Bobbing at anchor off the tiny island of Petite Saint Vincent (PSV), the sparkling turquoise water and the bright white sands of the beach resort serve as a timely reminder of the privilege of spending months in The Grenadines while the UK suffers its worst winter for years.  Ryan and I are getting on really well and I am so pleased to have someone to share daily responsibilities with, who does so with such grace and competence.  Our guests all warm to him and engage him in conversation and he adds so much to their enjoyment on board the good ship Oboe.  How lucky am I!

James and Phillida, Richard and Sally joined us in Grenada on 19 February and will be with us until 1 March.  All have been to The Grenadines before and are so enthusiastic to revisit the islands, especially those that have not been visited since the mid 80’s.  This is a real sailors’ holiday that has seen us make longish passages every day until today.  Grenada to Tyrell Bay, Carriacou to Bequia for a couple of nights then back south to Chatham Bay, Union Island and the wonderful hospitality offered by Ballhead and Geoff at their beach shack restaurant.  The latter led to a rather late start this morning (possibly too many rum punches?) and a leisurely motor between the reefs to PSV.

James is a well-known, retired yachting journalist and a catamaran owner/skipper.  He knows EVERYONE in the yachting world and has engaging stories to tell about the times he has spent with all types and levels of sailors.  It is great fun to have him aboard and also of course his wife and long time friends Richard and Sally from Winchester.  Right now James is snoozing on the saloon sofa, in the shade, with a copy of “The Trouble With Cruising” by J R Sleightholme perched on his chest!  The others are reading in the cockpit, Ryan is snoring under his oversized straw hat and of course I am here doing the blog at the chart table, which is better than doing my rather overdue VAT return, which will simply have to wait till next week!

So, what is the title of this blog entry about then?  A simple misunderstanding is the answer.  All was quiet in the cockpit during a cracking good sail north to Bequia a few days ago, when I decided to break the silence with a question for James: “What do you think of Oysters James?” “After a moment’s reflection James replied: “Ummm... rather tasteless and slimey!”  “Gosh” I said.  “You don’t feel strongly about it then!  I hope the makers of the Oyster don’t know your true feelings, you having such journalistic influence and all.”  “Oh no” replied James, “I was referring to oysters, you know those slimey tasteless shellfish!”  We all laughed, mostly at me of course, because I was truly looking for his views on the “posh yacht” and everyone else thought I was asking because I knew of a seafood restaurant and was thinking of recommending it for the evening. 

Tomorrow will see us drift gently down to Mayreau for a meal with Dennis at his Hideaway Restaurant and then a further drift on to Carriacou and the delights of the tiny town of Hillsborough that has not changed in 50 years and is the epitome of all things Caribbean.  Then the long passage south to Grenada and ...

Till the next time I pray that the wind may always be at your back but for me it is time to remove the skipper’s cap, don the red apron and step over to the galley.

Nigel