Tall ships
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Wed 11 Apr 2007 23:00
The world cup cricket is
here in the West Indies, and Grenada having built a new stadium after Hurricane
Ivan is hosting many of the matches. Yesterday was the match between the West
Indies and South Africa. We were treated to an invasion of tall ships, four of
them came onto the dock in the Carenage here in St Georges port. A fifth ship,
the Royal Clipper, was anchored in the bay outside. What a sight they made, in
the Carenage where the old Clipper ships used to unload their cargoes many years
ago were the 'Yankee Clipper' the 'Polynesia' the 'Legacy' and 'Mandalay'.
All those years ago the
cargo amongst other things were people, slaves brought from the Africas, and now
the cargo, still people, ironic too many from South Africa to watch the
match.
Unfortunately the West
Indies lost and are now out of the cup.
Consequently these last
few days have been quiet, in so much as I've been watching some of the cricket
on TV and it's been Easter and everything was closed.
Tuesday too, (I may have
mentioned before) was a holiday in order to give the local people the
opportunity to go and watch the game. Although cynically I would say it was to
help fill up the stadium to make a better show for world class cricket. The
stadium can hold 25000 people, the Island of Grenada has a total population
of only 100,000, so without a declared national holiday, only the tourists,
visitors and those locals that could have a day off, would be filling the
stadium. Apart from looking empty, the ticket sales would be very
low.
The last photo is of a
modern day ship leaving the port at sundowner time. Leaving is something we may
have to do tomorrow, because some wealthy man has bought the harbour and wants
to put down mooring bouys where we are anchored and force everyone to pay to be
here.
It's a shame for the
local people in some ways, the islanders need the work, building a new port that
will make plenty of bucks for it's new owner, but when it's finished, it being
designed for the Mega Yacht brigade could have an impact on the local community,
in so much as these boats don't spend any money in the type of local shops and
restaurants found around here, because all their stores and drinks are already
onboard. Us cruising people want to see what is out there and enjoy it, albeit a
bit downmarket, like no table cloths and paper napkins and fine wine
that comes from the democratic republic of China, or if you're lucky, Winstons'
Mums' second cousin Daisy. Whatever and wherever it comes from we, us the
passers by, buy it, and by doing so support the local community.
Enough of the politics,
if we leave tomorrow, we may not have a wifi connexion so until next time, I
leave you with these photos, then we're going to the Yacht Club for one of the
best Roti's I've ever had.
