Veni Vidi Vixi - Veni Vidi Vixi - fifth blog - Here comes the sun nah, nah, nah, nah...

Oh what a difference a day can make! And just like the pain of labour is quickly forgotten after the baby arrives, the pain of the choppy waves, high winds and beating rain is forgotten as the sun climbs higher in the sky.

From near gale force, too much wind and lightning strikes seemingly all around us to every sailors nemesis- no wind at all.

After two weeks rest, on goes the donkey (our engine) so on goes the water maker! Hooray, showers for everyone and after days of being thrown around by the rollercoaster, believe me, we all need a good wash. The kids rejoice as they soap themselves up on deck - bubbles, glorious bubbles are everywhere - goodbye sticky children and hello fresh smelling hair and bodies. Soon a large bucket comes out and in goes all the favourite T-shirts, socks and unmentionables that have been worn a few times too many over the past weeks at sea. The fresh scent of lavender detergent fills the air as each item is pegged on the the life lines who are having a break from being held onto for dear life in the conditions of the past few days.

Down goes the spray dodger and the cockpit is suddenly bathed in sunlight. Soon the engine is turned off and the Code Zero is hoisted - ahhh... peace and quiet resumes. Out come books, delightful books by other sailors who have journeyed to the Caribbean before us and describe for us the tales of their island adventures - from the best bays for snorkelling with turtles to the most delicious cuisines to dine on - our mouths begin to water in anticipation of all the cocktails, fresh fruits, fish and lobster that await us on arrival in St Luica. I promise myself to get in touch with Andrea and Ian Treleaven and let them know how much we’ve enjoyed reading their tales of the 2007 ARC crossing accounted in ‘Letters From the Caribbean’ and how their joy of island hopping fuels us onward on our journey.

Even the news of the new regulations upon entering the country can’t get us down today - another PCR test - no problem, my nose can take it when the promise of unlimited rum punch is on the horizon. We will happily await our results while in quarantine on J pier with an icy cold beverage in hand, only leaving the marina to visit the anchorage nearby for an afternoon of swimming in the cooling sea. Everything seems possible when the sun is shining and the memory of heavy weather sailing has been erased from our memories. And as the dolphins frolic in the waves beside our boat, we set our minds on the horizon and the belief that the best of our journey is yet to come - landfall and the excitement of completing this rally strongly - onward Veni Vidi Vixi - bring us home.