| The idea of living on a sailboat may appeal to you at | | | | go to St John, the capital of Antigua, tomorrow...in a |
| first glance. But then you think...What would I do all | | | | maxi taxi, Antigua's answer to NASCAR. You get |
| day? | | | | your connectors, return to the boat at noon. Your bride |
| We lived on a sailboat for 8 years in the Caribbean | | | | fixes a light lunch and you take a short nap. Ah living |
| and I can assure you that boredom is not a problem. | | | | on a sailboat. |
| Here is your typical day. | | | | At 1:30 you start your project, the 12V refrig is running |
| Let's put you in English Harbor in Antigua...at anchor, the | | | | a lot and you don't know why. You discover the |
| one time home of Lord Nelson, England's greatest | | | | power wire feels stiff. You see the corroded |
| admiral. He was living on a sailboat here in 1795. | | | | connector and cut the power cable back a foot and |
| Upon arising you grab a paperback that you got 2 | | | | see bright copper. Using the connectors you bought |
| days ago at the cruiser book exchange...your cost, | | | | you do the simple wiring job. Took an hour and a half |
| nada. You start the coffee, being careful not to wake | | | | to figure what was wrong, 2 minutes to fix the |
| the first mate. You go up top, drink your coffee and | | | | problem. Murphy was a sailor you know. |
| watch the harbor come to life. A mega yacht comes | | | | It's now 3 you both read for an hour or so and wonder |
| in and anchors...must be Oprah's, there is a helicopter | | | | why you ever thought you needed TV. At 4:30 you |
| on top. | | | | both shower, Navy kind, wet, soap, rinse, using little of |
| At 8AM you go below and fire up the Single Side | | | | the precious fresh water you have aboard. |
| Band Radio. You connect with your buds you last saw | | | | At 5PM every day you watch the sun get lower in the |
| in Venezuela. They are in Grenada heading north; you | | | | sky with a cold Caribe beer and maybe some |
| are in Antigua heading for Trinidad. You make plans | | | | Anniversario rum (the cognac of rums, bar none). It |
| over the radio to meet in Dominica in a couple of | | | | cost $3.00 a bottle in Margarita Island last year. |
| weeks, if the weather is cool...there is no hurry, there | | | | Dinner is a hunk of wahoo cooked on the small grill on |
| never is. | | | | the rear rail. You have fresh veggies you bought |
| After that you listen to the weather net and get | | | | yesterday by the side of the road. Last night you went |
| caught up on winds and sea conditions. You are going | | | | to your friend's boat for dinner. Ah, life living on a |
| to go to Guadalupe in a week or so if the weather is | | | | sailboat. |
| OK. Its 40 nautical miles south of Antigua. | | | | Well it is 7:30, been dark over an hour, you hit the |
| You read some more, the wife awakens, has coffee | | | | vberth read a little and turn in. You have a busy day |
| makes some toast and asks what is happening today. | | | | tomorrow; you are going across island, probably at |
| You need to go ashore to the ships store and get | | | | mach 1, with 9 locals in a 14 passenger van. A real big |
| some electrical connectors. So you lower the dinghy | | | | day indeed. |
| from the davits and you both zip in. | | | | Can you feel the stress...living on a sailboat. Can you |
| Ashore you run into some mates and make plans to | | | | see yourself doing this? Enjoy. |