Carriacou Once Again! 13th May 2016
We left Clifton in light winds and had a lovely calm sail
with 1 reef in the main and full genoa and mizzen. The only downside (there
always has to be one!) is the wind speed indicator is working intermittently.
We dropped anchor in Tyrell Bay at 13:15 having sailed 13 miles in 3 ¼ hours.
We planned to go to the Petit Martinique Regatta the next
day so it was a rush round to check in, drop the laundry, get water and do some
grocery shopping. For supper we walked up for Miss Luckys amazing chicken and
chips.
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| Looking out to Petite Martinique - Pity we didn't get there! |
Saturday we woke to heavy cloud and squalls but eventually
left at 11:30, still plenty of time to complete the 15 mile journey. We made it
to the top of the island in gusty winds and rough seas, reefing the main again
and narrowly missing many pot markers. Then we saw another huge squall coming.
We would have had to sail directly into it when we turned towards PM and the
anchorage is not very sheltered anyway, so we turned tail and headed back to
Tyrell Bay. At 14:45 we were back at anchor having sailed 17 miles in 3 ¼ hours
and moved 20 yards!
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| A Fun Evening on Secoudon |
Sorry to have missed the regatta weekend, we settled into
normal Carriacou life once again: water aerobics, Mexican train dominos, catching
up with friends at sundowners on various boats and dinners ashore, watching
cricket (Mainly IPL now) at Iguana Bar, snorkelling and Richard really getting
into his ukulele with regular music practice with other cruisers.
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| Tuning up! |
They played
several evenings at Levis Bar which is an open mic evening with karaoke, but
everyone preferred the band. For our last Thursday evening the Tyrell Bay
Choir, as the named themselves, played at pizza night at the Iguana Bar. It was
a fantastic evening, a 6 piece band, occasional guest vocalists, and great
pizza.
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| Amazing we were all in tune and in time! |
The next day everyone started leaving, some for Trinidad and
some for Grenada, all getting prepared for the hurricane season.
Sunday 12th June was our planned departure date
and we woke to strong wind and heavy rain! Once again, not what was predicted.
However, it all calmed down and we raised anchor at 0900 for another lovely
sail down to Grenada with a pilot whale sighting the highlight of the day.
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| We arrived to find the Navy in town - Not an invasion but a combined coastguard excercise! |
We dropped anchor in Martins Bay just outside St. Georges at
15:45, 37 miles in 6 3/4 hours. Glad to be here so we know we will be in Clarks
Court Bay in time for our hail out on 27th.
After an excursion to town on Monday we returned to find
that Galene had dragged! Fortunately not into another boat. The holding is
notorious here, rubble over shallow sand. It took us five attempts this time
before we were happy.
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| Baby Green back Herons in a Tamarind tree next to the Grenada yacht club. This was taken from the balcony! |
Now it was time to get ready to leave Galene - try to eat up
all the perishables, clean everywhere and spray for insects, but in between
still socialising with other boats, quite a few who were in Tyrell Bay with us
and some that arrived from elsewhere.
Saturday 18th we left for Clarks Court Bay. A
fair sail to the bottom of the island then very lumpy and unpleasant all along
the bottom with one big squall with heavy rain. We were anchored in 10m off
Rocky Point by 12:50 having sailed 13 miles in 3 hours.
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| Finally secured at anchor! |
We now have a week to get all the sails off before our haul
out. Sounds fine, but the forecasts are never accurate so you have to get up
each day and if it is calm, quickly get a sail down. Hard for Rowena as she was
still in pain and tired from the Chikengunya, and the anchorage was very rolly
and uncomfortable so we were being battered around most days by wind and swell
as well. Anyway, we got it all done and moved into the haul out dock on Sunday
afternoon and removed the Bimini and all the shade covers as well.
Unfortunately the restaurant in the boatyard was still not open so we really
had to plan our meals the last few days.
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| Conviently this is the bus stop for the bus from Woburn to St Georges! |
Monday 27th our lift was booked for 08:00, so we
were up early and ready. The boatyard staff were there early too, the trailer
having been left in place on Saturday at the end of the day. The haul was very efficient;
they even have two divers who ensure the straps are in the correct place.
Galene was pressure washed and moved to her spot at the end of the yard, under
the cliff which looked very safe, and tied down. We went up and did the final
checks, put a shade tarp over the cockpit and were showered and ready for lunch
by 12:30.
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| Out we come! |
Donna brings lunches to the boatyard from her little cafe up
the road, so we made sure we had ordered the day before. Then it was a taxi to
the airport, a bit early but nice to relax with a beer and wait for our flights
to England.
