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1. The main saloon and bar. Nearly all
the meals are served up on deck on an equally sized dinning
table. However, the bar offered a cosy retreat in the evenings. |
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2. This shop in Bequia reflects the typical
colours of many Caribbean buildings. |
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3. The original bilge pump. No longer in
working order, but does make a wonderful focal point on the
main deck as well as an antique piece of deck furniture. |
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4. The huge main sheet blocks - this assembly
was about 6 feet in height, and the triple block itself was
about the size of an inflatable beach ball. |
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5. The bowsprit netting which could offer
a nice shaded spot for a refreshing snooze. |
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6. Breakfast on the main deck. Make no
bones about it, the Irene takes its food very seriously and
the chef will be made aware of your culinary likes and dislikes
before you arrive on board. |
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7. A typical presentation of dinner. The
wine during the evening meal i s included in the charter package
and even the sun downer before dinner is by compliments of the
Irene. |
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8. Alfresco lunch on the deck dinning table.
Although the food is excellent and plentiful, the heat somehow
diminishes the desire to eat great quantities of food. |
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9. the Irene’s deck from
aloft. |
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10. The Irene under full sail.
If you decide to join in and help out with the crew, you’ll
soon discover that sailing the Irene is quite heavy going. |
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11. The anchorage at Tobago Cays. This
is where the Irene stands out from other charters. Here all
the ships toys came out and within minutes, the Irene
was a hub of activity with dinghy sailing, kayaking, snorkelling
and diving. Other charter boats associated with the biggest
names in the market could only watch with envy. |
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12. At anchor in Tobago Cays, Conch shells,
like the one wedged in this tree are littered or perhaps more
accurately commercially dumped all over the beaches providing
the opportunity to collect some ornamental souvenirs of the
holiday. |
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13. The pace of life at sea is easy going
and the huge sails will cast a cool shadow somewhere on the
deck. |
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14. Repairing the sails was a regular task
for the ship’s deck hand. Note the rather strange gaff
behind her. This was a temporary repair after the original oak
jaws parted after a heavy jibe. This ingenious repair, made
up of angle bar and round steel welded together, was measured
up and designed on the back of fag packet and knocked up in
48 hours. A truly remarkable and respectful piece of engineering. |
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15. The helmsman’s view. |
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16. A typical windswept palm tree on a
Caribbean beach. |
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17. A local boatman catches the shade under
a mango tree. These boatman are colourful enterprising characters
who trade the numerous anchorages for the custom of visiting
yachts. Anything from taxi services, tea shirts, and lobsters
are on offer.
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18. Approaching Caracou. |
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19. The deck hand repairs the classic dinghy’s
sails. |
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20. The classic dinghy ‘Sea Pink’
being prepared for guests by the deck hand. |
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21. The view from the high ground at Tabago
Cays. Beneath the surface of this vast lagoon is an underwater
tropical garden of coral and fish. The Irene has diving equipment
on board and at least one of the crew will be qualified to take
you on what’s officially called a ‘resort dive’
to experience the wonders beneath. |
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22. The ‘Jarvis Winch’. It
looks rather like a medieval laundry press and in today’s
terms this is the mast winch. The Irene’s rig is made
up of heavy wood and acres of canvas meaning there’s no
light work as such, so the crew use the primitive but original
means to gain some form of mechanical advantage to reduce the
heavy work. |
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23. The view from the top of Fort Duvemette
overlooking the anchorage at Young Island Cut. |
