Pirate in the Caribbean

Grenada - Our Final Destination Three months after my arrival in the British Virgin Islands, we arrived in Carriacou Grenada for our last customs and immigration check-in by sea.  With all the check-ins and check-outs, it is a bit of a relief to do the last one. However the sailing blogs are full of stories about the notoriously difficult Custom's officer here so we proceeded cautiously.     We visited 9 countries, each with their own procedures and requirements for importing Pirate.  We had requested an import permit from the government of Grenada three weeks before we arrived  without any response to the original request and follow-ups.  As a result, when we got there, Pirate did not have the proper clearance. The notorious Custom's officer was not amused. However Roger turned on the charm offering her a coffee and then buying her a Perrier from the bar while she took her lunch break. She got on the phone for us and in no time announced that the the ...

  Tobago Cays and Union Island - More Beach Bars - Go Figure Imagine warm crystal blue water, pristine white sandy beaches, palm trees and turtles, and you can imagine the Tobago Cays.  The Tobago Cays (different than Trinidad and Tobago) are a small set of uninhabited islands surrounded by Horseshoe Reef, with nothing else between you and the open ocean.  This is a marine sanctuary so, whether you are mooring or anchored, the charge is $60 EC per night, plus $15 per person on board.  If you stay three nights, you get a fourth free, however most people come in and out for one night as they are typically charter boats on a schedule. Roger and Pirate on the other hand wanted to stay there forever.  When you arrive, one of the 'boat boys' is assigned your boat in order to assist you on to a mooring ball.  We were assigned Mr. Confidence.  If there is anything else you need, then he will help organize it.  A lobster dinner at the beach BBQ was most ce...

  Sailing the Grenadines in search of Rolling Stones - Mustique and Mayreau  Mustique is a private island that has been developed as a playground for the rich and famous. Shania Twain and Bryan Adams both had places on the island.   The last  time we were there, about 15 years ago, t he local cab driver thought we would know them as we were all Canadians. About half the houses are available for rent when the owners are not in residence.  Mick Jagger is often on the island as well, and during our last visit, our friend Dave had spotted him dropping off his daughter at Basil's Bar, an infamous and popular establishment which is perched over the water on stilts.  The bar is still there, but this visit, Mick was nowhere in sight - however - he was apparently in Bequia for a visit.  I guess poor Mick won't get to meet Pirate after all. While in Mustique, Pirate spent most days on the bow looking out for turtles. They surface regularly and fascinate her, eve...

It's a Small World - Bequia, the Entryway to the Grenadines Bequia is part of the Grenadines, a chain of small islands that are part of St Vincent.  Lying just 9 miles to the south of St Vincent, Bequia is the largest of the Grenadine Islands, and it means "island of the clouds".   It is believe that the famous pirate, Blackbeard (Edward Teach) had his base in Bequia, so Pirate was particularly excited about her visit here.  With light winds, we sailed from Young's Cut in St. Vincent arriving an hour or so later in Admiralty Bay, a very large harbour in Bequia.  We found the perfect spot to anchor and set ashore to check out the  town of Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth is a picturesque place with very friendly people.  There are local people selling their wares all along the waterfront - baskets, woodwork and lots of fresh vegetables.  We picked up the St Vincent courtesy flag at the local chandlery, some EC (Eastern Caribbean dollars) from the ban...

Goodbye Baguettes and Patisseries - Headed South Again We are finally on our way!  The heat exchanger was replaced by a mechanic named Cedric who also showed Roger a few little tricks and tips. A heat exchanger works like the radiator in your car to cool the engine. The difference is, rather than using a fan and the air to cool the hot radiator fluid that circulates in your car engine, a boat motor takes in the water from the ocean, runs it through a series of capillaries and thus cools the hot radiator fluid and returns the water to the sea though the exhaust pipe, thus cooling it too. Virtually all boat motors work this way. The inherent problem is that salt water rusts everything. Hence the capillaries walls get thinner and thinner until they fail and your engine is ruined by the salt or you catch it in time as we did.   We also had our dinghy outboard motor tuned-up so it starts much more easily now.  And Roger bought a bunch more spare parts, including a new alternat...