12:38.01N 61:21.39W

We’re now acclimatised to the Caribbean and, like the locals, we’re running on “Island time”.  Nothing happens very quickly and there’s rarely a deadline to meet.  This is helped of course by the fact that everyone at work is now on Christmas holidays.

So, what’s been happening in the last couple of weeks?  Lots!  But at a slow pace.  After True Blue Bay we sailed over to Clarke’s Court Bay with Adastrina and both anchored close to Calivigny Island, from where we took the dinghies ashore to commiserate with Patrick and Susannah, whose tales of woe after they caught a rope around their propellor in Mindelo continued.  As well as having to temporarily repair and then replace the prop shaft, they now also have to temporarily repair and then replace the gear box ☹.  Fortunately, they have a plan and can continue with their tour of the Caribbean with little interruption. 

With one more stopover in Prickly Bay to provision, we were back in Port Louis marina in St. Georges to pick up Libby & Deegs.  Memories were trickling back for both of them; it’s now almost 9 years wince we joined them on their boat in the same marina.  It’s not the same this time without Ant swinging from the shrouds singing “who the **** is Alice” but we’ll have make do!

Deegs recognises many of the fittings we have on Infinity as they’re actually his.  We are fortunate to have a generous friend with a 40’ container full of boat bits that he’s not using at the moment!

The following morning we started to motor north through the wind shadow of Grenada as Deegs put some Dyneema sleeving on the jib halyard.  Job done as the wind perked up and we then sailed across to Tyrell Bay on Carriacou.  We spent three days around there and all rated it highly.  Friendly people, not too pushy and apparently relatively crime-free.  Highlights included reef swims on Sandy Island, a superb lobster supper on the beach at Anse La Roche and the journeys on the local buses to Hillsborough and Windward.

The next sail was up to Union Island, where we picked up a mooring buoy in Clifton Harbour, checked into St. Vincent and the Grenadines and had a drink in the Happy Island bar.  It’s built on a pile of conch shells in the middle of a reef.  Great rum cocktails and music.  Very cool.

The next day we sailed over to Tobago Cays, one of the must-do spots in the Caribbean, and picked up a mooring right next to the turtle area on Baradel Island.  What a spot!  We swam with turtles and found sting rays and an octopus on our first swim.  Adastrina and Ed Beard joined us the next day and the eight of us joined the Sturdeee crew for lobster on the beach at “Romeo’s”.  Another lovely evening.

We swam on Horseshoe reef and another reef off Petit Bateau and climbed Petit Bateau for the spectacular view of our anchorage the next morning.

In the afternoon, under strict confidentiality, we were instructed to take the dinghy onto the beach on Jamesby Island, a “respectable” distance behind Ian and Dee (Sturdee).  Ian popped the question, Dee said “yes”, the Champagne was opened and Jane, Jules and I joined them to celebrate.  We were honoured to be invited.  Well done Ian, much more romantic than me!

Off to Bequia tomorrow.  Christmas lunch booked in Admiralty Bay.  Happy Christmas everyone!

Giles