The more time we spend in Bermuda, the more that we love the place. The biggest appeal are the locals. They are always friendly and helpful, wanting to ensure that you enjoy beautiful island. Now we are into the finals with Oracle Team USA and Emirates New Zealand battling it out on the weekends, we have had more time to explore Bermuda.

The Americas Cup has been great but maybe not as exciting as the L.V. Challengers Cup. New Zealand has shown their supremacy throughout the finals and now they have raced home in the lead for all but one race. They appear to be a much faster boat and hold it together while Oracle USA make mistakes and put themselves further behind. We have had lots of fun on La Mischief with a range of different guests join us. Here are some more pictures of our time on La Mischief.

The Annapolis crew….our yacht broker from Annapolis’ wife Emily, daughter Katie and three friends (Sharon, Gregg, and Kelly) joined us for a day. Great people and lots of fun.

During the week, we spent time at a few different anchorages around Hamilton. One of our favourite is Mangrove Bay. The anchorage is located between several small islands and reef. We had a couple of sundowners on the small local beach with Dee and Steve on Le Mischief and then another night with Tourterelle and Tina and Russel from Hugo. We also had a fabulous curry night on Tourterelle with all the Barbados 50 yachts. We were also introduced to Peter “Brush” who is Jen’s (Lady Rebel) brother who is now a Kiwi and the build manager for Softbank Team Japan.

One afternoon we decided to explore the local beaches…well maybe they weren’t that local. We followed the now disused heritage rail line, over the hill, through a nature reserve and after 6 km’s finally came to a beach. We walked another 2 km’s exploring the different beaches and coves until we finally arrived at Horseshoe Beach. It was pretty underwhelming for one of the world’s most beautiful beaches were full of people, seaweed and beach chairs and umbrellas taking up most of the beach. A popular spot for the guests of visiting cruise ships. We’re just no longer accustom to crowds! The good news was that it had a beach bar that sold Bermuda’s national drink, Dark and Stormies…after the long walk we definitely felt like they were well earned :-)

We also met super cool local Dwayne who has a part time job as caretaker of an island property. He invited us all over for a BBQ…though I don’t think he knew what he got himself into. He did warn us prior that sound travels and to be conscious of our conversations. Our entry to the island was via a channel with the world’s smallest drawbridge. Dwayne’s made sure we had a fun filled night, we enjoyed drinks off a sandy beach, a great BBQ and turtle spotting by touch light and a midnight swim. Other highlights included our first visual of a Portraguese Man-O-War Jelly fish.

The next day we found the disused rail way path, then hiked the hill to a British fort. In the good ole days, multiple forts were built to protect the British commercial activities of the Caribbean and for protection against the USA. Just a minor point in history is that Bermuda was a strategic military point during the American War of Independence. While walking around the old fort we met a few locals playing cricket in the car park, Steve and I joined in. Dad and the local kids were pleased to play with a few Aussies. In a country that's so close and influenced by the USA they appear to still hold on to some of their history.

We took a little time out by ourselves and found a secluded anchorage at the base of the fort. Everywhere and anywhere that takes your fancy or is special can be an anchorage in Bermuda…so much for restricted anchorage zones.

The week was over and the AC finals returned for the weekend. As is now history, Team Emirates NZ concord. It was over and so was our time.

We savoured our last few days including a final BBQ at Clem's Whispering Pine. We sadly lifted our anchor at the Hamilton anchorage for the last time and spend a few hours in a small anchorage cleaning Aura’s hull. We returned to St Georges to clear customs and took in the sites.

Beautiful Hamilton

St Georges

Next up : Our first 4th July in the USA and a little bit of AC history in Newport, Rhode Island…