To Tobago Cays (and Back)
|
Monday
9th February Lance
aux Epines cottages, Prickly Bay Today
we hauled out for the great rudder adventure. Jane and Jem flew away to the cold
and snow last Friday, a week earlier than planned because Jane’s dad hasn’t been
too well. Still, at least they made it out here this year, and we’ve had great
fun. Chatham Bay was a good stop. Once ashore we savoured happy hour in the bar,
coincidentally sharing a beer with Canadians Peter and Eileen from Appleseed,
who we met last year. Sundown coincided with a speculative green flash depending
on how much of the palliative had been consumed and then the four of us settled
down to dinner – 2 x red snapper and 2 x lobster. These shore-side meals can be
a bit stereotype Caribbean, but this was excellent. A party of American game
fishers were on the next table, fresh ashore from a very serious looking boat in
the bay. They were a little dominant, and liked fishing for the sake of it, but
also interesting in that the oldest guy was a partner in the company that built
the twin towers – they looked like serious money, though I guess on a boat that
drinks 100 gallons an hour at cruising speed, it helps. The
trades were still blowing at 20 – 25 knots, and though Chatham’s sheltered, the
gusts shrieked down over the hill at 35 knots, causing the rigging to howl, the
boat to veer around and the wind generator to whine like a banshee – plenty of
power but limited sleep for the uninitiated. In the morning we set off for
Tobago Cays, but the wind stubbornly refused to ease, so we opted for the
shelter of Saline Bay on Mayreau. Swimming and a walk up the hill followed by an
amble back down to the Sunset Bar set the tone, and a more than reasonable day
ensued. It
was rounded off by a surprise pirate event sponsored by Jem, and involving
headgear, eye patches and rum. By now, Jane had made the decision to
return, so Thursday the crew were roused at 6.30, and Irie motored the couple of
miles to the Cays for breakfast, and we’d made it to our northernmost objective,
despite the shortening of time. From here we set off south again, back through
Clifton followed by a steady sail to Hillsborough and then back to Tyrell, with
Irie expertly piloted by Jem. Dinner ensued in the Turtle Dove in the form of
excellent but large pizzas, and the crew then settled for the night prior to an
early start on Friday. By now the wind was really easing, and a 6.00 am start
saw Irie sailing down the Grenadian coast by 10.30 or so, and then tourist coast
hugging to St Georges via Mango Bay where Jane and Jem started a fortnight
before. All too soon the anchor splashed once more into Prickly Bay, our chums
were absorbed into packing before the short dinghy ride ashore, a final beer and
then the short taxi ride to the airport – suddenly the boat seemed
empty.
|
