On the 25th we motored over to Falmouth Harbour for a few days to pick up a package from the US and purchase some water maker pre-filters. On the 28th we topped off our diesel at Antigua Slipway Marina and sailed back to Jolly Harbour. Falmouth is well protected but the anchorage water quality and market are not as good as Jolly Harbour. You go behind a barrier reef on the southwest side of Antigua on the way so it is like sailing through a lake and is very pleasant. We have been trying to renew our monthly cruising permit unsuccessfully. For the last week the port authority office has not been open when we visit. Jim went again yesterday but it was not open. Customs and Immigration offices next door are open and tell us to keep checking back on the port authority because it should be open. The Antigua government has locked the island down including preventing entry to incoming yachts. It looks like most Caribbean islands are closed/locked down at this time. Antigua now has seven cases. Only essential businesses are open and social distancing rules with nightly curfews are in force. There seems to be an argument within the government if boats can travel to Barbuda now. Cruisers have been going there with no enforcement until they figure it out. We were thinking of hauling the boat to reapply epoxy, barrier coat, and anti-foul to the keel, but the government is going back and forth if yacht yards are essential businesses, so we will defer on that decision. We have been developing back up scenarios for hurricane season but like everyone else, we have no idea what is going to change in the next few months. Even the US has been closing marinas as non-essential business. Stay safe!
