Happy New Year 2018!

Happy New Year to all!

Sorry that we haven’t written in a while but we like most of you have been busy having fun for the holidays. Rachel spent just over two glorious weeks with us and we had a awesome time together exploring Antigua!  We got to play tourist, rented a car and even stayed in a few resorts.

Brian taking Rachel out for a sail in Falmouth Harbor.

Big smile on Brian’s face as he enjoys what he loves best…sailing!

Saw this furiistric Tri in Falmouth Harbor:
42.5m trimaran Adastra
The striking 42.5m trimaran Adastra was launched in China on 11th April 2012. She has covered over 40,000 miles, weathered 50 knot winds and crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans!
Adastra is the second largest trimaran yacht ever built (the 61m White Rabbit being the biggest), and is the fourth largest powered multihull in the world.
http://www.shuttleworthdesign.com/pdf/Adastra_Superyachts2014.pdf

This yacht was anchored just outside of Falmouth Harbor:
28th largest yacht in the world… Le Grand Bleu | 112.8m (370’1″)
The yacht has a crew of 65 and carries a veritable arsenal of tenders and watertoys, both on her aft decks and in her extensive below-deck garage, where there is a large aquarium. Her watercraft include a 22 metre Dubois-designed sailing yacht, Bellatrix; a 21 metre Sunseeker motor yacht; two 11 metre, 60-knot Buzzi sports boats; and a landing craft to carry a 4×4 Land Rover used for excursions ashore.

We took Moon to Deep Bay, North Sound and then back to Jolly Harbor for some beach side fun.

Climbing up to Fort Barrington.

Rachel preparing to raise the Nelson flag on Fort Barrington’s flagpole.

Our dinghy in the small cove facing “Hell’s Gate”.

Rachel at “Hell’s Gate”

Exploring the caverns at “Hell’s Gate” Island.

It’s winter time here and although we don’t get the cold weather like it seems that everyone else is getting…we do get big winds! They call them the “Christmas Winds” and it tends to make it challenging to get around from harbor to harbor. Unless you enjoy bashing up and down through some really big waves or spending the night rolling in an anchorage. As all of the British folks here would say “that is not our cup of tea”! So we explored a bit by sea and then decided to treat ourselves to some resort living so we could explore some of Antigua by land.

Rachel enjoying the view at North Sound.

This was pretty cool… a floating ferry that you use to get to the mangrove trail that leads to the beach.

Pull, pull, pull!

Next walking through the mangrove boardwalk trail to the beach.

It was amazing how much we packed into the time that Rachel was here. I don’t think that there was anything that we did not do and we could not even cover all of the fun that we had with you. Lots of pics for you to enjoy though!

This way to the top of Goat Hill!

Amazing view from the top of Goat Hill!

Brian found us the perfect resort, complete with a bathtub on top of Goat Hill!

We were lucky enough to get a room at the Copper & Lumber Historic Inn in the heart of Nelson’s Dockyard for their New Years Eve party. The room was just gorgeous and we were front and center for the nights events. And they had fireworks! My favorite! We had a blast!

Entering Fort James.

Ready, Aim…Fire!

Ruins everywhere and sometimes decorated.

Rachel signing the famous Red Rum Bus.

View from atop of Shirley Heights. Below you can see English Harbor and Falmouth Harbor.

Well, Rachel has returned home and things are getting back to normal here…no more playing tourist for now, just another regular day. Can you hear me pouting from there?? We plan on doing some more work to Moon as always there is something that needs to be done. I added to the list by accidentally stepping on one of the hatches and breaking it when I was helping to put our sail cover on. We also pick up our new stove top this week so as you can imagine there is plenty of things to keep us busy around here!

Take care all until next post.

Supposedly the large home on the point behind us belongs to Eric Clapton.

Jennifer and Brian SV/Moon