Jolly Harbour, Antigua

Jolly Harbour, Antigua    +17° 4' 14.22", -61° 53' 9.24"  

Antigua looked so pretty as we approached Jolly Harbour.

Other yachts looked pretty comfortable in the anchorage.

Charlie hailed the marina on the radio, and was advised that before we could pick up a mooring, we should go in to the customs office (next to the big yellow flag), tie up there, and clear in.

We has to visit three different offices, but they are all located in the same building. As we were busy with the first official, Seraphim arrived, so Tom, Tom and Brigitte had to start filling our their paper-work outside - One person did not get to work today, another wanted to leave early (Friday), man they were really busy, with five different officials in three different offices (each with a different soap opera on their TV sets), a few more hanging around on the deck outside.  Eventually we got through the last official (cashier), and found our way to mooring #2.

Ashore we explored around the harbor area, purchase a few provisions at the American-style grocery and had a beer at the quarter-deck.  Dinner that night was at a Swiss steak-house.

The area reminds of S. Florida - recently-constructed condos and private houses built around dredged canals.  Attractive properties, for the most part.

Saturday morning, we caught the local bus (EC$3.25, about $1.20 US) to St. John's, the capital city.  The bus station is next to the central market.  It was market day, and there were fruit and vegetable stands spread out all over the place.  We walked up Market Street; it was busy, with lots of people around.  After visiting the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, where we learned about geological history, we stopped in the cruise-ship area for lunch. 

It was not the establishment who's menu is pictured here.

We passed the statue of Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Snr. on our way back to the bus station.  We don't remember ever before seeing a painted statue like this.  V. C. Bird, Sr, was "The Father Of Our Nation", born in 1909, had an elementary education, was elected to the legislative Assembly, and later became Antigua and Barbuda's first Prime Minister when the country became independent from Britain in 1981.

The bus ride back to Jolly Harbour was hot and dusty.  The twenty-two passenger bus was full.  We were the only fair-skinned people on the bus, and so far as I could tell, the only ones who paid the driver.  However, the EC$3.25 fare was a lot better than the US$20 that a taxi driver offered.

Seraphim  had caught a wahoo on their trip between Nevis and Antigua, and with the arrival of spouses Annie and Becky, it was time to party (Unfortunately Brigitte's husband was still working in Abu Dhabi.)  We had a lovely evening aboard Seraphim, and Tom did a great job cooking the fish.  Thanks so much for such a good time!

Next day we decided to move off the mooring and go to the anchorage.  We went in to the marina area to get fuel and water and waved goodbye to Seraphim. 

It turned out that the wind had clocked, and was coming at us from an unusual direction, and swells were building, after lunch we moved to the better shelter of the next harbor to the north, Five Island Harbour.

We could see the volcano emissions from Montserrat, way off in the distance. 

It was more comfortable, although there were places on the shore where the swells created big spray.

Another great sunset.

 

Comments

[Mike]

15th – 20th April 2010
Classic Yacht Regatta

Hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club, this regatta attract between 50 and 60 yachts every year. Competitors range from traditional craft from the islands, classic ketches, sloops, schooners, and yawls to the elegant Spirit of Tradition yachts, J Class yachts, and Tall Ships

Eh?

[Jenny]

Our friends Tom and Lesley on Farhaven plan to be here for that event. Our friends on 1923 Schooner Astor will be competing.