19 June, 07 – 07.17 GMT
17.1218N,61.4120W
Hello from English Harbour Antigua!
wow! It takes 1 month at sea to miss life on land. And just 1 day on land to miss life at sea.
I set foot no land at 5.36 pm local time, at Jabberwok beach, next to military camp Blizzard, on the North East tip of the island. The clock stood at 106 days, 9 hrs 30 minutes. The odometer on the GPS stood at 3456 nautical miles (6393 kms).
Very mixed emotions being back on land. I'm making wobbly but fast recovery from life at sea but also missing the peace and freedom. Getting used to walking and the sores are subsiding. Here is a quick re-cap of my arrival in Antigua.
A number of overwhelming moments during my last few hours at sea.
Rowing in the darkness and watching a dull red glowing cloud, reflecting the lights of Antigua, appear on the horizon. The appearence of the strobe light high on the hills of Antigua. Stressing about hitting the reefs in the dark. Slowing the boat down with the sea anchor. Waiting for day light watching the boat drift closer and closer to shore as it dragged anchor. The first radio contact with land in the dark, on VHF. Rain. Then sunrise in the moring revealing Antigua covered in low clouds. Rain again. Watching clouds drift over the island. Then drift off the hills again. Watching the tops of buildings appear. Then trees. Seeing the first humans - coast guard officers - that came to escort me in. Finally the white sand the overwhelming smell of smoke, trees, flowers and land. Trying to make it into camp Blizzard. Pushed onto the reef by the winds. Trying to steer away. Hitting the reef. Coast guard officer getting into trouble in the water. Rowing the boat off the reef. Rowing it onto the white sand beach. Touching ground.
PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE
The conditions were tough. The weather refused to play ball. I spent 7 hard hours in the afternoon sun trying to row due South in South East headwinds in an effort to row into English Harbour, completing my row from land to land. It was hot, humid. I was tired. thirsty. Each time I stopped to drink water, I'd watch the numbers on the GPS change as the wind pushed the boat towards the North costing me hard earned progress.
There is nothing worse that rowing the same piece of ocean twice.
After speaking over the radio with ABSAR, I finally changed strategy and set course for CampBlizzard, a military base on the North East tip.
(For assistance with co-ordinating my arrival, many thanks to Maurice Merchant - Office of the Prime Minister, Antigua and; Barbuda, Jonathan - ABSAR,HeadofChancery, Guyana and; Embassy, Sweden, A.Kelkar, S. Ambani, V. Tewani, Captain Nicholas, Commanding Officer, Antigua and; Barbuda Coast Guard)
My contacts in Antigua:
OR at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina and; Resort
http://www.aycmarina.com/
Land: +1268 460 1544 , Room 25.
Mobile: +1268 772 9605.
(or + 268 772 9605 from the US)
mail@bhavik.com
Last few hrs rowing:Click to enlarge
Hot and humid. Rowing all afternoon against the wind:Click to enlarge
Antigua visible in a distance, over the bow:Click to enlarge
