Afloat Again

Christmas Day at Carriacou

Happy New Year to you all. We wish you good health and happiness in 2014.

Sal Darago was launched on 16^th December. The day began with a text message from our son, Simon. The purchasers of our house had dropped out because their buyer had pulled out on them. We were so disappointed as the house had been sold subject to contract for nearly nine weeks. The survey had been done, the solicitors were drawing up the contracts but it was not to be. Perhaps our purchasers will come back if they find a buyer. In the meantime, we start the long process all over again. We had little time to consider our options as the travel lift was coming for us soon after 10.00am and by 10.30 we were in the water and heading for a mooring in Chaguaramus Bay. Two days later we were ready to sail to Grenada.

Erin and Simon at Tobago Cays

We had a poor start. We motored to the Customs dock, overlooked the current and bumped into the yacht tied up there. Fortunately, there was no damage to the other boat but we had smashed our bow navigation light. Jeremy did a temporary repair with tape and a plastic bag until we could buy a new light in Grenada. It cost 100 pounds.

Hog Island overlooking Whisper Cove, Grenada.

We put a reef in our brand new mainsail and motored out through the Boccas into the ocean. The weather forecast had predicted east winds of 16-22knots. By lunchtime we had put a second reef in the main and flew a small genoa into gusty ENE-NE winds of 37 knots in frequent squalls. To help us stay on course we put the engine on in the afternoon and motorsailed into large, breaking seas the rest of the 82 miles to Grenada. Twice, we had to go about to avoid large ships. One hooted at us but did not change course. Our final challenge was to anchor in the dark in Prickly Bay. First, we had to get all the sails “put to bed”; then we had to motor past dozens of anchored and moored boats. Our night vision is obviously better than our day vision because we avoided all the hazards and anchored successfully. It was 4.20am on Thursday 19^th December.

At lunchtime we received an email from the Commodore of the Westerly Owners’ Association telling us that we had won the Rayner Challenge Plate for the “Best cruise undertaken in a Westerly”. We were thrilled and saddened as we will be unable to be at the AGM to collect this top prize from the largest cruising association in the World.

Our new dinghy on Baradel Cay

 Two days later we were waiting at Grenada Airport for the delayed arrival of Simon and Erin. The enhanced trade winds continued for the whole two weeks of their stay. Christmas Eve was awful. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, the anchorage at Hillsborough, Carriacou rocked and rolled. We abandoned our plan to go ashore and attend Midnight Communion and went to bed early. It was still raining on Christmas Day but we went ashore anyway and walked up to the top of Hospital Hill in our waterproof jackets. The rain stopped for a while and we admired the fabulous view of Carriacou far below us.

Circumnavigating Jamesby Cay on foot.

Later, we moved a few miles and picked up a mooring in the marine park off Sandy Island. A great time was had snorkelling and swimming but the weather had not finished with us yet. Just as the Christmas pot roasted turkey was being carved there was a very loud crack and I sent Simon outside to check the mooring. It had snapped and we were adrift in the dark in near gale force winds with other yachts nearby. In the rush to start the engine and gain control water bottles fell over on the saloon table and wine glasses smashed on the floor. Everybody worked together . Our spotlight picked out the yachts and moorings and soon we were tied to another mooring buoy, praying that this one was not going to snap. We sat down to our Christmas meal but some people had lost their appetites. Jeremy stayed up on watch until the wind died down around midnight and the rest of us slept fitfully.

All at sea

In spite of strong winds and gale force gusts, we spent two days at the beautiful Tobago Cays, swimming with turtles and rays, walking round islands and snorkelling near Horseshoe Reef. New Year was spent in Bequia, one of the Grenadine islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Our anchor chain jammed on arrival and our engine sounded like it was about to cut out. The wind was blowing at 24 knots and once again we were drifting. Fortunately, the engine kept going, Jeremy kept us away from other boats and Simon sorted out the tangle on the bows. On the second attempt we anchored without incident.

Splash! Petit Tabac

New Year’s Eve was great fun. Fresh lobster or fish eaten in a waterside restaurant followed by dancing on the sand to a steel band, then more dancing to a live band near the beach and finally a street party. Back on SD, we watched the fireworks at midnight and joined in with the other boats hooting horns. We all had a go blowing Daddy Jim’s bugle as the old year slipped away and the new one came in.

Lunch on board

Simon and Erin are now back in Edinburgh having exchanged 27C for 8C. I think they’ll remember their two week sailing holiday in the idyllic Caribbean.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Tree.