Grenada

Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Tue 29 Apr 2008 14:35
We left the Tobago Cays on 21 April on a short sail back to civilisation--sort of--to Clifton on Union Island. We moored off the Anchorage Yacht Club--although open, it was very quiet--apparently being sold following which there will be substantial renovation. Nice feel about the island and a good place for some needed reprovisioning and laundry etc. Bougainvilla  a lively and enjoyable restaurant.
On 24th we sailed across to Carriacou--part of Grenada, so cleared out of St Vincent/Grenadines and into Grenada/Carriacou. We spent the first night anchored off Hillsborough--next day anchores off Sandy Island for a few hours swimming and sun--as it's name suggests the island is just a sand spit with a few bushes and surrounded by coral so a good place for snorkelling--then late afternoon motored round to Tyrell Bay--a popular anchorage for cruisers. A quick look round the bay identified the "floating bar"--a home-made looking raft with a thatched roof hut on top--so dinghied across to join a few other cruisers enjoying a sundowner--good crack/craic and useful info on laying up in Trinidad. Carriacou gets to people--clearly some came for a couple of days yet had stayed some weeks--indeed stories of coming for a night and still there 2 years later! It's quiet and laid back, inexpensive and the people are delightful. Boat boys deliver still hot bread to the boat for breakfasy at honest prices--we even had fresh water oysters delivered and opened in front of us by a real character in a rowboat--asked $15 for a dozen, but he kept on opening them beyond 20--"giving you some extra, still just $15 and you enjoy and remember they're delicious"--which they were. We had an island tour with Thomas--nice easy going guy--and an afternoon on Paradise Beach--a one mile deserted powder sand beach with a backdrop of palms and mangroves.The island is a gem, and most local people want to keep it quiet and laid back--but there's a lot of people building new houses so I fear it will gradually loose it's delightful character.
Should have spent longer on Carriacou--but we might have got stuck--so on 28th we sailed to Grenada--where we are now moored at the Grenada Yacht Club in St. George's. We'll stay here for a couple of days, then head round to the south coast and anchor in one of the bays.