jan 16th. Task #1 was to drive the boat 6 nm north to DEEP BAY, drop anchor, and enjoy one of our very happy beaches! For some reason, this bay we just love, sure they are many others that are great, Like Bird Island and Green Island and Jolly and Fryes more, but this one is a simple beam reach up, pull into 10-20 foot water and drop the hook. Lay out 120+ feet of chain off our well set Rocna 55lb anchor and LIVE!
The SAILING is also Easy
Basing our boat out of Jolly Harbor, the sailing is so easy, because Jolly Harbor, Deep Bay and others are on the west site of the island. With the steady 15-20-25 knot EAST Tradewinds, these anchorages have winds blowing off the beach blowing out to our anchored boat and they are calm. We had 25 knots gusting 30knots for days here, NO PROBLEM. Unlike the fronts of Florida and the Bahamas, the wind is ALWAYS EAST, not clocking winds placing you on a lee shore as the winds go west then northwest and north. This is one of the hidden treasures of Caribbean Sailing, the East Tradewinds that are so steady in direction.
Ahh, the NESO Shade Tent
Back to Deep Bay, we headed in to set up the Neso Shade tent. These are great but they do not like winds over 12 knots and 15 max. It simply blows over. But, when the sun is late afternoon and the winds die down, this is the best way to enjoy the beach. Dinghy in and anchor the dinghy, then walk into the beach and set up the tent. Now, enjoy the view, enjoy the swim, and simply slow down. THIS is the BEST life there is….hands down.
Radeen Loves to SAIL
The reason svIslandSpirit.com has been so successful for 26 years is RADEEN. She loves to travel, she loves to sail, she loves sleeping on the boat, and she makes our boat a real HOME. She is amazing, and I am so lucky with the team we have built and the places we have sailed. She is amazing….
Thank you for Following Along
NOTE: We publish nearly LIVE posting of our sailing onto our FACEBOOK PAGE called svIslandSpirit. If you check that, or better yet FOLLOW us then you will be notified when we share. This can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/svIslandSpirit
PS: Where have we sailed? Here is a short list
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- 20 times! New England to Biscayne Bay Florida (the ICW)
- 10 Bahamas Abacos and Exuamas winters
- 3 Runs Annapolis MD to Caribbean Sea
- 5 Winters in Caribbean
- 2 Storages in Puerto Rico (Fajardo)
- 2 Storages in Grenada (Clarks Court!)
- 2 Storages in Antigua (Jolly Harbor Marina #1)
- 50,000 nautical miles