Tobago Cays
Lowena
Michael & Amanda Dyer
Thu 20 Mar 2008 20:30
arrived at lunchtime. A pod of Atlantic dolphins dropped by to say
hello. We bypassed Canouan and approached the Tobago Cays. It is very
dificult to identify which island is which. Mayreau is to leeward and
many other islands can be seen at the same time. If it wasn't for the
GPS I would have been very confused. We don't have a chartplotter so
the way I navigate is to put a series of waypoints on the chart and into
the GPS. I then select an active waypoint and change it as we reach one
for the next. This works well for us but it does mean I have to be at
the chart table. This is a disadvantage for reef navigating where it
pays to have someone on the bow looking at the colour of the water.
Also it means Mike has to trust me to give him the correct course to
steer. It would help to have a chartplotter in the cockpit for the
helmsman. The other thing that makes it difficult, is having a steel
boat. Using a handbearing compass to take bearings is impossible as the
steel affects the compass readings. We are totally reliant on our GPS.
The Tobago Cays are a group of small islands, four are protected from
the Atlantic by a horseshoe shaped reef. Inside the reef, the water is
a clear, turquoise blue and the islands have golden beaches. It is a
national park and is very popular with cruisers and charterers.
I saw two Southern Stingrays swimming beneath our boat. We dinghied to
Baradel Island and saw Houndfish and Grey Angelfish. The next day
Wilbur took us further out over towards Horseshoe reef and we saw a
Nurseshark as big as me-whoa! Mike also saw a Spotted Moray eel hiding in a clump of coral. My favorites are the Angel fish as they seem to like company and are beautifully graceful.
We are now into the Easter holidays and everywhere is becoming crowded.
Having our fill of snorkelling and not enough fresh food and vegetables
we decide to head for Union Island.