11th December
We motored out from Prickly Bay after a breakfast of fresh pawpaw and lime juice, passing the great red tiled rooves of the University on our way to the southern most tip of Grenada. Here we turne s north and motored up the length of the island, close enough to enjoy looking at villages and coastline as we passed. An occasional rain squall came over the mountains, bringing with it great gusts of wind. We passed Gouyave, where Stuart and I had strolled on Sunday, and we looked through binoculars for the "heritage" building that we had visited on the Main Street, which had been taken over by a church, who were trying to buy the property. The view from the sea uconfirmed what we had observed on land, that the town turns its back on the sea, with few properties facing it, and with no cafes or bars set up to look outwards. The church could do well to use its heritage property to open a restaurant and bar for tourists and, with the revenue, pay off the loans needed. In a way it's like any fishing village, where people prefer not to look out on the dangerous ocean from which they make their livelihood.
It was the same in all our tour of Grenada, apart from one or two bars in the southern bays where yachting has enabled marine industry to establish.
We rounded the northern end of Grenada, within sight of Sauteurs, and here set sail for Carriacou. The west going current was strong between islands, and we struggled to lay the course for Tyrell's Bay, eventually tacking and motorsailing in, in order to get there in a reasonable time. We eventually dropped anchor close to the shore, amongst many other boats. Nearby the blue painted Lazy Turtle Restaurant was built on the shoreline, with a welcoming little dock. We went ashore at sunset and enjoyed the Wi-fi, cocktails and. Sunset, topped off with a shared pizza as hors d'œuvres. Depending on one's exchange rate cocktails at EC$22 cost £7-9.
Next morning we upped anchor and motored round to Hillsborough to clear Customs for St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Here we found a charming town, with characterful buildings along the Main Street, a steel pan/ keyboard duo playing beautifully outside the ancient tourist office. The Customs and Immigration guys were very charming and I was soon cleared out and ambled up the street with Stuart, whilst Âne and Beccy were up the other end shopping for fruit and veg.
We found a waterfront that acknowledged the beauty of the bay, with blue picnic tables and benches under a conical roof providing beach picnic spots. Here we met Leanna (Trinidadian) and Fabio(Italian) who live aboard their blue 28ft yacht AzzurrO. They are sailing up to Martinique.
Back aboard we enjoyed our salad lunch and then set sail for Union Island, clearly visible just 5 miles away.The wind and current were kind and we had a great sail close-hauled, and picked up a buoy for the night (EC$80) and bought banana bread from the boatman (EC$30)
Ashore we found that we had to walk to the little airport to complete formalities, and then wandered round Clifton village which was evidently much more attuned to tourist requirements. We enjoyed fruit smoothies on a nicely painted deck over. The water, and then headed back on board to relax and enjoy our evening.
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