12:00N 62:05W

 

It’s over.  Our love affair with the stunning windward Caribbean Islands is officially finished.  We’ve left.  Who knows when, if ever, we’ll be back?   But then we said that when we first came here on Aschanti in 2004.....and returned...several times!

We’ve loved our few months here on Bandit starting with beautiful Barbados, where we made landfall after our 14-day Atlantic crossing and ending with the amazing Spice Island of Grenada.  In between there’s been Bequia, Canoun, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Island and Carriacou.  Could we name a favourite?  No way – they are all absolutely magnificent in their own way.  Wonderful memories of pristine white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, abundant fish on lovely reefs, colourful local characters, divine tropical fruit and delicious seafood will linger for many years.

We upped anchor in Prickly Bay, Grenada at 0930 today and Bandit’s bow is now firmly pointed towards the Venezuelan Island of Blanquilla – 170 mls away.  All going well, we’ll be there this time tomorrow.

We’re excited as this is all new territory for us.  We’re also a tad apprehensive as fellow Kiwi boat Chinook Wind ran aground in the Aves three nights ago sending shockwaves through our closeknit bunch of fellow cruisers.  We’d had fun times with Dick and Ann in Grenada and were devastated to hear they’d lost their lovely boat and all their belongings.  But...it’s like getting back on a horse after a fall – you’ve just got to get on with it. 

So we’re out here in the Caribbean Sea with a confused 1m swell, 15knots of wind from behind and Bandit is cruising along at 7knots. It’s a bit rolly, but great to be at sea again. 

Fellow Kiwis Mark and Amanda on Balvenie are about a mile astern of us.....it’s comforting to be travelling in convoy.  As I write this Grenada is fading into the mist.....the past few days have been unseasonably cloudy and wet but still very hot.  Somehow you don’t seem to mind the rain when it sizzles as it hits the pavement!

Of course, we’re hoping for blue skies, those puffy trade wind clouds and...of course...a mahimahi, tuna or wahoo or two.  David has two lines out in anticipation!