Barbados, day 7 – Carlisle Bay

Wednesday, 31 Jan: After an early start we spend 1/2 the morning in the clubhouse, taking advantage of wi-fi, sorting and posting Barbados photos.

Lots to do today as we have to checkout from the marina. Customs and immigration to visit for checkout, untie CB from her multiple mooring lines, sunshade off, fuel up, and all sorts. It’s almost as bad as moving house after a week in the marina!

By mid afternoon we are off. Officially we should leave Barbados waters as we have checked out, but we decided not to actually leave till tomorrow. Instead, we gently sail south down the west coast, as close to shore as we can get, to see all the hotels and fancy houses. There is no space left to build on all the way to Bridgetown. It’s wonderful to be sailing again and away from the surge and creaking mooring lines in the marina.

Just before dusk we are treated to the most vivid rainbow each of us has ever seen, as we pass the main port. Just before dark we anchor, for the first time this year, in Carlisle Bay right next to Bridgetown. Then relax, for the first time in what feels a long time! Glen potters on the deck getting us set up again for the down wind sail to Grenada and Oana gets up to date with admin of emails, finance and photos.

Ellie is texting from New York where she has been forced to have a 26 hour stop over. Seems she is not just sitting around, but she visits submarines, aircraft carriers, a shuttle, snow in Central Park, and even goes to see a musical on Broadway! Photos of her all wrapped up in the winter snow seem a million miles away.

By bed time we are treated to various sounds from Bridgetown, several discos blaring out different types of music, mixed intermittently with church clock chiming. Very tempting to lower the dinghy and go join the parties.