Life on the boat is always full of surprises and dramas, which is probably one of the reasons we don’t plan too far ahead. Yesterday Wed 12 we were supposed to go walking with Phil, Norma and their new crew around the island. Overnight though, the weather had once again been boisterous with winds at 35kts and torrential tropical rain, so we opted to stay onboard, as we can do the tour when the weather is better and I didn’t want to get my new Nikon wet.

Suzanne had spent all Tuesday evening filling out our US B2 Visa applications online and then wanted to spend Wed morning finalising and making the appointments for when we are back in the UK in Feb – so that was a result – appointments made and on line application and photos accepted.

During the day we had two more dramas, a Barbadian fishing boat had engine problems and the Coastguard went out to help them. Then a French yacht became disabled with engine and rudder problems, the crew were very distressed as they were pushed in huge seas towards the rocks, they were eventually towed to safety in Prickly Bay by a large RIB. The local yotties were all offering help, so with a local Coastguard, all the chandlery, boatyard and boat services on hand – this is a good place to be.

Last night we again had wind at 35kts, I got up on anchor watch at 0230 and listened to VHF68 traffic to hear catamarans dragging anchors and people of all nationalities trying to communicate their problems to each other in broken English, no fun for them, but quite entertaining – that is if they are not dragging by your boat.

We were told in December that they were having Christmas winds, then in Carriacou that the big swells often occurred on spring tides from December to February and now we still have wobbly water and a lot of wind – everyone says it us not unusual for January, so maybe things will settle down in a couple of weeks - anyway its not as bad as Brazil or Australia.

So it’s not quite like the brochure advertises as - calm turquoise seas, clear blue skies and gentle breezes – so I’ve trashed the brochure – but we’re not complaining

From the bridge of Suzie Too #3