Greetings and Happy New Year, 2024!
So, as you all Facebook groupies know, Rich arrived home from his sailing adventure mid December, a week later than anticipated. Due to poor winds and ever changing weather conditions, the crew needed to travel further south than originally planned to reach the final destination of Antigua. In Rich’s description, the trip was LONG and boring sprinkled with a few exciting, cool, and teachable moments. He has eliminated circumnavigating the world off his bucket list!
(01/20-01/25, 2024) Our adventures this year began in the Caribbean on the stunning island of Antigua. Antigua is one of the two islands that make up the nation of Antigua and Barbuda. The island is home to pristine white beaches, amazing coral reefs, the restored Nelson’s Dockyard, and a former military lookout, Shirley Heights.
The vibrant green landscape is filled with sugar cane plantations ruins, the population is full of Brits, the currency is EC or “Eastern Caribbean,” and driving (even the steering wheel) are opposite of the US.
We stayed in Antigua for several days, re-exploring the area. We had been here years ago but it has really grown, especially by adding a new marina by Nelson’s Dockyard; it can accommodate smaller vessels all the way up to super yachts. When we were not playing tourist we were cleaning the boat, filthy from its trek across sea.
One really neat experience we had in Antigua was witnessing the finish of “The World’s Toughest Row.” This rowing race, beginning in December, covers 3000 miles over the Atlantic, launched from the shores of San Sebastian de La Gomera, Spain (near the Canary Islands) ending in the idyllic paradise of Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua. The rowers arrive at all times of day, greeted with cheers of encouragement by families while the sounds of bands and sprays of fireworks fill the air! We met a US team, “Fight Oar Die,” an all-American, all military Veteran, four person rowing team that competes in this race. They are quite an impressive group, to say the least. Check them out if you get a free moment.
