It’s hard to say no to sailing someplace nice in a fast boat. In this case, Envolee, Nathalie Criou’s Figaro 2, needed to be moved from her Antigua Race Week location up to Newport, RI for the Newport-Bermuda race and then the Bermuda-Newport short handed return race. She did not have to make a hard sell. I’m doing it doublehanded with another SF sailing friend I’ve done two Pac Cups with, Bob Gardiner. Tracker at Https://my.yb.tl/envolee89/11780 (the antigua->Bermuda->Newport section). The first race’s safety inspection is due June 5. We have plenty of time including a little slack for weather windows or a break in Bermuda.
First evening and morning of the trip:
I’ve never been to Antigua. It’s a beautiful place with the friendliest community I’ve ever seen. We arrived just as the hot season was beginning (“high season” ends in April, we arrived on May 10 to temperatures that even had the locals talking). You always (should) expect a little boat prep and this was no exception. The main difficulty was that Envolee had been supplied with new alternator belts… sized correctly but intended for low horsepower home appliances like washing machines. They failed immediately.
A few sweaty days of repairs later, we’re on our way! The delay gave us two things: much more moonlight and much less wind. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep a brisk pace (would love to be doing 7+ but the morning has had us down as low as 5 kts at times).
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