Lazy Times - Mustique, Tobago Cays, Mayreau, PSV, Union, Canouan and back to Mustique
Lovesail
Wed 13 Jun 2012 12:00
12:52.653N 061:11.336W
Lazy, lazy! Yes, it feels almost as if we had run aground, sitting so
long in the same place. But what a place is Mustique! Why
move? We have swimming and snorkelling in beautiful clear water right off
the boat, fantastic beaches ashore, shops for all our needs, and Basil’s Bar for
entertainment. We really slow down and enjoy all that Mustique has to
offer during a quiet season. We’re lucky to be able to visit one of the
houses – Opium – owned by the daughter of friends of ours. No pictures
here (private) so you’ll have to imagine the spectacular views and exotic
design. And if all this was not enough, Chelsea win the Champions
League! We searched for TV coverage but for some reason all the sports
fans were watching the Windies Test in England. Nevertheless after the
result, some blue flags appeared and I made some new friends.
But we couldn’t sit around forever, especially with some five star tourist
spots close by. On 26 May we slipped our mooring and headed for Tobago
Cays, arriving at about lunchtime. This is one of those “must see” places
firstly because it gives the taste of a deserted cay with only the reef to
protect the anchorage from the incessant surf, and also because this is a place
full of turtles. Jump over the side and you are swimming with
turtles! You are also in company with 100 other yachts, numerous boat
boys, kite surfers, tripper boats etc. Not so deserted after all but still
it’s hard to take away all the remote beauty of the setting.
Next was Mayreau, Salt Whistle Bay, which would have been near perfect
apart from the water which was rather murky, a result of too many yachts and
their effluent, we suspected.
Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau
So we quickly moved on to Petit Saint Vincent (PSV), passing by Palm Island
and Union on the way. Now this is more like it. Only about 6 yachts
around, beautiful water (but not coral, only sand), views to Petit Martinique
(PM) and Carriacou and a luxury bar/restaurant ashore. Also we arrived to
witnessed the final races of the Petit Martinique regatta for local boats.
Some great seamanship and bravado on display in these exciting craft.
Petit
Martinique regatta
We also hooked up with Richard Voswinkel, his son and other crew aboard
Windspiel II. Richard and his wife Diana are great friends of the
Spiegelbergs. We’ve been missing each other for weeks so it was good to
finally meet up and we enjoyed a meal ashore together.
Richard Voswinckel
Later we took the dinghy across to PM (which happens to be part of Grenada,
while PSV is in St. Vincent) and took a look around.
Not a lot to see, but the people were very nice and we were able to get
some needed provisions.
And now for our new friends on their little motor yacht:
Yes, this is the M/V Katara, the second largest private motor yacht afloat
which came to pay a little visit to PSV. It’s owned by the Qatari royal
family so there was some serious bowing and scraping as they came ashore.
Unfortunately the weather was not kind and a big squall came through just when
they (and we) were having lunch and we all got soaked!
Anyway, PSV has got our vote and we’ll be back. But on 2 June we
start to head back to Mustique, stopping at Union Island and Canouan and we
catch a small tuna on the way. And that bird, by the way, is the Grenada
dove.
Then it’s back to lazy, lazy mode in Mustique. We celebrate
Elizabeth’s birthday, take a day trip to Baliceaux, mix with visitors and locals
and get ready for Emily’s arrival on 13 June. Here’s a little scrap book
of snaps.
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