Barbuda: 1 / Antigua: 0

Daily Antigua sees 3 or 4 ships that landed their hordes of passengers found everywhere on land and at sea… not our style!  Fortunately Barbuda is wild with beautiful beaches and protected lagoons...

Friday 23 December: St Johns

We must go to St Johns (commercial port and capital of Antigua) to retrieve equipment that we had come by boat from Miami. The bottom of the Bay is crossed by a series of floating buildings!

After wetting at the entrance of the Bay we'll attached to the little fishing port which is the economic center (for locals) between the bus station and the markets. An old woman explains how to prepare the traditional drink of end of the year with these small red fruits called "sorrel" and cinnamon. 
We take this opportunity to make the full of fruits and vegetables, and despite the Nathalie negotiating skills it is impossible to bring down sky-high prices! local pineapple 7 EUR, a kilo of tomatoes or peppers to 10 EUR!!!  This is not the country where shopping.  
We are curious and will make a tour in the area of landing of ships where everything is "properly" with designer shops and security officers.
The tour is quickly made and we are left with pleasure the traditional part of the city... where the tourists do not venture!
The evening, as the night falls, cruise ships glide to their next destination. A new Squadron will arrive the next day at sunrise of the day.
As our packages are not yet out of the container, We will spend Christmas in the lagoon North of Antigua. We draw edges to sailing in the channel of Boon by 25 knots of wind and a flat sea... it is a pleasure!  We affalons the sails in front of Long Island, which is an island with a luxury hotel and residences of luxury... we spend our way... 
Mooring at the eastern end of the lagoon, behind Great Bird Island where we are relatively protected wave and strong wind. Unfortunately it is one of the many favorite destinations to bring cruise passengers... It is a succession of boats of all kinds, packed, who landed on the island and do swim their passengers on the reef. Not surprising that there are very few fish and the coral is dead!

I don't care, I swell the paddle (SUP) and despite the choppy and the wind here in images the first... good tests, I spend more time in the water than on the Board. 
A Nautitech 47 "CAYALI" is wet next to us, with on board m., Gregory and their two children love and Robin. We sympathize quickly and decide to go together to Barbuda to celebrate the new year.  
 

Friday 30 December: Barbuda

First anchor at Spanish Point behind the barrier reef, in 2,5 between potatoes and water meters.  
The crew of "YSUN" (Bernard and Mireille + Yves and Alain) Join us to share a few bubbles of new year. A nice evening with friends.

Sunday, January 1 2017: Cocoa Point

We're moving a few miles more to the West, where protection is best behind Cocoa Point. Any tip is private, occupied by a hotel and forbidden access. Some boats are wet in front of the hotel and we sail along the coast, zigzagging between the potatoes of coral to wet away from everyone in the face of a deserted Beach, a Coconut Grove and unoccupied bungalows. 
We are not too "beach", but it must be said that it is not too bad!
No one seems to pick up coconuts, then we take the opportunity.
Time passes quickly and for our last night with CAYALI, It will be aperitif on the beach. 
Great, a table and umbrella await us.
While the sun sets... and the bone begin to attack our calves. He Yes, We had forgotten the existence of these (very) voracious critters. 
A last souvenir photo before back us on the edge of the water where the wind is too strong for our aggressors. 
The next day CAYALI proceeds to the North while we return to Antigua to make our exit in the direction of Guadeloupe.