Our hearts go out to those that suffered during Hurricane Matthew.  This is a great info graphic to explain what each different hurricane level can do. It's not absolute, but is the most widely used guide. 

This time of year is all about Kadooment, which is our carnival, and there is honestly no better way to enjoy the festivities than by boat.  Sail along the length of the West Coast, feeling the excitement build as the calypso and soca music gets louder and closer.  Enjoy those first glimpses of a teeming thong of vibrant colours moving as one along the highway, then take a trip ashore to enjoy a birds eye view of the spectacular bands and music.  Then wave goodbye and enjoy a peaceful sunset cruise back along the coast leaving the mayhem far behind.  

This time of year, you often see bright yellow 'Turtle Crossing' signs on the side of the road.  Contrary to some dispute, these are honestly not a joke.  The Mother turtles lay their eggs in the sand, a little way from the shore.  When the turtles hatch, the lights from restaurants on the beach, confuse the babies, who traditionally follow the moon to find their way to the ocean and so they get lost and head inland.  The signs are there to alert us that there are nests in the area and to keep an eye out for hatchlings.  If you see them, please call the turtle conservation project on 230-0142 and they will come and rescue them. 

It has taken us a while but our gents have certainly improved on their fishing skills, they were very pleased with these two, both caught within minutes of each other. Please don't worry about the title I was only joking, we did let them go, but the boys do keep on hoping for a big one.  I feel a little differently, 'Second Chance' is immaculate and I'd quite like to keep it that way, so when we catch them this size, everyone is happy!  Poor Greg even had his apron on in anticipation!

It's almost May and yet we are hearing reports of snow in both the UK and Canada.  By now we should have had a little rain but it's glorious sunshine and dry as a bone. Barbados is known for its Easter breezes, thanks to the Tradewinds, but this year, Easter was fairly calm but we seem to be having odd days of freak gusts, totally out of nowhere. We love the wind, all the better sailing but there seems to be no rhyme or reason.  That said, we are thankful for our daily constant temperature and glorious sunshine.  If it gets too chilly where you are, hop on plane, there are plenty of seat sales at the moment, (we have seen emails from Virgin, BA and Westjet) and the hotels are all charging shoulder season rates.  It's a Bajan bargain to be had! 

Last post on this subject, but we couldn't resist sharing this one of the team of Concise 10 training for the Mount Gay Regatta.  

This is the spectacular finish for this years Mount Gay Rum, Round Barbados race, the neck and neck finish between Phaedo and Ms Barbados. 

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) has entered into a sponsorship partnership with Team Concise ahead of the Mount Gay Round the Island race this January.  The aim of the collaboration is to significantly increase the awareness of Barbados as a sailing destination, and attract more yachts to Barbados . 
Two of Team Concise's yachts have been branded "Ms. Barbados", for the coming winter season and they will fly the Barbados flag in international events. The two boats will make repeated runs around Barbados in January 2016 attempting to establish new world records for the fastest time around the island. This will be a visual feast of speed for visitors on the beaches as well as local Bajans' who have a passion for anything fast, on or off the water.
During the Mount Gay Regatta, there is a planned show down between Concise 10, and one of the local rally cars, which will race each other around the island. While Concise 10 surfs down Atlantic breakers off the East Coast of Barbados at speeds in excess of 40 knots, one of the islands top drivers will be pounding along the adjacent beaches, leaping sand dunes and tearing up dirt roads all to see who can "get round first".
While all of this is going on, a new challenge, "The Barbados Flying Mile" will be opened up to all. Local and visiting yachts will be able to time themselves over a measured mile between two marker buoys set just off the West Coast's glorious beaches. Captains can then post their elapsed times online and claim bragging rights if they are the fastest.