11 January 1994 Tobago Cays to Little Bay, Canouan
We had a nice but windy and wet sail up to Canouan. We went to a small beach and anchored off it in a surprisingly sheltered place. It took three attempts at anchoring until I was happy because the wind swung us all over the place and it was hard to judge our position relative to the three other boats.
After a quick swim and lunch we went to the beach (surprise!) and we spent a couple of hours snorkelling (well, I did anyway!) it was excellent. I saw the usual things plus a yellow trumpet fish, an eel that acted like an underwater snake, trigger fish, etc. I’m sure that all this wonder will wear off in a couple of months! Glenys rustled up a goat stew for dinner. Quite a lovely place.
12 January 1994 Canouan to Bequia
We had a hard bash to windward getting 30 knots across the deck at times. We motored into Admiralty Bay against 30 knots and anchored off the Frangipani Hotel. The place is incredibly crowded and a French boat zoomed up just as we were manoeuvring into position to anchor and dumped his anchor right next to us. I had to put out a second anchor to keep us away from him.
We went for a walk around Bequia – what a strange place. The pilot has a detailed street map and I expected the place to be quite big, but all the shops are very small wooden houses. Lots of locals hassling tourists and high tourist prices.
13 January 1994 Bequia
I went into town to get plywood for the dinghy floor. I tried to find out about getting a Dive Master Internship but the owners of both dive schools are in the States at some conference, so I guess I’ll write a letter.
I spent the afternoon cutting the dinghy floor. Glenys went into town with Ceris and Brett. We re-anchored first thing this morning and it took three attempts in strong gusts – Glenys was
getting rather fraught!
14 January 1994 Bequia
I started to varnish the dinghy floor – it’s a bit difficult because the wind keeps blowing them away so I can only varnish ¼ at a time. We filled up with fuel and water from an interesting floating fuelling station – a small catamaran “Daffodils Yacht Services”.
We went out for a meal at the Ginger Bread House, which was really good with great calypso music. I loved the song “Jamaica Farewell” - seems to epitomise the Caribbean.
15 January 1994 Bequia
Strong wind and rain squalls in the morning, so we decided to stay in Bequia. We did some jobs in the morning. In the afternoon Ceris, Glenys and Brett went for a walk while Craig and I stayed on the boat – I read my book and had a nap – wonderful.
16 January 1994 Bequia to Mustique
We had a windy and wet sail to Mustique. Picked up a mooring and went swimming off the boat. Craig had a break-through with his swimming and spent ½ hour jumping in and swimming about without his armbands! Mustique looks lovely. We had a quick walk around, paid £9 for beers and cokes in the only bar and back to the boat for dinner. I inspected the mooring chain which had links worn down to 1/8”, so I attached a spare line to the base.
17 January 1994 Mustique
What a rolly night. Brett woke up in the middle of the night with a nose bleed which took ½ hour to sort out. I took Ceris ashore at half past eight – she couldn’t wait to get off because of the rolling. We did school work and a few jobs and then went to the beach. The snorkelling off the beach wasn’t too good as the water had a lot of silt in it.
Glenys and I went for a walk when Ceris came back. Mustique is definitely a place for the wealthy. We walked for a mile through mowed grasslands resembling a golf course, a very pretty little whitewashed school house, etc. Another rolly night ahead.
18 January 1994 Mustique to Canouan
I got up early and went for a swim. I had to take off the extra mooring line that I put on base of the mooring. I took the opportunity of snorkelling around the boat which was pretty good.
We sailed to north of Canouan and then motored when the wind dropped to 10-15 knots. We had a quick look at South Glossy Bay, Canouan – very nice beach, but it looked very rolly. We went into Salt Whistle Bay which is crowded, but a beautiful anchorage.
Ceris, Glenys and the boys went to the beach after lunch and I finished off the dinghy floor boards. The plywood that I bought is only ¼” thick and it should be 3/8” and it’s definitely too thin – it will probably only last a month or two!
19 January 1994 Canouan
We all went to the beach in Salt Whistle Bay. Glenys and Ceris went for a walk up to the village leaving the boys and me to play in the surf with their dinghy (well, they did – I read my book.)Glenys came back leaving Ceris to walk over to Saline Bay.
We motored around to Saline Bay - it looks rolly to me (again!). Brett and I went for a snorkel off Grand Col Point which was good but only 5 metres visibility and a strong current. We met Ceris on the beach and Glenys and I walked up to the top of the hill. We went to Dennis’ Hideaway for dinner, which was very good, but expensive. Dennis knows Gareth and Fi very well and we met another couple on “Hedonis” who are chartering their boat and also know Gareth and Fi.