Grenada (Grenada is made up of 3 islands. Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique) (15th October 2014 to 3rd November 2014)

In the late afternoon of the 15^th October we left the Chaguaramas harbour in Trinidad very excited to be leaving for the clean, clear waters of the Caribbean. Our duty free refreshments were a disappointment. There was no beer and our favourite rums were out of stock!

We got away later than planned due to slow clearance at Immigration and Customs and by the time we had cleared the Boca's into true wind where we were able to put up our sails it was dark. It wasn't exactly a well executed manoeuvre after being landlubbers for 15mths!

It was a slow trip with light winds “on the nose” to cover 70nm.

We got to Prickly Bay, Grenada too late for Immigration/customs clearance so did the formalities the next day. All very quick with online data and very friendly and efficient officers.

We spent 2 weeks seeing Grenada, known as the Isle of spice, by local minibus and our yacht.

The minibus broke down and we had to wait for another to arrive

Hairdos of Grenada

This is the Prickly bay hardstand and dinghy dock with Budget marine chandlery. There are lots of marinas around the SE coast and harbours and bays to explore

It is a lush hilly island with tropical gardens and rich agricultural land growing predominantly nutmeg, cocoa, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla and has it's own chocolate factory.

Port Egmont is a very protected harbour where we spent a couple of days

The island has the remains of many forts where political and historic events took place. Settled by the French, taken by the British, slave uprisings and then independence.

St George is the capital of Grenada and has a very pretty waterfront

The Sendall tunnel joins the 2 sides of St George......... Cathy about to walk through the tunnel

Eric trying to blend in

Critters we saw on our tour

It was a great time to catch up with other “cruisers” whom we had met previously and the morning radio net kept us informed of events, weather and services available etc

Eric tried out his twin outboard modification and was happy with the results.

On the 30^th of October we set sail for Carricou passing the underwater “Kick em Jenny” volcano and stopping for the night at Ronde island where Eric enjoyed using his Hookah dive compressor and I pumped up my inflatable kayak. We enjoyed a wonderful day in the water and explored the shoreline.

A boisterous sail the next morning accompanied by flocks of booby birds saw us anchored for lunch at Tyrell Bay, Carricou. We didn't go ashore preferring to continue to Sandy Island on the western side where we enjoyed snorkelling off the beach. This is a marine protected area and a very popular place.

Cathy in her kayak

Later in the day we sailed back to Tyrell Bay to get internet reception and be ready to clear Immigration/Customs on Monday for St Vincent and the Grenadines