Saint David's Harbor, Grenada

Anchored Saint Davids Harbor
Grenada
Caribbean Sea
12'01.1N/61'40.6W
300 miles from S/V Christa
(Click Photo To Enlarge)

It has been a few days since our last posting which has a lot to do with us not knowing what day it actually is. We finally recovered from all the initial excitement in Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou and made it into the big city of Hillsborough. We thought it would be a nice walk to town, and it was. But we also thought we would be following the coast. The island is just too wet for a coastal road. So the road goes up and over the island. After two hours we made it to town, checked in with all the proper authorities, enjoyed a great chicken roti lunch, and checked out a few of the small markets.

Carriacou (carry-a-cou) is a quiet and laid-back island where not much is ever going on. Tom was gung-ho about finding this ‘real’ Jack-Iron Rum so we jumped aboard several buses to the town of Windward. I’m still not sure why he thought we would find it there, but I was excited to add on a walk while out there. The bus dropped us off at the trail head which was clearly marked on either side with conch shells all the way to the beach. I was a bit hesitant walking next to what the sign read was ‘black swamp’ but the end reward was a beach full of shells. Yippee!

The next morning our plan was to relax on Paradise Beach. As we started to write a new blog posting I looked at the GPS and asked Tom "What!?! Today is the 18th? We have to go. We are supposed to be in Grenada tomorrow!’ So we quickly sprung into action and had a wonderful 40 mile sail down the windward side of the island to our current location of St. David’s Bay, Grenada.

We were invited by our friends from S/V Buxom 2 to help crew their boat in the Classic Yacht Regatta which started on the 19th. Buxom is a 1938 Tahiti gaff rigged ketch, complete with black haul and red sails. The race itself didn’t start until the 20th so we were able to relax for a day and meet some of the other boat owners. The winner of last year’s race is over 150 years old. For once, Sandpiper, at 33, is one of the youngest boats in the harbor.

The first day of the race the winds were too strong and they couldn’t get any of the markers set and nobody wanted to do any damage to their boats. So happy hour started early. I should also say that the night before the first race we had several large squalls come through bringing high winds. I did not have a good feeling about getting on a boat for fun.

Once morning came I still wasn’t feeling it but went over to Buxom anyways. After taking one last look out the channel I did the walk of shame and paddled myself back to Sandpiper. Yes, I have been living on a boat for 4 years. But the sailing part is still not one of my favorite things, especially when I don’t HAVE to put myself out there in 30 knots and 12 foot seas.

The winds have really caused the seas to build. So for the last two days the race courses have been modified. Tom crewed on Buxom yesterday and Apollonian, a 1955 sloop that almost sank, today.

I have been making myself comfortable on the boat. Thanks to free wifi I have found us a home for hurricane season. Our new home starting July 1 will be at the Charleston Maritime Center Marina in Charleston, South Carolina. Once there we will look for work and figure out what is next for Team Sandpiper.

For the time being we plan on exploring Grenada for the next couple of weeks until we shoot back up north to St. Lucia where we look forward to a visit from my Mom and Dr. Bob.

Love to all,
Amy and Tom

Update: The races have finished and I’m proud to report our friends Colin and Lindsay from S/V Buxom 2 swept the awards ceremony, taking home three awards. They won third overall for the racing, the perseverance award, and Lindsay won the spirit award. A good time was had by all.

A huge thanks to Sue and Fred from Bel Air Plantation Resort for all their hospitality this week!

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Note from Ron: Nice photo gallery of Carriacou.