Sailing to the the wilds of Barbuda Island

We set off before breakfast for Barbuda. Yes shock horror skipping our daily cooked breakfast which has become our mainstay! We left the bay by the other entrance, a narrow gap through the reef at a bit of an angle, straight out into the Atlantic. These huge waves certainly felt like they had travelled all the way from Africa. We knew the wind was going to be a little stronger and with the sails up we were soon screaming along.

A 5 hour crossing that went well, with the most amount of boats out sailing. Barbuda is a remote flat island that is pretty unpopulated. It’s never been colonised, and the Codrington family who owned it left it to their slaves when they left. It has only fairly recently joined up with Antigua.

We anchored up the west coast, we tried one spot where a few yachts were because there was meant to be a bar and jetty, but the bar looked abandoned and the jetty had gone. So we went further north passing the only resort which has obviously tumbled into the water in the last hurricane. Our 2018 guide book wondered when the waves would take the bar away…. completely smashed now! We found a slightly more sheltered spot and anchored alone next to a stunning long beach.

Hurricane damage

Another boat came by late afternoon but couldn’t get beyond us as it is too shallow, and anchored a little way from us. Our plan is to visit the biggest Frigate colony in the world in the lagoon, but you can only go in with a guide. We had tried every contact in the book and couldn’t raise a soul. With huge threatening dark skies, Rowan went over to the other boat, luckily they were a charter boat and had a number for a guide for us. R had hoped they might be a bit friendlier and convivial so close to Christmas and offer him a drink, however they were Swiss and very businesslike! But the good news is we’ve now managed to book a guide for 11 tomorrow.

Spectacular sunset with reflections in the sea

The sky was so dramatic with the storm looming straight towards us.

Phoebs and I got a little Pilates in before the rain arrived. Rowan and Luke managed to cook a huge pork rib that was absolutely delicious with Luke’s magic marinade.