12 December 2011 Tyrell Bay, Carriacou
The ferry didn’t hit us during the night, which was a relief, but we moved further in towards the shore when some other yachts left the anchorage.
I had a very lazy day - reading and mooching about, while Glenys decided to clean out the aft lazarette.
We went to “Sheer Tenacity” for sun downers with Jeremy and Yvonne from “Jervon”. They are all from South Africa and we had some good discussions on the best way to sail around Cape Good Hope and Madagascar. Neither of them are looking forward to crossing the Indian Ocean because of the pirates who are operating 2000 miles out of Somalia. We don’t expect to be there for another five years, so hopefully the piracy situation will have improved by then.
13 December 2011 Tyrell Bay to St David’s Harbour, Grenada
Glenys had a Skype conversation with Craig first thing in the morning, while I got the boat ready to sail down to Grenada. It’s amazing to be able to talk to our sons in the UK for free over the Internet.
We sailed down the windward side of Grenada – it’s the first time that we’ve done this and it’s well worth the small additional effort. The scenery passing the rocky islands between Carriacou and Grenada is spectacular, the wind is consistent and the fishing is great – I caught three tuna and one barracuda on the trip. I lost one fish when two of my three lures were hit at the same time. I had to make a decision which one to pull in – nice to have the choice. One of the smaller tuna that we caught had been attacked by another bigger fish by the time that I landed it. The tail was completely missing and there were large, six inch diameter teeth marks in the middle of its body – I wish that fish had been hooked…
The wind stayed with us until the last five miles, when reluctantly we had to turn on the engine and motor for an hour into St David’s Harbour.
We had a few beers in the bar and invited Neils and Ruth from “Baracca” for a fish dinner on board Alba.
14 December 2011 St David’s to Prickly Bay, Grenada
Our crate from the UK should arrive by banana boat at the end of this week, so I spent the morning printing out documentation and invoices for the items being shipped. Tomorrow, I’m going into St Georges to try to arrange a customs clearance agent and some transport back to the boat. I’m expecting that we’ll spend Monday getting the crate and sorting out the customs formalities.
When my administration was complete, we motored downwind to Prickly Bay and chilled out for the afternoon. Just as we thought that it was safe, a French boat came in and anchored directly in front of us. I realise that the French are gregarious (and thick skinned), but there’s acres and acres of empty water in this bay and the stupid idiots have to come and drop their anchor on top of ours – God give me strength.
We tried to ignore the French boat and had a quiet night in. Only seven more sleeps until our sons and their girlfriends arrive for Christmas.
15 December 2011 Prickly Bay to Calvigny Island, Grenada
We went into St Georges and talked to Hubbards, the shipping agents - the ship will be unloading on Sunday, so we’ll pick up the crate on Monday or Tuesday. There’s some confusion about whether Geest-line will release the crate because they haven’t sent me an invoice yet and I haven’t paid.
I went to see a customs clearance agent called Leslie Associates. It was a struggle getting information out of them, but eventually they said that it would cost about 50-100EC for the clearance and 75-100 EC for the transport which is a lot less than I paid last time. I’ll use them.
We did some shopping while in town – a couple of new fishing lures, small presents for Christmas and a Christmas Reggae CD. On the way back, we called in Spiceland Mall and did a big food shop.
Back on boat, I sent an email to Geest-line – asking for invoice and confirmation that they would release my shipment.
The bloody French boat anchored in front of us were very close when we came back and there was no sign of them moving, so we decided to move. Our anchor was in front of their boat, so they had to motor forwards to allow us to pull it up. The nasty streak in me was very pleased that the wife had to go and wake up the husband who was having an afternoon nap…
We started to motor around to Mount Hartman Bay for a bit of peace and quiet, but on the way changed our mind and went on to Clarkes Court Bay – what a life of whimsy we lead. We anchored off Calvigny Island. There were only four other boats the nearest one was 100 metres away, no French in sight – bliss.
16 December 2011 Calvigny Island, Grenada
This is a really nice anchorage, but I’m not able to get an Internet connection, so I went over to Coral Cove marina to use their wireless internet and buy a crate of beer. I’ve not had a reply from Geest-line, so I’ve paid £95 into their bank account and sent them another email asking them to clear my shipment.
We went for a dive off Adam Island. It wasn’t a very good dive site being mostly sand with spread out rocky outcrops. The visibility was rubbish, but we caught two 3lb lobster. The outboard stalled on us again, but again I managed to get it going after checking the fuel filter. I think that it's dirt in the fuel.
We had a quiet afternoon. Glenys froze the lobster tails for Brett & Craig and then boiled up the rest of the carcases to make stock for lobster bisque.
17 December 2011 Calvigny Island to Mount Hartman Bay, Grenada
I felt dodgy this morning, with an upset stomach and flu symptoms, so I took some Immodium and a couple of Paracetemol tablets. We motored around to Mount Hartman Bay and chilled out for the rest of the morning.
At two o’clock, I was still feeling a little dodgy, but we caught a group taxi to go to the Christmas Hash. (A Hash is an organised group hike/run through the country side following a paper trail. It is said that Hashers are drinkers with a running problem.)
I intended to walk around the Hash course, but after I saw Glenys start to jog, I just had to give it a go. The route went up a very steep hill for ten minutes, which was slow plodding and then down the other side which was jogging. After 25 minutes, I had a red mist in front of my eyes, so we stopped in a clearing for a drink of water. I decided to walk back to the start and Glenys carried on without me.
After walking down a few false trails under the dense trees, it was obvious that I was lost, so I continued along the Hash route. I soon caught up with Glenys because she was standing with another hundred people drinking beer at a refreshment station! Unfortunately, I was feeling so rough that I couldn’t partake.
We staggered to the finish and chilled out – everyone else drinking copious amounts of alcohol while I sipped a Coke… I wanted to leave so that I could die quietly, but I had to wait for the group taxi to take us back. As it was the last Hash of the year there were interminable speeches and prize giving and carol singing – bah, humbug.
18 December 2011 Mount Hartman Bay to Prickly Bay, Grenada
I had a very quiet day, recovering and resting – I still feel a little dodgy, but managed to force down two bowls of Gleny’s marvellous Lobster Bisque.
Glenys got on with small jobs preparing for our visitors arriving in a few days’ time.