Finish Line

Dad writes:

Tuesday, 12/9, 0800 Atlantic time. We are now in English Harbor, Antigua, across from Nelson's Dockyard, where they are tearing out the eroded quay wall, discovering it was built on a foundation of old cannons.
We finished the ARC race within a quarter mile of a Farr 65, 10th across the line out of 230+ starters. The last 20 miles of the race were glorious surf under our big red and yellow AP kite to the north end of
St. Lucia. Great to see green after 2800 miles of blue and grey. We were greeted at the dock by a welcoming committee, with rum punch, beer and a fruit basket. Once tied up, we proceed to drink the rum punch, and then a few more. The afternoon and evening passed with sea stories and greetings (often with toasts) to other boats as they arrived. Finally, a crew dinner with wine, and stagger back to our now flat bunks. Early next morning we set sail again to bring Anthem to her winter home here in Antigua. So, that's the end of my e-mail reports. See you all soon.

Comments

[David]

Sigh. Reading this account while sitting in an office tower on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan is an exercise in happy frustration. I cannot wait to get out on the water again.

I think your dad should just keep sailing. If not Anthem then some other boat. Seriously, Take a puddle jumper to the BVI and just race around the buoys all winter. Or do cruiser deliveries all over the Carib; there's a captain's service in Charlotte-Amalie, St. Thomas, that will set him up. I did that for a winter, way back in the late eighties and it was delightful (and I think I'm still recovering from all the rum punch).