(Blog No 48) South to The Grenadines ....
Catou
Paul and Sylvie Tucker
Fri 24 Dec 2010 12:29
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After our arrival on Thursday 16th December, we
had a few days ashore in the hotel Auberge Seraphine where I usually
stay when in St. Lucia when visiting the island on business. It was a
great break afte the ARC crossing. We had fun with friends there, and one
day we took Nigel & Helen out sailing - it was a bit gusty coming back to
Rodney Bay in the afternoon. There was the final ARC prize-giving to
attend one evening and, after Pam & Brian arrived, we had a couple of quiet
evenings in the hotel having dinner.
We had moved the boat across to my old friend Mike's
house. Mike has a large area of waterfront on Rodney Bay, with his own
jetty/dock, so we had tied 'Catou' up to that for two or three days.
On Tuesday 21st Dec, after much deliberation and a
not-very-good weather report, we decided to sail (after victualling the
boat). Just as we were about to leave, our Dutch neighbours from
Las Palmas arrived in their dinghy, so we were able to have a drink with them
before leaving at 3 pm. Since it was so late, we were not going
to make it to the anchorage between the Pitons - St. Lucia's most
famous (and unique) landmark. Instead, we decided to aim for the
lovely Marigot Bay about half way down the west coast. After a great
sail, we entered Marigot Bay just before 1800 hrs and tied up at
a restaurant/bar that was situated on the edge of a Mangrove swamp! There
were a few mosquitos, but we survived OK. We went ashore for a few rum
punches and what turned out to be a very good meal (even if it wasn't quite what
we had ordered!). The music went on until well after we had gone to bed,
and even worse, a very loud reggae speaker, situated somewhere in the hills
nearby went on even longer! Eventually, we dozed off to sleep, in spite of
the heat, the sweat, the reggae and the calypso music! No sympathy from
anyone in England anyway!
Early on Wednesday morning, we slipped mooring and
motored out to sea at 0650 hrs. Hoisted sail as set off on a
southerly course for Bequia. It was a good distance to cover in 1
day. We sailed for a while, and then switched on the engine and motor
sailed for the rest of the day to keep the speed up. We were trying to
make Bequia before dark. We were hit by one or two very heavy rain squalls
which reduced visibility dramatically. Eventually, after passing down the west
coast of St. Vincent, we approached Admiralty Bay, in Bequia, the northern most
of the Grenadine islands as darkness approached. By the time we had
rounded the eastern headland (ominously called the 'Devil's table'), it was
dark. After fobbing off a few rasta boat operators, I negotiated a mooring
rate with one, and he showed us to a mooring in the pitch dark. We were
grateful for the assistance, and glad to get help for that last 1/2 mile in the
dark. 'Our' rasta-man turned out to be called 'Dennis the Menace',
and seemed a helpful and trustworthy chap. After tying up, we were
grateful for a G & T and some supper! We were all in bed by
9.30pm!
Thursday 23rd, after breakfast, we took a water taxi
ashore - in a huge rain storm. We were completely drenched when we reached
the town of Port Elizabeth. Firstly we went to the customs and
immigration office to clear in with the authorities. After that, we were
free to do as we pleased. Sylvie and I went for a short walk to visit
a customer of ours in the island (our only customer in Bequia!) while Pam &
Brian did some shopping. Then a long lunch, a slow down to the pace of
life in Bequia and an afternoon of wandering around the bay.
So tomorrow - Christmas Eve. We are planning to
visit Mustique. Watch this space!
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