We arrived in StMaarten, on the Monday before the gang arrived on the Wednesday. Alan, Sheena & Corinna did the trip up from Antigua with us, the start and finish were both under motor as the wind came and went.

Forecast for the regatta wasn't looking good, with the forecasts saying it was going to get lighter by the weekend, starting with around 10knots on the Friday. Quite some difference to the 40knot gusts we were seeing in the Lagoon last year on the Wednesday before we raced on the Friday!

We got the keys to the Disco Villa on Wednesday morning, and moved Alan, Sheena & Alex in and then spent the day getting ready before we had to pick the arrivals up at the airport. Mike meet up with us around lunch time. He'd flown in Tuesday. Sheena and Alan were in charge of the BBQ for the evening so they set to work, while Matt and I meet the crew.

By 7pm the gang were all landed and cracking into the beers. It was good to see the guys and meet Mike, Kate & Alex for the first time.

Thursday morning we met down on the boat and took the 11.00am bridge out of the lagoon. We all caked ourselves in sunscreen, the heat on the water was burning and come lunchtime, people were desperate to jump in. The wind stayed light and gave us an easy practice day while everyone got used to the boat again.

Thursday night we met at Jimbos, a really cool Mesquite Grill at the end of the dock at Simpson Bay Yacht Club Marina. A few drinks there and we decided to stay for dinner and then some of us headed to bed rather than on to the party.

Friday 7am, meet on Disco! Not the ideal way to start a regatta especially when it must have been 25C by 9am, and we were racing round the whole of St Maarten. We had to be fast to make it in the 3.30pm bridge, unfortunately it wasn't looking good with under 10knots at the start and being called over the line! The good thing about a slow race around StMaarten is the waters are BEAUTIFUL, if you look at the photos, the water is turquoise the whole way round. We also had the pleasure of 2 dolphins having a little swim past us. By the top of the island we were up with the front of our fleet. And finished 5th on the water.

Although we'd missed the early bridge home we were all in good spirits, so the question was asked "Wigs On?" A few confused faces followed by smiles of delight as I produced 11 afros wigs and a little Disco pose routine to take us through the bridge. We lined up down the side deck and the applause and screams from the audience at the Yacht Club were just great. We were then greeted in our berth by Graddo and Sheena with an armful of beers! Yeah Baby!

Saturday morning, a lie in! The gang arrived at 8am for the 9am bridge, we had to be set up and ready to go for our 9.40am start. The first race was good, taking us round to Marigot we then had a short interval until race 2. We seemed to have better boat speed today but the smaller boats move as fast as us in these light airs. We arrived in Marigot and managed to get ourselves in on the dock. We had enough beer on board to get us going and then Graddo was the nominated person to do the beer run, why? because he's so good at it! 6.30pm came round quickly and we went off to O Plongier at the end of the dock for dinner. Table bookings work wonders, why is it so few people plan ahead? A great french meal there, Bob wasn't too impressed by the wine, must have been a tough day at the back of the boat. After dessert we headed round to the main stage for some party action, only to be faced with a dance competition on stage between guys off the boats. Of course a Brit won! After lots of laughs we all wandered to our beds for a good nights sleep.

Sunday morning, a postponement was announced, we left the canopy up and motored off the dock. We were eventually started after what was a short postponement compared to what we see in Cowes and a course shortening! I think this was the slowest race for the amount of miles. However we did make the early bridge and managed to find enough energy for another 'Wig On' opportunity! This time Alex led by standing on the pulpit, twirling his purple spike around while the rest of us danced down the side deck.

Sunday Night, Jimmy Cliff, Reggae Legend. At least I saw him, then went to bed! Those who stayed thought he was excellent.

Monday was a rest day with a few trips to the airport and lunch at the Sunset Bar. The evening was a BBQ at the house. Tuesday some took the ferry to St Barths and sampled the Nikki Beach Experience and met us at the Sunset Bar in time for Sunset and on to Bamboo Bernies for dinner.

Disco left St Maarten on Wednesday with Bob & Corinna on board and we motored to StBarths - yes there still wasn't any wind! We then relaxed on the boat in the afternoon and ventured into Gustavia for some window shopping and some chillin' out in the local bars. Dinner was at La Pipiri Palace which just gets better every time.

Thursday was a Nikki Beach lunch, there is just something about that place, the food was fantastic. We discovered that Sheena wasn't too familiar with wasabi so Matt and I took great delight in mixing up a bowl full and getting her to drink it. Short of her head exploding, it was hilarious, a real 'When Harry Met Sally" moment. We said our goodbyes and the four of us on Disco vanished off into the night and then on to Antigua.