At 0910 local time, ie 1310 GMT we tied up at the immigration/customs jetty, Port St Charles! Position is N13 15,8' W 59 38,7'. We were quickly boarded by three officials, who completed a lot of papers, got the B$25 fee, joined us in an "anchor dram" and declared us officially entered in Barbados! Last night was rough, especially after about 2 am when we again had to reef down the genoa. Took the reef out about 5 am, only to have to re-reef about 7.30 when we got the strongest squalls yet: 37 knots from NE. Off the Arawak Cement factory and Harrison's Reef the wind died, so the last two miles in here we motored slowly while enjoying breakfast in still water for the first time since Mindelo and of course lapped up the lovely sight of this lush, green, beautiful island! Boat's been behaving very well throughout, the crew are all well, our Norwegian mobile phone seems to work also here (SMS should work on 004797179605, but we'll get a local phone card/no. asap).It's now 1310, we've had a little look around, said hello to Derek in the Administration and Ian at the bar, seen the Russian explorer Fedor's son Oscar and assistant Dimitri (Fedor Konyukhov's expected here tomorrow after yet another record-making sail), had a swim and a shower. And chatted to Martin Smyth on the phone. The other three are now off to Speightstown for fresh food for lunch while I will have a wee sleep (mine was the morning duty, also I did not sleep too well before that). Life is good!
17 Feb 2004 by Stein & Diana
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