Orangestad, Aruba

Overnight sail of 74 miles at snail’s pace (which was obviously the long way as Aruba is 42 miles west of Curacao)

Bit of a bumpy ride as it was windy in Curacao so the boat had a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll thang goin’ on.  Windy also in Aruba, and also warm at 30 deg and humid so quite sticky.  Usual morning routine then onto shore, and onto a catamaran to take us west to Catalina Bay for a shallow snorkel, then to the Antilla wreck for a deep snorkel (30 ft).  It was very choppy, and the shallow snorkel was not very good as there were not a lot of fish to see.  It was even rougher around the wreck, so I decided not to go unless R said it was very good.  No sooner had everyone got in the water, than the first few were out as it was so rough.  R said it was OK, but I chose to lay on the netting at the front of the cat in the sun.  Nice.

The crew were not at all helpful and R had to help an elderly chap get up the stairs from the water and also carried his gear out the back.  The poor old chap was exhausted just getting up the stairs so lay on the netting for a while to get his breath back.  No tips for the crew!  Bumpy, splashy tootle down the coast again, then back onto the ship for showers and dry clothes.  Back on shore, and into the town.  We were starving, so food & beers first at Iguana Joe’s (and no, there was no iguana on the menu), then a look around the town.

We were a bit knackered so back on the boat for ice creams, then up to the pool for a swim and a spa.  Last of the gin on the balcony for sailaway.

We went to the iBroadway show in the theatre, which we weren’t very impressed with and left early.  It was a formal night so we were in our gladrags, so had some formal photos taken.  Through for dinner, then home to bed.