Union Grenadines
Chantelle
Thu 19 Mar 2009 21:44
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Hello to all from the Grenadines, Caribbean. A
while since the last blog - too busy working and playing hard. Our geographical
circumnavigation is now almost in sight. March 28th will see us Parading from
Marigot Bay back to Rodney Bay (St Lucia) our starting point in Jan 2008. For
the next few days we plan to Island hop, visiting Tobago Cays, Mustique and
Bequia. It's good to be back in the Caribbean, somewhere familiar.
Just a little under a month ago we were strutting
our stuff at Recife Carnival, Brazil which unreservedly deserves the title of
"party capital of the world". We had fun and we survived, with some help from
our guides. It was "crazy!" and we had something of a sense of achievement that
we emerged undamaged! The memory will linger for ever.
Another big event was crossing the equator. On
28.02.09 as 22.23 local time we went from south to north! Neptune was none too
pleased with our offerings (although fortunately Kim and Julia were spared the
"stripping off" ritual) as the following few days were hell, the sea state just
horrible - felt like being in a washing machine. Remember thinking the sea was
like a giant cat playing with, us, the mouse.
We lost our remaining spinnaker halliard and the
genoa one not to be used either. No possibility of flying kites or polling out
head sails, not that we needed to with the wind on the nose. Poor old Chantelle
took a pounding, slamming into the waves - can only marvel at how the boat stays
in one piece and for that matter us too. Finally, in our last 24 hour period the
wind came, in the right direction and we had positive current. Full main and gib
and we were steaming along making 8 plus knots over the ground and recorded our
best mileage yet 200 miles in 24 hours! Fabulous blushing skies and a full
silvery moon on a settled sea. No rough just heavenly smooth!
We finally arrived at Tobago on Tues 10 March, not
a day too soon!
Our stay in Tobago was largely taken up with
checking in and out, frustrating, but we did manage to take a local bus and see
somewhere other than the port.
Two days later and anchor weighed we were on our
way to Grenada, a mere 90 miles. Very uncomfortable and felt like 900 miles.
Boat work finished we partied. (Kim is finally getting the hang of this partying
malarkey). Had a fantastic night at the Banana Club - very hot and plenty of
"dirty dancing!"
Poor old Johnny boy had a nasty accident whilst
walking the plank, the only way to get ashore as we were stern to. The plank
gave way as he was precariously balancing with two gas bottles (heavy). This
resulted in a spectacular head first dive into the cock pit. Photographic
evidence supplied. Bob from Andante came to the rescue and stitched him up and
Julia did her nursey bit. The story goes something like this: Kim and Julia
finally cracked and in a fit of uncontrollable rage attacked him with the bacon
spatula - Bob the "dentist" (true) came to his aid with needle and thread - a
fantastic job - but people now want to know how come he has teeth in his
forehead and eye brow. Just for the record he was cold stone sober - could that
have been the problem?
Forty miles on and we are now in Union the first of
the Grenadine Islands. We had a boat boy meet us and bought a mooring buoy for
two nights. It's a beautiful place but lots of other boats anchored off and
surrounded by reef, but nevertheless we felt safe on our buoy. The wind was
blowing 20 knots + so although very little swell we were swinging quite a bit.
We were looking forward to a quiet night and having watched Pirates of the
Caribbean (appropriate) retired early. Our restful night was abruptly
interrupted when the sound of an anchor chain - too close for comfort - woke Kim
up. Up on deck we were confronted with another boat virtually on top of us
- dragging their anchor - out of control. We touched in a couple of
places and were running around with our dinghy, which was in the water -
trying to protect Chantelle and dinghy engine. Thankfully their anchor
starting holding but they were only 2 metres away. All this happened in the dark
on a cloudy night so not much help from moon and stars. Only 5 hours to go
before day break - what a long night. They kept their engine running all night
and set up a watch system. As there was little we could do until morning, we
went back to bed - but not much sleep as you would imagine. Communicating was
difficult as english not their first language but come morning we finally
understood the problem. They had been on a mooring buoy and their rope had
chafed through. As they were drifting towards reef they tried desperately to set
their anchor but very difficult in dark with other boats and reef around etc.
They then dragged at speed towards us. With the wind blowing at 25 knots very
little steerage way - in a situation like that you're really at the mercy of the
elements. As luck would have it their anchor chain wrapped itself around our
mooring line which held the boat in place. Finally the boat boys arrived, dove
in the water to find out what was going on. Another two mooring buoys later and
we are now settled. Hey hoy - hopefully a more peaceful night to
come.
So only another 98 miles to go - let's hope we can
get there in one piece.
Hopefully when we get somewhere with adequate wi fi
can download lots of piccies for your amusement.
Take care all.
Lots Love
Chantelle - "Liming in the Caribbean
Mon"
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