So Clear, I can see the colour of the coral 60ft below!

Sailing through the rock and coral reefs, in the often crystal clear waters of Antigua is a world apart from the muddy creeks of the Solent. As we drop anchor we're hailed by another yacht. Betsy, a Bowman 40 from Portchester SC, first met us when I dropped anchor alongside them in Newtown Creek., now it's Nonsuch Bay! Like a beer?

The snorkelling has been fantastic. Great coral heads rise from the depths. Brain, staghorn, fan, and tube corals give shelter to a vast variety of fish. Big groupers sulk in their shadows, while huge shoals cruise around, darting this way, then that. The colours are amazing: electric blue, silver, yellow, striped, pastel, spotted - the list is as endless as the variety.

Antigua is the most expensive Island I have visited. US$35 to clear in, and the same to clear out. Ten times the cost of the other islands, and Martinique was free. None the less it's my second home, and I have many friends here and so it was that we were invited out to Franks boat "Ilandia"for a Tot. He's got a Yongert 40 - that metres, not feet, and she's actually 170ft overall, so there was plenty of space for all.

There are many of the Superyachts here now. They are gathering for Classic Week. Many of the older ones can often be seen out sailing, working-up for the racing. It's a truly spectacular sight to see the grace, power, and beauty of these old classics. Acres of sail set, they thunder past, tack, gybe, and reach off towards Guardeloupe or Montserrat. I can't wait to be racing against them again.

The weather Gods must have taken heed and read the rule book at last. It has stopped raining, and the winds have dropped to Easterly (is there another direction)12-15 kts. The temperature has also dropped. Gone is the scorching heat and high humidity. Now it's a comfortable 28'C, and the skies are blue. I guess it's getting better back home too!!

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