Tricky navigation to Antigua

On the way up to Antigua we decide to make a stop at a VERY small island called “Ilet A Caret” just north of Guadelope. The island is one of those “cartoon” islands- super small, white sand and a couple of palm trees. To get to the island was seriously tricky. You have to navigate trough really shallow water- sometime down to 1 meter.

We spend a couple of hours on the island before we had a dinner followed by a early night sleep. To make life a little bit easier for Anna (sea sickness) I decided to sail during the night up to Antigua. If it was tricky to sail into the small island I cant even explain how difficult it was to get out to the sea from the small island during the darkness.

Me and Davide started to maneuver trough the reef around 2 a clock and it took us more than 1,5 hours to move the boat 1 nm. Davide in the front with our massive search light pointing the way while I was slowly slowly maneuvering the boat towards deeper water. I could not have done it without Davide and it was a long time ago I have been so nervous.

We had good speed over to Antigua- we had an average of 8 knots with big waves coming from the side. I have no idea why but I got a little bit sea sick during the night- second time (maybe I am getting old or something)

To check in in Antigua was really easy even though it took almost 2 hours. The customs officers came onboard and searched the boat before I was allowed to go to the customs office. I used Antigua’s online system “Seaclear” to check in wish speeded up the process a lot. The reason for that the check in process took such a long time was Vera (our dog) . A veterinarian had to come down and do a medical exam on her before she got a stamp in her passport.

The speak English here in Antigua- wish is bloody fantastic- I am so tired with French people not speaking English (or maybe the problem is mine cause I don’t speak French).

Anyway- stay safe and stay happy

//Daniel