Dominica then Antigua

Have just spent two nights in Prince Rupert Bay Portsmouth on the island of Dominica. This island is very green and lush because it rains a lot!! We were anchored on a mooring close to Zoe and the four of us spent a busy day on Thursday doing a trip up the Indian River then after lunch we had a tour of the island by taxi and Sam the driver was very informative about all the fruits and trees and wildlife. He took us to the Carib territory where the local Carib Indians were selling their baskets and handicrafts so we had to stop and buy some - naturally! The evening we arrived in Dominica we went to the local BBQ hosted by the PAYS (Professional Association of Yacht Security) which is a group of boat boys who assist yachts finding moorings/space to anchor and acting as water taxis and supplying anything you might need here otr helping to source items for you. A very worthwhile group. The BBQ cost us EC$50 each (£12.50) and was good value with some tasty fish chicken salad and rice plus the obligatory rum punches!! So after our busy day of tours we had an early night. The plan was to leave the following day and visit Les Saintes and Guadeloupe next. However when Peter read in our cruising guide that these countries are actually part of France we decided it was not worth risking a bill for VAT on the boat so plan abandoned. Instead we left Dominica Friday afternoon and sailed overnight to arrive here in Antigua in English Harbour around 9am this morning. The first part of our journey was good but the wind and sea kicked up whilst we were sailing up past Guadeloupe so we had to motor sail to keep a course and it was rough. So glad to be here tied up in Nelsons Dockyard Marina which is full of history as all the old buildings have been maintained and now house various businesses. we are booked in here for 3 nights and will leave on Tuesday to sail up to the BVIs which is around 200 miles so another overnight passage. Should arrive in the BVI Thursday all being well!