Sailing Antigua, The Lazy Way

I got on a plane the morning of May 2nd and headed from Washington DC to the island of Antigua. In honesty, I didn’t have any knowledge of Antigua nor was there any real draw that made me excited about visiting. It simply is, another beautiful Caribbean island settled nicely among the other beautiful Caribbean islands.

But, once the plane descended over the white sand, rolling hills, and relentless blue water, I realized that I was about to fall in love yet again. You see, it happens, every time I step foot off the plane, every time I am greeted by a friendly islander, every time the salt air and tradewinds tap me on the shoulder and welcome me to what I feel is home, every time, I fall in love again and again.

The island life; the let stress go, worry about nothing, never watch the clock; island life has got to be the best life I have lived.

I spent two days wondering the island and lounging on the beach. It’s what everyone does on vacation. One thing I actually had to do though, was go see a doctor. My sailing school, and working on yachts in general, requires a medical physical called an ENG1. Though there are medical facilities all around the world who can perform a physical, trying to find a location that performs this exam can be rather difficult. In the states, I only found a location in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Luckily, I’m in Antigua and there just happens to be one doctor on the island that is authorized to conduct the physical. I found out first hand that this is probably the most basic physical you will ever have, so it’s strange that I couldn’t just go to any random family practice doctor. But, lucky or random or whatever, it’s done. It cost me $200 but it’s good for two years. And now, I’m signed off to go sailing!

Though I’m getting ready for sailing school, Antigua was all about vacation and after finishing up the two days on land, I boarded an amazing 60 ft catamaran sailed by a Tradewinds Cruise Club team of two and felt myself instantaneously relax as a beautiful young first mate handed me a cocktail and introduced the four other couples we’d be sailing with.

The first evening we sailed out of Jolly Harbour and anchored in a little cove just across the way. Dinner was served, pork medallions with vegetable side and sweet potato puree. To say it was delicious is an understatement. We woke up the next morning, for me that means 6am on the dot, to a Caribbean sunrise that I’ll challenge California to try and produce better. A bit more sailing to Deep Cove, which oddly enough is only about 9ft deep, where we snorkled a wreck, swam, paddle boarded, and took a hike up to the ruins of a small hilltop fort. Closing the day down, we enjoyed cocktails among new friends. Monday and Tuesday brought with them a continuation of island breezes, swimming, and sailing. We finished off Tuesday evening by meeting our sister ship on shore for a bonfire, sundown cocktails, and making even more new friends. After dinner, that night was the most peaceful sleep I had gotten and it made my 6 am wake up something to look forward to.

I don’t wake up that early by force, my vacation days on the boat gently rock me awake when the sun starts peaking through my window. I put on a sweatshirt and head up to the fly bridge and watch the world slowly come alive. It’s usually around a half hour later that the captain and first mate start performing their morning routine and prepping for the day. At about the same time, if there are other boats anchored by, one by one sleepy eyed sailors, holding their coffee cups, start popping out of their hatches to join each other in their own routines and preparations. As the morning progresses, each boat starts to pull up anchor and head out in their chosen direction to find their next little adventure. Sure beats getting in the car and joining the rush hour commute.

This week on the boat covered seven days and included three dives, plenty of snorkeling and paddle boarding, we enjoyed the sun and sea spray as well as a few sun burns and a bit tanner skin. It was a needed vacation and new memories were made. I hope one day, I’ll be able to be on the flip side, helping others enjoy their sailing vacations as much as I have.