Christmas in Carriacou   (Island surrounded by reefs)   12.27.43N   61.29.30W

Pronounced Carry a coo.   After weeks of work on ‘Swiftwing’ we were well and truly ready to head off. We left Prickly Bay on Sunday 21st December and sailed north to a little bay called Halifax Bay. For the first time ever in the Caribbean, we had the anchorage for the rest of the day and night  to ourselves.  We spent a relaxing day swimming and reading our books, watching the other yachts sail past on their way north. The next morning we set off early and motored to the north end of Grenada, then sailed in 20 knot winds to just outside Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou, which is a small island still within the Grenadines and about twenty miles north of mainland Grenada. On the sail north we again had to avoid ‘Kick em Jenny’ an underwater volcano which carries a one and a half mile exclsion zone.  It was a close beat and we couldn’t quite lay the bay in one tack so we motored the last mile to be in before dark.  Carriacou is an island made famous by its boatbuilding industry, started during the time of slavery by the Scots. There is still a buoyant boat building industry here specialising in the 'Carriacou Sloop', a very fast sailing cargo boat of about forty five feet.  In fact they are so fast that they have their own class at all the big yachting events in the area and often otpace yachts of a similar size. The local names here are,   Mackenzie, MacLeod, Maqarrie and a hundred other Macs, though I didn’t see many kilts in evidence.  We had originally intended to go to Mystique for Christmas but as the anchorage there is very rolly, and there was a significant amont of strong Northerlies aboot, we decided to spend it in Carriacou instead. In the end we went to a ‘Pot Luck’ which was organised by the cruisers and entailed taking ashore some food, placing it on a table with all the other offerings and helping yourself. Bev made dozens of mince pies from mincemeat that she and her mother Jonnie, had made in the summer, and an onion quiche. We had a super time and met up with some friends that we had last met whilst in Prickly Bay. The food was superb and  with the spectrum of nationalities represented there, we had food ranging from sauerkraut to pumpkin pie and everything in between. It was soperb and a good time was had by all.

Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou.  Swiftwing is in the top left hand corner.

The View from Carriacou Yacht Club.                                                                                                                            Bev Bev sending the e mails and about to ‘Skype’ home from the balcony of the yacht club.                                                                                    Looking Looking over towards ‘Petite Martinique’, from Windward, on the east side of the island. Note the old coaster on the reef.                                                                                                        Looking north out of Hillsborough Bay, the main town on the island towards union Island, our next stop on or journey to Bequia for New Year.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A pretty little Carriacou Sloop of about twenty five feet.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Inside one of the local buses.  You can hail them down like a taxi and they are a very cheap way to travel.                                                                                                                                                                                 

Seventy five pence for an island tour: can’t be bad.

            Carriacou Yacht Club from the gardens.     And This one especially for Alan the well known Land Rover buff. Come on Alan out of the closet!  One carefl owner, the Carriaco Police!