Anitgua

We sailed overnight from St Martin to Antigua with our friends Fran and Bob. It was a little rough going into the wind but great to have some help with the trip. Antigua has a restored British boatyard from the 1700's. Having spent plenty of time in boatyards ourselves we wanted to check it out.  To repair sails in the 1700's small boats would row into this channel and the sails were lifted into a huge sail loft supported by the columns. It is still a working marina and boat yard where the mega yachts come to enjoy the island and have repairs done. It's taking two men at once to varnish this mast it is so big. The original gate to the complex looks medieval with a door inside the gate and a hole in the door to see who's knocking at the gate! 

We toured an old sugar plantation where there is a restored sugar mill. We learned all about the sugar / rum making process. Something had to be done with the leftover products from producing refined sugar. Some smart person realized they could make rum.

The sugar mills and copper sugar pots are everywhere on the island.






This is Bob having a nice time listening to a steel drum band at a party and Fran at sunset on the trip over. They definitely left smiling!

We enjoyed the beaches too and also spent time in Jolly Harbor where we rejoined our friends on Mirliflore, Gypsy and Kalista. This last picture is the view of Montserrat from the anchorage in Falmouth harbor.
We left Antigua February 8th, stopped in Nevis and are now in Culebra, Puerto Rico.

Our best to all our friends and loved ones,

Frances and Al