SHOPPING TRIP While the wives were hopefully busy sunning themselves, sipping on Pina Coladas on the beach loungers, I had instigated a covert plan to hook up with Eli on Wednesday, the day before we were due to fly home. ‘Hi Darling; Dave and I are just running into town to buy souvenirs for the mother in laws, why don’t you girls just stay on the beach and relax’ Obviously our alibi was slightly dubious but before the wives had a chance to raise any suspicious doubts we were out of the hotel and jumping into Eli’s four wheel drive and on our way. Half an hour later we were rigged and ready for action, wives hopefully oblivious to our cunning plan. Jabberwok beach is a beautiful white sand bay facing the trade winds on the island’s north east coast and the island’s most consistent and popular windsurfing location just a few kms. away from the airport. Situated in a nature reserve, there are no permanent structures allowed at Jabberwok hence the fact local windsurfing instructor Patrik Scales runs his operation out of a mobile centre. Eli was the first in front of the camera and hit the water right on cue with a twenty five knot gust looking pretty overpowered on his North 7.3m and 120 litre Fanatic. Dave almost looked smug when Eli dropped his first outside gybe announcing the pressure was off if the pro’s were falling in. After Eli had recovered from his early splash with a steady display of blasting and slick gybes, he very kindly offered over his rig and harness to Dave for a blast. I immediately noticed a bead of nervous sweat drip down Dave’s forehead when Eli mentioned to watch out for the rocks at the downwind end of the bay; the pressure was on. Granted the opportunity for a session, Dave quickly nipped back to his rucksack and grabbed a PWA Bonaire rash vest I had given him last summer; boy had Dave’s flirt with fame gone to his head and was he was he now on the beach in Antigua attempting to claim he is some kind of freestyle pro? Oh dear – Dave is definitely no Gollito!
