Sunday, 26th September 2010
We all got up early as we were going to the BBQ on West Island today, followed by a Local Cheese and Wine party. The weather was only so so. Skipper was in the middle of the blog when a leak appeared in the air vents to the holding tanks, and these were located over the ceiling of the skippers cabin. Ohhhhhhhhh!
20 mins later, Terry took Aileen and Neil to catch the Ferry to West Island and returned to A Lady to lend a hand tidy up the mess and do some repairs. We had an awful first couple of hours, but then got into the swing of things and managed over the course of the day to eliminate all the boxes on the list of things to do........ By lunch time, the rain began to come down in bucket loads, just after Grand Filou had arrived from Bali.
Meanwhile, Aileen and Neil enjoyed the BBQ, and prize giving, hosted by Rally Control on West Island. This was held on a beautiful sandy beach with warm turquoise water lapping onto the sand. They met lots of the other boats and generally had a good time. They also collected some prizes for the last leg. ie. We won the overall prize plus getting a prize for line honours on the leg from Bali to the Cocos Islands.
They then moved onto the cheese and wine party, this is usually held every Sunday on West Island and attended by mostly ex pats. There the met Liza Dicks (remember, we had a lovely lunch in their house during the week). Liza and husband Mike have an Oyster and are thinking they might join the rally next time round in Australia. Of course they also met Avril and others we met during the week and basically had a ball.
Mid afternoon, Richie and Charlie from Grand Filou joined Skipper and Terry on A Lady for a few Brandy and Ports. At this stage, the rain was so heavy, we could hardly see the other end of the boat. Maybe a sign of things to come.
At 18.30hrs the others returned from West Island and a large part of the younger crowd managed to wind up on A Lady
and the wine and beer was flowing well.
Later, we bailed out the rib, which at this stage was half full of water, and the younger people left to continue their party else where.
We had an early night, Skipper seems to have caught a dose of the flue or something similar, coughing and spluttering. Aileen has bruised ribs and Terry has a crocked knee. We are a bunch of wrecked humans.
That's all for now,
Signed :- Stephen Hyde (Skipper)