Sailing down to Guadeloupe tomorrow

Conditions look good and I was able to get in the water and clean my prop yesterday

It was unrecognizable, it looked like a bucket.

OK I AM BACK - - -JUST

On a borrowed lappie and someone else's account so I will be brief and no pics.

I have been broken I have had this Aussie flu which has just laid me out.

Both my laptops and my dual external hard drive back up systems are broken. Not sure why but it may be the move from Win 8 to Win 10 I HATE MICROSOFT

The boat is broken I think it is an electrical issue related to some crimped connections installed by the previous owner. I think I have a workaround but want to mke a proper repair before setting off again. I have 9 years pretty trouble free cruising up until the last few months when it has ust been one thing after another.

About the only thing working is a gizmo that gives me 30 mins Facebook a day. I have massive internet withdrawal symptoms.

I am still in Antigua and I must head South ASAP. To far North in hurricane season.

SHAKY PUDDING AT ANTIGUA CLASSICS

We have had 9 earthquakes in the last three days. I did not feel the first 8 but the last one was a doozy a 4.7 right under Antigua. The boat shook from side to side and there was a deep rumbling sound like a giant slow revving diesel engine. None of the volcanoes nearby are showing any signs of activity and that includes Montserrat which has been active since 1995.

Meanwhile the local varnish experts are laying the final coats in the run up to the Concours d’Elégance.

While others practice their sail handling.

and others dream of getting the perfect start.

SKIING 2018

Reflections on my three weeks skiing.

1 avoided the 'F' word.

2 the snow was excellent especially at Alta but Canyons/Park City was good too.

3 avoided catching a cold or the Aussie flu despite 7 flights full of germ laden people. 4 managed to fit into my 'skinny' salopettes [ everything is relative].

5 got upgraded by Alamo again.

6 lost my TSA status for some reason. Makes airport security a REAL pain again.

7 2018 signals the demise of the underwear/bead trees in the ski resorts.

8 expect to see widespread drought conditions in areas around SLC as the snowpack is at 50% or less in many areas and that is where they get their water supply.

9 I was REALLY tired when I got back and slept for 10 hours on the first two nights. Which I thought was strange as I was OK in the mountains at 9,000 ft plus day after day.

Gaye had to fly back to Oz to cope with a family emergency. Poor Dizzy was condemned to cat hell AKA the PAWS animal sanctuary which had one cat and 50+ dogs. He was a miserable cat when I picked him up and he has been welded to my side eversince.

Poor needy little cat.

GREAT CONDITIONS AT ALTA

2 ft of new snow over the weekend. 7 ft since I got here.

I have stuck to Snowbird Alta and Canyons and had great conditions at all three.

Even better examples of natures Christmas decorations.

The numbers of disabled skiers are amazing.

LOTS GOING ON SINCE I LAST POSTED

We made it up to Falmouth Harbor and got the hook down in my favorite spot up front and to the East of Falmouth harbor marine where the big boys hang out. We had planned to fill up with water in Jolly harbor but the water was off when we went in. This is not an unusual event.

However Falmouth harbor marina came to our rescue and filled our tanks. It was not without excitement though as the promised dock boy was missing when we got in and we had no hope of going round again as we were up a narrow cul de sac with multi million dollar boats all around. However Gaye was on the bow line which was the critical upwind line and attracted a passerby who took our line and expertly made it fast.

I got a surprising email from Peter Malone who I had known from my aeromodelling and stock car racing days back in Scotland. He was in Antigua and wondered if we could meet up. We duly did and as we wandered around Elizabeth harbor pete conducted a me on a trip down memory lane. Everything from his competition model AKA PETE'S POLE to his first stockie the yellow Sunbeam Rapier No. 121 to his days as rally driver and his interests in full size flying.

I left Gaye and Dizzy in charge and headed for the airport for the long and tiring 3 stage flight to Salt lake City.

Snow had been in short supply Salt Lake City and I nearly decided to go to a resort with good snow but just as I was making the booking a last minute check on the weather showed a major storm system barreling down on SLC. Well it arrived as the same time as the American Airlines flight I was on. after two missed approaches with violent turbulence the captain announced that he was diverting to Boise Idaho, the cabin crew looked glad as the supply of sick bags was running low.

The snow arrived overnight and and conditions for the powder hounds were great even though the viz was poor.

Next day things were clear

Even though it was getting warm enough to melt the snow a little the runs were in excellent conditions.

At the weekend I often ski at Canyons Park city as Alta my favorite resort gets pretty busy

As you can see there was almost no queue at the bottom and the pistes were empty.

I had bought this pesky inner forestay fitting with me and

found an excellent blacksmith at the Wasatch Forge called Matt Danielson who had a go at forging down the diameter of the fitting. He was a little unsure of the suitability of the grade of stainless but as always as good smith does he got it hot and hit it hard. I still have to get the thread cut but it is looking good.


However not all was going to plan on the home front. Gaye had had to return to Oz to help out in a serious family emergency. She organised the Antigua animal rescue to look after Dizzy and found another cruiser to check on Elephants Child.

DEEP BAY

Well we are in Deep Bay tucked up towards the NE corner and watching the big swells roll in while the wind is whistling in the rigging.

It is a pretty spot and we may make it up to the battery later today if I decide that it worth risking beaching the dink. The swells are over 3 metres and even in the sheltered corner the waves are breaking on the beach.

It is a shame that Gaye will not get a chance to snorkel on the wreck but the viz will be close to zero.

So we are on pelican watch, turtle spotting and best of all watching IDIOTS trying to motor sail North in strong winds and big swells. I think they are competing to see who can get the most unpleasant sail with seasick crew all with boat breaking conditions.