Mariner Boating's Caribbean Canter 2009

by Margaret Roebuck on 28 Aug 2008
Antigua Race Week in the Caribbean in April 2009 promises to be as much fun as this April past.

The rally will sail from Guadeloupe and finish in St Martin. It is a one way affair and takes in a little of the Antigua Race Week vibe before setting off to Nevis, St Kitts, St Eustatia, St Barts and then St Martin. In April this year a highlight was the Antigua Police Band which turned out and helped us to remember Anzac Day in the traditional way before we joined the party scene at Antigua Race Week.

Drinking ‘killer bees’ on the beach was just one experience not to be missed on our adventure in the Caribbean. It was not on the program and that is the fun of the lay day race day program – on the lay day everyone has the opportunity to discover some of the local characters and report back to other members of the group. Of course the stories get better and better with the telling and retelling!

On the night we spent on Nevis we heard from the locals about a restaurant which had been a plantation house. We organized a taxi and headed for the hills behind the main town. We arrived to a beautiful welcome. Candles lit the path leading to a wide veranda with white cane tables and chairs conjuring up images of the plantation times. We wished we had all dressed in white suits and worn wide brimmed hats. The fresh flowers, ceiling fans and chandeliers, beautiful table linen and candles all added to the ambiance - and the candles came in very handy when the generator failed for a short time during dinner. A superb meal and great service ensured we had a wonderful experience and after dinner our faithful taxi driver returned us safely to our yachts moored in the harbour.

The island has many delightful old houses which have been converted to cafes and restaurants. It is easy to share their history while stopping off for coffee or a light lunch of lobster salad sandwiches.

In sharp contrast we had lunch at 'Sunshines' on the beach sitting under a canopy which was still being erected after Sunny was forced to remove his establishment to a new location. When we arrived this was still being accomplished but it was business as usual for Sunny during the move.

The Caribbean is an interesting mix of cultures, colours, food, and reggae music. The history is as varied as the characters living and working there with English, French, Dutch, and Creole flavors all adding to the mix and ultimately creating a unique feast.

The race program is low key and is really the way to go from place to place with some added interest. We found that even the cruisers got involved in the results and the dinners ashore after each race were always full of anecdotes, banter, excuses and general good humored competition. I must say I really cannot remember who won the series but I do remember that we all had a wonderful holiday in a very beautiful and interesting part of the world.

Mariner Boating Holidays will run the rally in the Caribbean in April 2009.

Details are on the web site www.marinerboating.com.au or call (02) 99661244 for more information.

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