We set sail for Bermuda tomorrow morning, so it's just as well that preparations are now complete.
Tintin came off the hard in Antigua on Thursday last week with a newly antifouled hull and no working water pump. A few days spent in the bowels of the boat dealing with the latter issue and at the top of the mast hauling up sails provided strong opportunities for team building between Rob and Toby, particularly when the captain was reduced to Ankle-Holder-in-Chief for a couple of days by virtue of having shoulders too broad to fit into the bilge.
Bertie joined the crew on Sunday and the next afternoon we set sail for Sint Maarten. Light and favourable winds rendered the largest issue on this passage to be finding the most comfortable position from which to drink beer on the foredeck as we watched the sunset from the shade of the genoa. A falling pole fortunately put a dent in the deck rather than anyone's skull (just) and offered a valuable chance to re-examine this particular part of the rigging.
Sint Maarten passed by in a blur of ARC-sponsored barbecues, briefings and odd jobs. An unfortunate spot inspection of our shopping by another crew seems to have landed Tintin with a reputation as a gentleman's boat. Time is yet to tell whether they will regret snubbing our beer, cheese and crisps when they get a week into their ocean gruel.
The island has been a great centre of learning for the crew. Lectures have been concentrated on optimal fridge set-up, timekeeping and the etymology of obscure germanic vocabulary. Other topics included safety equipment and liferafts. The second and third mates even dabbled in teaching with an admirable trip to the local casino to demonstrate the perils of gambling to fellow sailors.
Rob insists that the plan for tomorrow is to sit back from the start line until all the carnage has died away and then to sail through peacefully. We will find out at 11:30 whether the other crews have bought this ruse.
The mood is buoyant and the boat is looking swell. Watch this space to find out if our large investments in lures at Budget Marine provide the boat's fishing expert with his first ever catch.