Canouan, 2/3/2014, 12.42.50N 61.19.74W

Alcedo
David Batten
Mon 3 Mar 2014 00:15
Saturday, 1/3/2014.  After a somewhat noisy night, with the swell hitting the stern of the boat, we leave Mustique with more cloud than sun and plenty of wind.  With one reef in the main and a full genoa, we hurtle towards Canouan through quite rough seas, but it is a quite straight forward passage and we drop anchor in Charlestown Bay at about 11.45.  The colour of the sea is fantastic and, in spite of gusts of 20 knots plus, it is a pleasant place with few other yachts, a lovely beach and very few tourists.  The snorkelling off the rocks in the North West of the anchorage is excellent, with lovely coral and lots of fish, including crayfish hiding under a rock, which we have not seen before and a lovely chain Moray eel.  The village is much less of a tourist centre than anything we have seen to date, although the Tamarind Beach Hotel is very picturesque and has a great delicatessen shop selling good ham and cheeses.
 
We have a pretty breezy night with some heavy rain showers, but the sun shines the next morning and we prepare to leave for either Mayreau or Tobago Cays, depending on the weather, which is still far from really settled.
 
betasmallCharlestown Bay, Canouan    betasmallLeaving Charleston Bay, Canouan
 
Charlestown Bay with the Tamarind Hotel landing stage and the village in the background, with the airport in front of the Skipper as we leave.
 
Alcedo