[Cruise News] Admiral's Inn, English Harbour, Antigua

Well Pandora is now out of the water and we're back on dry land after 26 weeks afloat.  It was rather sad watching her being hauled out on the back of a giant trailer that had been submerged into the sea and into which Paul manouevred seemlessly, feeling very much like the end of our sailing adventure for now.  So now she's chocked up in the air and access is via a ladder that must be at least 12 feet long .... it feels very high and rather daunting.  Fall off now, and no soft landing in the sea so we'd better be sure-footed.  The next 6 months will see her fully serviced and repaired ready for the next sailing season.

We've had an incredible time out here and have learned an awful lot about ourselves, sailing and the perfect boat.  There have been tough times and challenges to face but we've made it through better sailors and fit and healthy.  We've enjoyed the company of an international mix of people and have loved being part of the sailing community.  But we've also been touched by and appreciated the regular contact from friends at home and the positive response to the blog.  

And we can't close off without a big thank you to my parents, our friends and employees who enabled us to embark on this adventure in the first place, shouldering the burden of Easton Court in our absence and sending us on our way with a clear concscience to let us live our dream.

So thanks to everyone for their interest, support and good wishes and we look forward to catching up with you all in the weeks to come.

And finally, from First Mate Debra (Dominique to a certain crew member) it's "Pandora Out" for the last time this season.

[Captains Blog] The Admiral's Inn, English Harbour, Antigua

It's been an interesting week, the buzz that we experienced here during race week has competely disapperaed, along with many of the boats. It has rapidly turned into a ghost town. The season is over, and sailors are departing in their droves. We experienced something similar a few years ago when sailing our own boat, Four Jays into Salcombe at the end of September. We had sailed there the week before, and the whole place was heaving with tourists and sailors, then suddenly one week later, everywhere was closed up, the water taxis were no longer running and that was it until the following spring.

Here it is similar. All repairs are being carried out to make boats seaworthy prior to setting sail for the UK or Europe. We have been doing our own maintenance in preparation for haul out and lay-up. Not much difference, except we will get back to the UK a lot quicker by air! 

This will be the final entry in the Captain's Blog for this season - nothing of any interest to report on now! Thanks to all who have followed our adventure and helped make it the pleasure it has been. We have, in the words of Mr Spock "boldly gone where we have never been before" and hope you have enjoyed reading about it over the last six months.

Captain Peewit signing off, for now at least.