There are always amazing events happening here and at this time of the year we seem to lurch
from one straight into the next .

For example, a couple of weeks ago was one of the world’s biggest sailing regattas taking
place around the island with well over one hundred yachts and catamarans of all shapes and sizes competing. Competitors fly in from all over the world into one of the top ten most dangerous airports in the world. Right here. Please click the pic and it will turn into a short video showing one of our tourist attractions. A plane landing over a beach. It’s one of the ‘must do’ things when you come here.
 

Well, the actual racing is similar to watching a formula one race, (except very much
slower of course). And whereas the racing cars come around at completely ludicrous speeds in front of the grandstand every once in 3.82165 minutes (or thereabouts), and the
spectators get to see the cars for a nano- second before having to wait for another 3.82165 minutes again for the next lap of the cars. SO, in our regatta, the boats jockey for a good start . Now this is really pretty difficult to do. You cannot stop the yacht at all; quite impossible. The captains have to make small circles behind this imaginary line hoping that when the gun goes off, you are facing the right way. And as soon as this happens, all the vessels start
disappearing away from the island at speeds varying from 8 to up to 28 knots; (very similar to Miles per hour, just add a little bit extra). Then, you may as well go home because you are not going to see them again till the late afternoon when they return and cross the finishing line. Probably like watching paint dry… or even grass growing I suppose. Quite honestly, it’s definitely NOT a spectator sport! But what is, are all the after-partying! OH BOY! And do they
party well.
  

This year there were three massive parties with literally thousands of people. The
sponsors dress up pretty girls whose job it is to walk round making sure everyone is having a good time. Just look at the picture of the Captain Morgan girls… and who would not be pleased to have a drink with them? All the local restaurants employees get to add colour to the festivities . Watch ‘ Elvis’ the bartender singing while serving. Now the good news is that it all takes place on our local beach.

Starting a week or so before the regatta a huge stage is erected using shipping containers and all sorts of things to add height to the stages. Bands from all over the place are flown in and play ear shatteringly loud music which everyone seems to enjoy. This year, the headline band was ‘Cool the Gang’, which us oldie mouldies will remember well from the seventies. And they were honestly brilliant. Please click the picture as it turns into a short video. And here is a funny thought….  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that we’d be partying on a beach to rock bands at our age. See what happens when you push the boat out?

Event number 2.

For the first time on the island there was an Easter egg hunt. WHAT! I hear you saying?
The first one? Surely not! That just can’t be true! He’s talking rubbish! But no, please read on as I haven’t finished the sentence . It was the first one organised by ‘The Nature Foundation’ a local ecology organisation and was to take place on the beach at Divi Little Bay. 
No, you don’t have to dig in the sand to find the eggs. What the foundation did was hard boil them all, and when I say all, at least three hundred of them, possibly more. Then they painted
each one in a bright colour and finally, each had its own specific number painted on in black. The day before the event, they sent divers to go out and carefully place the eggs underwater. Yes, it was an underwater Easter Egg Hunt. Many were placed in the shallows for kids, while others went down to a depth of twenty or so feet. It was all divided into areas and age categories ranging from the very young, right up to young adults who were just as excited about it as the five year olds. And all were having a wonderful time. On the day, little kids took their mini plastic buckets and at the blast of a shrill whistle there was an almighty rush into the sea; probably only up to their knees; their heads down, peering through the crystal clear water looking for these brightly coloured eggs . At the next whistle, everyone else swims off into deeper water.
Finally, the Easter Bunny comes along in the form of lifesavers. Yes, they all wear red tee shirts and the obligatory long rabbit ears to signify some sort of….. now what’s the word I’m looking for….. hmmmm! Dignity? Safety? Security perhaps? But whatever it is, the sea is literally roiling with egg seekers rushing to and fro or swimming into deeper water. I managed to borrow a pair of ears as well for the picture. Hope you like it.

 
At another blast from the shrill whistle, nearly an hour later all emerge from the water; smiling and proudly clutching their prized eggs. All descended and crowded round the judging table with all its prizes. Heads down trying to memorise the numbers on their eggs. The judging starts with the announcement, “all kids under seven please come up and get one chocolate. Good news for parents; I don’t think! As if the kids weren’t already hyper enough. Chocolate? This would definitely ensure just that extra little bounce in their step! Well… the kids did not need a second invitation . As one, they rushed up to the desk like a swarming herd of wildebeests in the Serengeti, or locusts devouring all in their path. Pretty soon the chocolates on the table had all gone with kids standing round munching happily. Now what could be better than that on Easter Morning? I ask you. 
Now for the prizes. Numbers were drawn from a hat to squeals and whoops of delight. For once, the prizes were really worth having. Not your usual stuff that someone donates because it’s been at the bottom of the cupboard for the last couple of years since ‘Auntie Jemima’ gave it to you for Christmas oh so long ago. And you are pleased to finally get rid of it. No!
They were great prizes like snorkeling equipment, diving lessons; and right up to an evening sunset cruise. There must have been at least seventy prizes. All I can say is that the Nature Foundation must have done a lot of arm twisting to get such great prizes donated. They were all very well received to great exuberance and applause from all the egg hunters and the winners who could not believe their luck.

Now I really don’t know anywhere else in the world where they have an underwater Easter Egg
Hunt. It really is great fun and everyone wins a prize.