This is part of the ninth section of our around the world trip.
Complete Trip Overview & Map

Coming from  Trinidad and Tobago
 

9/2/03 The 77 nautical miles to Prickly Bay in Grenada was completed in a little over ten hours with us anchored before 5.30 pm.  The sailing incredibly easy with electric winches to haul the sails, autopilot to steer, radar to look for other boats, sonar to check the oceans bottom and a G.P.S. linked to the autopilot to give us speed, location, distance covered and estimated time of arrival. We lay back to enjoy the 77 miles of single tacking run. Well almost, both Kay and I were seasick, with Kay feeding the fish on one occasion and me needing to be horizontal for much of the trip. Jan, the skipper was busy checking on the boats operation as this was its first sailing since its refit. A battery cable was loose and gave considerable concern for a while as intermittent power was disrupting the radar and battery charger.

10/2/03 It seems that loading and unloading the motorcycle at each country is going to represent quite a challenge for us and the captain. After clearing immigration, customs gave us permission to land the motorcycle and we started looking around for a suitable place. There are few wharfs in Grenada. The main cargo wharf is large, busy and expensive requiring approval from the port authority to use. A marina wharf was selected but the winds during the day were considered too strong by the captain and we should wait till tomorrow morning to come alongside. In the afternoon we caught a bus to St George's, the capital. A small town with two tall sailing ships visiting, with their American tourists. With both British and French colonial architecture the city surrounding its harbour is attractive. The people here very friendly with us hitch hiking to and from town being picked up by virtually the first vehicles.

11/2/03 In the quieter wind of early morning the motorcycle was unloaded by ramp onto the wharf without too much fuss. The captain insisted on some modifications to the ramp so as not to damage the teak deck which we will have to carry out before reloading. The rest of the day was spent riding around the island, unsure of the motorcycles legal position regarding registration we chose a blind eye view to the situation, not wanting to know. This volcanic, high rainfall island is well deserved of its position as a spice island. Most of the inland mountains are covered with tropical fruits and spice trees running down to the coastal coconuts with sandy beaches and rocky headlands. The relaxed lifestyle permeates its people who are outgoing and happily wave and call out as we pass. Although we are anchored off, the marina allowed us to leave the motorcycle ashore to use tomorrow.

12/2/03 The island is surprisingly large, mountainous and rugged. Touring the central and western side we visited, along with the thousands of people off two large cruise ships, the islands premier natural attraction, Grand Etang National Park. This volcanic crater lake is surrounded by lush elfin forests with its trees shortened and leaning over from constant strong winds. The road along the western coast is still being repaired after extensive damage during the aftermath  storms of a 1999 hurricane but the ocean views today were bright blue and calm in sunshine. Another visit to St George's, before happy hour drinks at the marina. Happy hour seems to draw almost every yacht's crews for a drink. Whether they be from a small 10 metre solo yachtsman up to the six or eight person permanent crews of the 10 million dollar yachts. The almost dream lifestyle of these multi million dollar yachts crew, where they sail from one side of the world to the other to ready the boat for the owner, his family or friends for a few weeks to then sail to another exotic destination would make any 9-5 jobsman green with envy. We have only visited two marinas, anchoring for free in the bay offshore, but have counted five such mega yachts and a dozen or more low millions dollar yachts.

13/2/03 We had bought some vinyl and plywood to cover the teak deck where the motorcycle sits. Together with widening and strengthening the loading ramp, allowing more manoeuvrability in loading, we feel confident the procedure will be more streamlined. As with any agreement one enters into, each party will have a different mental concept of the actual details and how the agreement will work. After being on the boat for just over one week a number of issues/matters that were not fully clarified when we entered into the agreement were raised today by the captain. Some definitely needed clarification, others we felt were understood but it cleared the air and hopefully will let the trip continue smoothly.

14/2/03 In strong winds the captain manoeuvred alongside the wharf and the motorcycle was loaded without problems. It took about two hours for the whole operation of loading, tying down and salt protection of the motorcycle. The easterly has been blowing strongly for over a week and taking to the western side of Grenada we sailed in gusty variable winds as storms passed over the island. The 30 knot winds allowed the "Monsoon" to moved along at eight knots but she could not maintain the heading required due to the wind direction and we needed to motor the last two hours. With seasick pills both Kay and I could enjoy the trip. Our destination, Petite Martinique, the northernmost of Grenada's islands, arriving in late afternoon.

15/2/03 It is here that the last of the famous Caribbean smugglers still exist. If you ask the locals where the cigarettes and alcohol that they sell to the surrounding upmarket holiday islands come from, the answer is we make it here on this island. Unlikely as we walked around the island in under two hours. A few years ago Grenada's government tried to open a customs office here but with strong protests against the move from locals the plan was cancelled. This is where the "true Caribbean" starts. A chain of 32 islands and more sandy cays, coral reefs and clear turquoise waters.
 

Move with us to St Vincent
 

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