A month in the Grenadines

Arriving in Mayreau was very disappointing. Our buddy boat Out Of Africa hit the edge of the reef, the marker buoy was missing, unfortunately their navigation was not good and trying to put 1 mile on a leeward shore went over a reef marked 2 meters on their charts and knocked the skeg off and bent the rudder at 40 degrees. Cruisers in the anchorage rushed to assist and they anchored to survey the damage.  First we all went and dived on the reef to pick up pieces of the rudder which Devin found. The next day the boys removed the rudder in the water and put a bung in it so the yacht  could be towed by Moosetracks into Chatham Bay. Another boat picked them up to go to clear customs and took them under tow into Tyrell Bay, Carriacou. We returned to Mayreau so we could watch the World Cup game playing at Dennis Hideaway bar. After several days of hiking and afternoon snorkeling it was time to move south. 

Devin over looking the Tobago Cays

Sargasso Weed, Atlantic side of Salt Whistle Bay

Salt Whistle Baay

 

Underway to Chatham Bay

Onto Chatham Bay on 7 July. We love the reef surrounding the south sided the bay, plenty of underwater life to look at there. During lobster season it’s a great place to be as well. 

Our 31st wedding anniversary was approaching so we did the short sail around to anchor off the private island of Petite St Vincent on July. Such a wonderful spot anchored in crystal clear waters. 

Petit St Vincent

 

We rode the dinghy the short distance over to Petite Martinique to find a bar hoping to watch the England World Cup games. After checking out the sports bar, nope, no TV there! We did find a local with his own TV eventually so we stopped and watched it there. We asked if we could watch a game the following day. He asked would we like his wife to cook us lunch. So with a lunch date we returned to watch another game. 

Cocoa House

On route to Tobago Cays a few days later against 30 knot winds we tacked, back an forth and unfortunately encountered a small tear in our mainsail. The Tobago Cays is not the place to start changing sails so we took the sail down and altered course and sailed with Jibe alone round to Chatham Bay where we knew we could hide from the wind and manage a sail change without difficulty. 



Chatham Bay

A short hop took us to Frigate Bay on16July, just a short sail took us to this wonderful bay, where we could hike, snorkel and relax. We walked into the tiny town of Ashton, finding locally made bread and limited produce. 

Frigate Bay, Big changes are about to happen

19th July was check out day with customs, we walked the small narrow road into town. The marine park are going to put mooring ball in the bay at Frigate, changes we are not happy about, another of our favorite anchorages is going to limit our anchoring here. After picking up fresh produce around Clifton we walked slightly out of town and  enjoyed a local roti, she was selling from her back door, behind the hair salon, opposite the small hotel. You have to know she’s there to find her. Delicious chickpeas, potatoes, chicken with Mango diced into a tasty curry inside a huge wrap.  

Up early with the birds, we set sail for Carriacou, it’s a short sail and we wanted to be able to clear customs the day of arrival.