48 hours of wet pants!

Bad joke of the day - -what do you call a snowman in summer? A carrot

So here it is ......the final blog from Team Minerva - we're here in Barbados!
Arrived at 7am local time today to find that Isis had beaten us here by just 2 hours. Congrats to Luiz and team - well done especially given the issues they'd had to deal with; we saw the 'repaired' pole - Heath Robinson would have been proud.

The last 2 days have been wet and windy and whoever suggested bringing baby wipes deserves the Nobel Prize for Care of the Nether Regions. It's rained a lot and last night we were treated to torriental downpours and spectacular 360 degree electrical storms - steering through that in the dark was like some wierd video game - bizarre.

Prior to that Dave went up the mast with a few cameras - 87 feet, rather him than me, but he did get some great photos.
After our wrapped spinnaker yesterday we thought we'd had our bad luck but no......halfway through another of Graham's culinary triumphs (risotto), the kite split and was flapping all over the shop, so we all had to haul it down and get the foresail up PDQ - more time lost, hey ho.

This wasn't the weather we'd signed up to - 40 knot winds and rain made our arrival in Barbados more like a bad day's sail to the IOW. We eventually sighted land at 00.20 and then sailed to Port St Charles to do customs clearance, and more importantly, neck some cold beer - both duties heroically performed.
On our way down the west coast of the island now to drop anchor in Carlisle Bay. Some will be leaving the boat there for more salubrious accommodation so this will be our last day altogether on the boat - what a blast....no whale or dolphin sitings but some great memories for everyone.

HUGE thanks to Monkey, Rory and Graham - guys, it would not have been the same without you - deffo the best!

Thanks also to everyone who sent us messages over the last few days - it's been great to hear from you and know you've been following our adventure, and to all those other halves who we left behind to indulge ourselves - what can we say....

We'll all be in touch by text etc when batteries have recharged!

Some messages from us:

Peggs: What an amazing experience. I have had a fantastic time and still have a week in Barbados. Thanks you for all messages. Love to mum, dad, mark and simon.

Dave: To Bev, Claire and Rachel - missing you all hope your well, look forward to seeing you soon. Yipee. Thanks to everyone who sent me messages. What a great trip.

Julian and Alita: to Kayleygh, Luke and Tom - We are missing you so much. Love you and see you next week xxxx

Ian: to Dave - 8am Barbados yacht club, Banks - nice !

Paul: Tracy, Emma, Amanda, Sarah Jo - Hiya, see you soon , Daddy.

Charlotte: Has been a fantastic adventure, miss you all, look forward to seeing you soon. x

Rory: Arrived in Barbados safe and sound, on my way to drink copious amounts of rum and coke, will call you soon. love Rory.

Monkey: Rum rum in my tum, blow the candel out now. Monkey love x

Alex: Mum, dad, mike and all of you lovely people sending messages - we have arrived ! miss you all lots of love

Bridget: here in good spirits, looking forward to terra firma and sampling rum punch ... BX

Mr Max signing off - PSAA HK