We aplogize for the lateness of this newsletter but we
just realized the former editor has left the ship. We
are not sure when he left. We really never missed him.
He is so unnoticeable. We remember throwing out some
garbage in St. Johns, Antigua a week ago and we think
we may have thrown him out then also. It's very hard
to tell the difference. I've also forgotten his name,
but I think he was British. Anyway, we think he is
back in England now and we want to let everyone know
that there is no truth to the rumor that the skipper
has been dancing on the foredeck celebrating his
departure.
I need to make an editorial correction now that he's
gone. The game of hearts, or Internation Chase the
Ladys competition, ended somewhat differently than
Motherland 5, Yank 3. The actual score was Yank 3,
England 2, Canada 1, and New Zealand 1. Now, while
this was interpreted as Motherland 5, Yank 3, we have
other comments.
First, what the hell is the Motherland stuff? Don't
you know your Commonwealth is gone, kaput, no longer
exists? And some of your "kids" are over 200 years
old. We say...."Grow up. Quit living in the past."
What do you want us to do?? Send back the tea we
dumped in the harbor??
Second, are you really this desperate to win a card
game? You must be. Poor England, the commonwealth has
shrunk like the wash and there's so little to brag
about. With some one like Tony Blair leading my
government I would be desperate too. Of course, we in
America have "W"(George Bush Jr.) so we've been
desperate for a very long time. At least Tony Blair
can talk.
And finally, I think "Yanks beat Britain again for 2nd
time in 250 years" is far more appropriate for the
competition.
Navigation has now returned to normal GPS Satellite
tracking data. No more of this "sticky" British
navigation. Let me show you some examples.
"We go by that sticky-uppy thing, turn north, and then
stay west of that sticky-outie thing."
Translation..... Go by the corner of the island and
make sure you don't hit the shoal as you go north!! I
need another Hamilton cigar to smoke.
"I see some white sticky-uppy things in that bay"
Translation..... There's some sailboats anchored over
there. We've made it. This is the place. It's got to
be with all those sailboats anchored over there. I
hope this is the right island. I need another Hamilton
cigar to smoke.
Now for the news.
The sail from Guadaloupe to Antigua was fantastic. We
started by navigating the River Sallee which divides
the island. It's a gorgeous river. Unfortunately, the
draw bridge only opens at 5 AM so all we saw were red
and green navigating buoys. But is was quite an
adventure doing a night navigation. Leaving the river
about 7 AM, we sailed to Antigua(40 miles) in 8-12 foot
swells and 18-24 knot winds. We were heeled over all
the way. The toe rail was in the water much of the
time(for Jan). We made the crossing at over 8 knots
and were in Antigua by "rum punch time".
Antigua is as British as Martinique is French. The
highlight was the barbecue at Shirly Height's on
Sunday. A steel band played first, followed by a
Caribbean rock'n'roll band. There was an obvious
magnetism between the young white anglo-saxon women
and the young Carib guys with their erotic body
movements. In the crowd many a young lady was seen to
blush and smile as her Carib companion standing behind
her ground his hips into her buttocks in rhythm with
the music. Maybe something just popped up. And dancing
in front of the band were couples who's movements made
the choreography of "Dirty Dancing" look like a rerun
of the Lawrence Welk show.
Unfortunately, there was no magnetism between the
young sexy Caribbean ladies and older, overweight,
white anglo-saxon married men so we left at 10.
The new editor in chief,
Dave Bowen