04-25-2013, 08:43 PM
<P>Friday April 19<P>We got to On Deck at 8:30am. The sailboat leaves at 9am. The owners said they were still getting it ready for us and told us to walk out on the docks and check out the boats. There is security here but we said hello and kept on walking. No problem at all.<P>We saw The Adventurous. It is a beautiful boat and the crew is staying at our hotel. They ended up winning all the classes. Racing, elegance and resoration. We were all very happy for them. We saw Old Bob which is a small classic sailboat and a crowd favorite.<P>THEN....we turned the corner and there she was. The Maltese Falcon! We were so close, we could have touched it. It was beautiful. This is when I really wished we had a good camera.<P>We went back to On Deck to board the boat when the owner surprised us and said we had a private charter! Just us, the Captain and a deck hand. What a surprise! A private charter costs $450. We paid $240.<P>We boarded the dinghy and taxi'd to the sailboat. It was 37'. Big to us but small to what we saw.<P>The classics were beautiful. We were able to get up pretty close to them on the sea but we had to keep a distance since we were spectators. Princess Beatrix was on the water in her ship. We got kinda close to it.<P>We only had our sails up for a while. It was kind of scary when they went up and the boat went to it's side. It felt like you were going to fall in the water. The wind hit 25 knots and the captain put the sails down. They can tear at that point and cost at least $40k usd each to replace.<P>The Captain motored us around the harbor, in the sea (at one point the depth meter read 80meters), she took us to English Harbour and around Galion beach. We went back to Falmouth Harbour about 12:30.<P>The story of our Captain was really neat. She is from Jamaica. She came to Antigua and needed a place to stay so she cleaned boats in exchange for room. Then she got a job at On Deck and wanted to learn more about sailing so they told her that if she kept cleaning the boats, they would teach her for free. She took the test and was the only one that studied hands on and knew everything. She passed the Captain test and was hired by On Deck as one of their charter Captains. She is a wonderful lady.<P>After sailing, Matt and I walked down the a local eatery called Grace Before Meals. It was delicious. I had stewed fish and Matt had curried conch. With 2 Ginger Ales, our total was about $15usd for both of us. We found a taxi and went back to the hotel.<P>Terry found us at our hotel and we made plans to go to dinner. We ate at Salty Dogs in English Harbour. It's a nice place right over the water with views of the old dockyard and a beautiful 200 ft sailboat. We ordered conch fritters, BBQ wings, and we all had fish and chips for the main meal. We each had 2 drinks with dinner. Total was about $25 each.<P>*Before we left for dinner a girl staying in one of the rooms caught 2 fish. Joe, our nieghbor from Louisiana had bought some fish from the boat on the dock and planned a Louisiana style BBQ for Saturday.<P>*The Russian super yacht A was in harbour last week. Before she left, they fueled up with diesel. The total bill? ONE MILLION DOLLARS! We heard the Antigua Yacht Club got a good percentage of that. That's part of the reason why the area is so nice....and expensive.<P>Pictures! Sorry they are not very good. Use your imagination. <P>The Maltese Falcon. Owned by Loreal (the make-up people)<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0247_zps097c9d9a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0247_zps097c9d9a.jpg" border="0" alt="Maltese Falcon photo IMG_0247_zps097c9d9a.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0248_zps4cc67d4c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0248_zps4cc67d4c.jpg" border="0" alt="Maltese Falcon photo IMG_0248_zps4cc67d4c.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0249_zpsd2163041.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0249_zpsd2163041.jpg" border="0" alt="Maltese Falcon photo IMG_0249_zpsd2163041.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0250_zpsaa2bb06a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0250_zpsaa2bb06a.jpg" border="0" alt="Maltese Falcon photo IMG_0250_zpsaa2bb06a.jpg"/></a><P>The Harbour<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0251_zpsd3af7749.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0251_zpsd3af7749.jpg" border="0" alt="English Harbour photo IMG_0251_zpsd3af7749.jpg"/></a><P>Our sailboat<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0253_zpsf6c085a0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0253_zpsf6c085a0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0253_zpsf6c085a0.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0254_zpsacd700d5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0254_zpsacd700d5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0254_zpsacd700d5.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0271_zps20fe5884.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0271_zps20fe5884.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0271_zps20fe5884.jpg"/></a><P>Matt on the sailboat<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0272_zps237f7346.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0272_zps237f7346.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0272_zps237f7346.jpg"/></a><P>Me on the sailboat<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0302_zps0e62d5e9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0302_zps0e62d5e9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0302_zps0e62d5e9.jpg"/></a><P>All the other boats! Amazing sight to see!<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0264_zps1748a7d0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0264_zps1748a7d0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0264_zps1748a7d0.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0265_zps7cfb5512.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0265_zps7cfb5512.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0265_zps7cfb5512.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0267_zps745dfd8e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0267_zps745dfd8e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0267_zps745dfd8e.jpg"/></a><P>The Royal Ship with Princess Beatrix on board.<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0274_zps33b94cc9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0274_zps33b94cc9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0274_zps33b94cc9.jpg"/></a><P>More sailboats<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0275_zps2b8bf1d2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0275_zps2b8bf1d2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0275_zps2b8bf1d2.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0276_zps657cdc1f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0276_zps657cdc1f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0276_zps657cdc1f.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0279_zps489a705b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0279_zps489a705b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0279_zps489a705b.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0290_zps59296247.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0290_zps59296247.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0290_zps59296247.jpg"/></a><P>This yacht blocked out view of the start.<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0295_zps36133116.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0295_zps36133116.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0295_zps36133116.jpg"/></a><P>More boats<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0298_zps9527c750.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0298_zps9527c750.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0298_zps9527c750.jpg"/></a><P>Pillars of Hercules (Antigua style)<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0300_zps635c4738.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0300_zps635c4738.jpg" border="0" alt="Pillars photo IMG_0300_zps635c4738.jpg"/></a><P>English Harbour<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0307_zpsdc965c71.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0307_zpsdc965c71.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0307_zpsdc965c71.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0308_zps10fc2de6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0308_zps10fc2de6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0308_zps10fc2de6.jpg"/></a><P>Lunch after the races<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0317_zps6abf8a42.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0317_zps6abf8a42.jpg" border="0" alt="Curried Conch photo IMG_0317_zps6abf8a42.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0318_zps070f13e5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0318_zps070f13e5.jpg" border="0" alt="Stewed fish photo IMG_0318_zps070f13e5.jpg"/></a><P>View of the boats coming in from our veranda<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2818_zps1f138be8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2818_zps1f138be8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2818_zps1f138be8.jpg"/></a><P>Tamarind<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2820_zps96d49e33.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2820_zps96d49e33.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2820_zps96d49e33.jpg"/></a><P>The girl that caught the fish at our hotel<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2824_zpsa3c3df9f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2824_zpsa3c3df9f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2824_zpsa3c3df9f.jpg"/></a><P>Terry and I at dinner<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2827_zps3792a45d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2827_zps3792a45d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2827_zps3792a45d.jpg"/></a><P>Salty Dogs<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2830_zpsa3f421d1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2830_zpsa3f421d1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2830_zpsa3f421d1.jpg"/></a><P>View from Salty Dogs (to English Harbour)<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2829_zps7a491da5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2829_zps7a491da5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2829_zps7a491da5.jpg"/></a><P>The dock yard at night<P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2831_zpsb522a20d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2831_zpsb522a20d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2831_zpsb522a20d.jpg"/></a><P><a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jeannie_brim/media/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2832_zps64ce8f4e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_2832_zps64ce8f4e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2832_zps64ce8f4e.jpg"/></a><P>