CHRISTMAS IN THE GRENADINES

Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Thu 29 Dec 2016 20:58
We have just a had a wonderful Christmas with Malcolm, Becky and Antonia staying on board for Christmas.  We picked them up in Grenada and set sail the following day for Bequia calling in at Union Island, Petit St. Vincent, the Cays & Mustique on the way.

Both M and A brought along their Yacht Master notes and books, but I don’t think much study was done on that part, they were great crew and often steered they yacht as well.

We had quite a long sail the first day and not over comfortable as we were into the waves rather than with them. We dropped anchor in Chatham Bay, swam but the yacht was swinging quite a lot due to the strong gusts coming down into the Bay.  The following morning we motored around to Clifton Harbour in Union Island and Malcolm and Antonia booked themselves in for Kite surfing, Antonia on a beginners course and Malcolm on a refresher.  Becky went over the beach to watch Antonia as she did a few face dives off the board…. nevertheless she really enjoyed it.  The following day we sailed over to Petit St. Vincent, where it was much more sheltered.  We all went for a lovely walk along the beach and ashore in the evening to one of the nicest beach bars/reatuarant we have come across.  We all sat around the bar having cocktails, I highly recommend their dry martinis, very large and perfectly made in a chilled glass.  Mooalcolm and Becky decided they would pay for dinner which was very nice, sitting with our feet in sand and a lovely round glass table set on bleached wood looking over the sea. 
 
The next day the 21st December we  anchored off Petit Bateau Island for a lunch and a snorkel which was fun in the Cays despite the strong wind.   Malcolm used my ‘Go Pro’, a Birthday Gift from Jonathan, in a waterproof case to take some underwater photos we saw Sting Rays and turtles and loads of fish.

 The following day we dropped anchor in Britannia Bay in Mustique for one night.  Most of the island was closed off to visitors for the three weeks over Christmas and the New Year.  We were still able to walk along the north side of it as far as Lagoon Beach.  We visited Basil’s Bar, a must for the offspring, but no music that night sadly.  Basil has now retired and the Bar has been taken over by the Mustiquie company which runs the island since Colin Tennant sold it awhile ago, about ten years before he died. Fresh Lobster on board that night.

After leaving Mustique we sailed for Bequia, and picked up a Buoy in Admiralty Harbour,  The following day Malcolm decided to rent a car for us all to go and explore the island.  Not many roads and not a very big island.  It was a lot fun, we went to the Turtle ‘Sanctuary’ which we were not impressed with as some of the turtles were in very small ponds for their size and were obviously distressed.  We had drinks at Sugar Beach which was very pretty.  Whilst we were there I picked up an email from the Dunkerly’s to say they were in Bequia for Christmas and asking where we were….. So I sent a text back saying we were one bay away from them and we will come and meet them.  It was great seeing them after so long, we last saw them as a family ten years ago when a crowd of us went skiing with our offspring in the Alps.  Jonathan and I had seen them since at the Bensons for dinner a few times.  It was Christmas Eve, so we organised to get together for dinner on Christmas Day, upping the table we had booked from five to nine at Auberge.  They all came on board for  champagne and nibbles first, then we dinged over to the restaurant in two shifts.  The restaurant was full so it was noisy and a  lot of fun, I had bought crackers, which we took along so it was suitably festive, the offspring went on for drinks at Frangipani after, I think Ants had a tad too much rum punch, having drunk champagne then wine first.  It was all such unexpected fun and lovely to be with another family we knew.

Boxing Day morning, Jonathan awoke early looking like a chipmunk, an abcess had formed again under a tooth.  Everywhere was closed so I started him on antibiotics and had to make him promise not to drink any alcohol for 7 days, he is not happy….   We set sail for Grenada and arrived in the afternoon in Port Louise Marina.  The following morning he went to see the dentist, but really there is not a lot they can do until the swelling and infection clears up.  They did suggest they could do a root canal treatment  after he had finished the antibiotics but he does not want to hand around.  The swelling is going down and he says he feels much better, we were given more antibiotics if it came up again.  We just hope we can keep it under control until we return to the UK in March if necessary we can always try a dentist in St. Lucia or Antiqua.
Yesterday, M, B and A flew home last night, it is so very quiet on board..  I miss them already.

Below are just a few of the pictures we took, the first one was taken by Chris Dunkerley as we left Bequia, you can just see us inside the rainbow, he took the shot from a house they are renting.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year full of peace, health and happiness.