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Firefly - Happy Christmas from Firefly



Since our last log we have spent a couple of weeks in Antigua, Susie and Jane have arrived and we have said farewell to Murray and Barney. Most of the time on Antigua, Firefly was in Nonsuch Bay at anchor. Paul and Susie staying on board, Paul kite-surfing most days and Peter and Jane lazing in the luxury of the Nonsuch Bay resort. We enjoyed the hospitality of fellow Salcombe-ites the Becks, Cadogans, and the Shoves. After a farewell supper at Antigua Yacht Club Paul, Susie, Jane and Peter set sail from English Harbour for Guadeloupe on 23rd December. The crossing involved a 42 mile passage in 25 to 30 knot winds and large Atlantic swells. This proved a challenge for us all particularly Jane who coped with it bravely having never sailed this far before! We saw the island of Montserrat in the distance and made landfall at Deshaies on the north west corner of Guadeloupe.

After the crossing, we all deserved a bit of time on land so enjoyed a delicious Creole meal ashore (challenging our language skills), sight seeing around the French-ified town and a tour of the spectacular Deshaies Botanical Gardens which also had lots of colourful lorikeets and parakeets (which pleased Grateful). Firefly was anchored in the lee of the island but the wind accelerates over the land when it is from the east and south of east so we suffered a couple of uncomfortable nights. It was deemed too risky to take the dinghy into town to go to the evening service at the lovely local church so, instead, we dredged our repertoire of carols and Christmas songs which also prevented late arrivals mooring nearby! Today, Christmas morning, we decided to leave in search of a calmer waters having also missed the early church service (intentions were there). After family phone calls all round, we moved south down the west coast to Pigeon Island; this is in a marine nature reserve established by Jacques Cousteau. We were greeted on our arrival by a Santa Claus with flippers. We have all been snorkelling in the coral accompanied by stunning tropical fish. The turkey is in the oven the bubbly is in the fridge and the party poppers are at the ready putting us in the Christmas mood.

We do hope you all have an enjoyable Christmas and we will be thinking of you.

Love from Paul, Susie, Jane, Peter and Grateful (popper in his beak)

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