Tobago Cays and Canouan

The Travels of Running Tide
Mick Norman
Fri 7 Feb 2014 20:52
After leaving Union Island we motored off to the Tobago Cays. A group of uninhabited islands forming a marine reserve along with the reefs which surround it. We  anchored up between the islands of Petit Bateau and Petit Rameau snorkelled a bit, explored the islands and climbed the local peak, not very high. The wind had been building up all day and now at our anchorage we are seeing winds of up to 35 kn. So much so that I was on anchor watch until midnight when things moderated. Not for long though it was back. Anyway we survived the night with out dragging the anchor and made a start for Canouan at 10 00. Pleasant sail but still wind in upper 20s and lower 30s.  We are anchored just off some posh place called the Tamarind in Charlestown Bay. We were just about to go ashore, the dinghy had been launched the outboard fixed and we were messing about on RT. The next time we looked the dinghy had completely flipped over. I said it was windy. The outboard and bracket had fallen off and was hanging down about a meter below the dinghy on its security lanyard. Not good. The next hour or so was spent trying to dry it out and get the water out of the fuel. There could be problems later with the salt. I think we succeeded as we managed to use it to get us ashore to the posh place.  It was a bit rolly on the beach and Sally went flat out in the breakers. I told her she had to be quick. I think we will have her trained up by the time she leaves us.
 
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Union Island
 
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Sally in the Galley