by chris ayres | May 2015 | UK to New Zealand
Moving on to Roseau was a strange wind wise day, everything from flat calms to gentle sailing breezes and 25 knots and from all different directions, made it difficult to get the sails right and I lost count of reefs in reefs out, yankee furled away yankee unfurled. Made for a frustrating day. Picked up one of Sea Cat’s moorings once at Roseau. But the strange SW swell that we have been having for the past few days made it anything but a restful night. I had planned to stay a while and visit the interior but in view of the swell I left early next morning. The forecast was for Easterly 15 knot winds- which would have been lovely. Passing Scotts Head at the south of the island was gusty as might be expected but then it settled down to a steady SE 18 knots. Well I could live with that even though it meant being closehauled rather than on a more comfortable reach for the 26 miles across to Martinique. Later the wind dropped to average about 13 knots and a gentle sea state but after a hour or so of this the wind was up to 20 knots plus and the sea a bit more agitated and then 25 lots of wind and then later everything from 5 knots, virtual calms to 25 knots, difficult sailing. Eventually we were in the lee of Martinque and no wind but a slop of a sea. Never mind not so far to St Pierre to anchor.
St Pierre was the site of a big volcanic disaster in 1902 when the Mt Pele erupted, engulfing the town, at the time the biggest in Martinque, in a fireball of superheated gas. There were just 2 survivors, an estimated 29,933 people died and 12 ships at anchor in the bay were destroyed. Today many ruins remain, still blackened around the edges, the population is about 6,000. the town is quite interesting and Mt Pele is quiet.
After a couple of days here it was on to Fort De France. A strong wind onto nose so tacking. It was May day so everything was shut but the beach and park were humming with activity.
Another day I took a “taxi collective” (the equivalent of a bus) out through the busy outskirts and across the middle fertile agricultural part of the island past plantation of bananas and sugar cane fields to La Francoise, a quiet little town – not much there but it enabled me to see more of the island.
Time to leave Fort de France, supplies bought, sail covers off, all made ready to hoist the anchor but the weather thought otherwise, blowing 25 knots in the anchorage and the bay a mass of white horses. No I thought I don’t have to go, so I didn’t.
Forecast was better for next day so dawn saw me hauling in the anchor. Nice sailing breeze across the bay and down the coast but thereafter if was 22 knots plus, mostly more like 25 knots for the rest of the day. 2 reefs in the main and just the staysail up. The wind kicked up quite a sea at times and at one point a wave joined me in the cockpit, breaking over my head. Still one advantage of Caribbean sailing is even the water is not cold and you soon dry off, albeit a little salty. Made it to the shelter of Marigot Bay, St Lucia and anchored outside the lagoon. A scenic spot this, decided to stay over next day.
Next stop was off Soufriere, just 10 miles down the coast, a most beautiful coast I must say. Soufriere Bay is dominated by the Pitons, two wonderful volcanic peaks. I moored off the bat cave but it was a little rolly here so later moved across the bay hoping it would be quieter off the town.
Marigot Bay St Lucia
The Pitons
Soufriere
by chris ayres | May 2015 | UK to New Zealand
Soufriere was the jumping off point for crossing to St Vincent. A dawn start saw me away, motoring as it was calm across the bay and past the Pitons. Rounding Gros Piton point I had wind, gentle at first and could set a course for St Vincent. Later the wind strengthened a little, but a nice beam wind this and not too bad a sea and Sea Bear responded by showing 6 knots on the log, go Bear go, there were 40 miles to go so great to get good speed. I even saw some dolphins, the first I have seen in the Caribbean.
Much later as we neared the north end of St Vincent the wind picked up again, to expected as it accelerates around the end of the island and the sea a little livelier so I put the first reef in the main. A bit later I felt the need for a 2nd reef in the main and furl the working jib as it was getting a bit of a handful. However no sooner than I had done that the wind dropped and then a calm. We were in the lee of the island, thereafter it was a little fitful but we slid calmly along the sea being flat in the lee and entered Wallilabou Bay. This was the main setting for “Pirates Of the Caribbean”. Mooring bouy picked up and a stern line led to the old pilings with the aid of a boat boy and Sea Bear was snug. I had been a good fast passage. Time for a swim then later a beer ashore. Meet and chatted with the lovely American couple of the cat moored next to me Lew and Bev. and we ate together- lovely grilled fish, Amberjack, never had before, very tasty.
It was so peaceful and lovely here, I walked for about 4 hours the next day firstly up the valley then back to the beach.Hear I watched some strange ritual involving 3 corpulent ladies a man with a bell and book and a bag of what I think were flower petals, much anointing with sea water, bathing dunking and bell ringing. It went on a long time and gave some amusement to a man who came down to bathe and who I chatted with. I continued the walk along through Keartons and to Barrouallie the next village along the coast. All very scenic and interesting, got the impression that they don’t see many tourists or “whities” around these parts.
St Vincent is a pretty poor island, you can tell partly because the boat boys and fisherman have little rowing boats, not the big piroques with big outboard motors like other islands, some of the boat boys that sell fruits just paddle around on a surf board . The fisherman row 3 miles or so out to see in these little boats to go fishing, its quite incredible. Ashore some of the tiny shacks that people live in too speak of poverty
St Vincent was beautiful, loved it there and to think I nearly passed it by because it has a bad reputation for boat boys and robberies from boats
Wallilabou
Wallilabou Bay
Wallilabou valley
by chris ayres | May 2015 | UK to New Zealand
It was just a short hop to Bequia, part of the Grenadines. Sailing down the coast of St Vincent I had fickle winds but like the stubborn fool I am at times persisted in sailing rather than resorting straightaway to the engine. Clearing the coast the wind freshened, time to shorten sail, I settled on staysail and double reefed main, quite enough with the wind at 22-24 knots and gusting higher. Admiralty bay I am glad to stay is big with plenty of room to anchor, I was glad of that in the conditions. I headed for what I thought might be the calmer part of the bay and as luck would have it anchored quite by chance next to Lew & Bev’s cat.
In the night it really blew and rained too. I was glad of the rain as it washed all the salt spray off the boat, she had become a very salty Sea Bear.
With the salt washed off I took advantage next day to clean up the stainless of “Martha” which badly needed doing. It was still very windy and the sea choppy so I didn’t bother blowing up the dinghy to go ashore, plenty to do aboard. In the eve Lew & Bev gave me a ride into town, advantage of a big boat is a bigger and hence drier tender. We had a few drinks, some food and listened to some guys playing guitars and singing, a very pleasant eve.
Other days I explored the town, didn’t take long and walked over to Industry via Spring estate. At Industry, strangely named, you couldn’t imagine a more peaceful place was a turtle sanctuary run by a delightful old guy. Nice to see turtles close up and he is doing a great job to help preserve this endangered species.
Admiralty Bay Bequia
Close up to a Turtle
by chris ayres | May 2015 | UK to New Zealand
Left Bequia just after dawn, ran out of the bay and rounded Grand Cay. A wrecked freighter here reminds ones of potential dangers sailing here. A lovely broad reach with moderate winds took us to Canouan which I passed by carrying on towards Mayreau passing between the Baleine rocks and Catholic Island with its shoals. The wind was picking up a little, time to furl the jib , only it wouldn’t so a quick trip to the foredeck to haul it down and lash it to the deck. Then it was past the eastern side of Union Island, avoiding all the reefs of Palm Island and into the reef ringed harbour of Clifton. Forewarned that the holding was not good for anchoring I took a mooring bouy. Felt strange to be on the east side of an island facing the Atlantic with the ever present roar of surf on the reef, but the reef absorbed all the waves and it was calm inside. It had been a good passage, 30 miles in 6 hours. A visit ashore to complete departure formalities as I was leaving the St Vincent Grenadines, the next Island being Grenadian.
In the morning I walked up Fort hill above the town for some great views, although it was a little hazy towards the Tobago keys. Back to the boat , time for a swim of course then off for the short sail to Carriacou in the afternoon.
Clifton harbour from Fort Hill
Main St Clifton
by chris ayres | May 2015 | UK to New Zealand
I had anchored off Hillsborough the previous eve, only 1 other yacht here but there was a couple of Venezuelian fishing boats. One could have been a fishing boat from anywhere, but the other was very distinctive in style with a very high prow and a covered foredeck.
Ashore Hillsborough was very sleepy, it was a Sunday but formalities soon completed at Customs in the police station. Seems no buses on a Sunday so put off a visit to Windward till the next day. After a bus ride to Windward I saw wooden boats being built in the traditional way on the beach, lovely to see. Apparently they have quite a party when they launch them, would be good to be there for that.
In the afternoon I moved around the corner to Tyrrell Bay, this is the favoured anchorage for cruisers at Carriacou, so lots of boats here.
At Tyrrel Bay there is a mangrove lagoon or swamp which is a protected area for mangrove oysters so I took the dinghy there and rowed up it. Supposedly there are iguanas there but I didn’t see any.
Last minute as ever I arranged for some boat storage in Trinidad. The first place I emailed an enquiry too said they were full, which put me in a mild panic, have I left it too late?, what if they are all full? However the next two places I contacted said they had room so I reserved a lift out for 1st June, official start of hurricane season – just have to get there now.
Hillsborough beach
Boat building at Windward
Union Island from Windward
by chris ayres | May 2015 | UK to New Zealand
Dawn saw me away from Tyrrell Bay to make the passage to Grenada. The direct course to the West coast of Grenada passes over a submerged volcano, Kick ‘em Jenny, around which there is an exclusion zone, the size of which depends on the current level of activity. It was quiet at the moment. I thought I might pass to the east of the zone passing close to the island of Isle de Ronde and the rocks of the Sisters. There was however a strong current setting to the west and to counter act it I would need to be hard on the wind, so instead I choose to free off a little and pass Kick ’em Jenny to the west
I closed the Grenada coast near Gros Point and under it’s lee the seas were quieter and the wind lighter and more fickle. Looks a lovely island, forested mountains tumbling down to the sea. Eventually we arrived off St Georges at which point the wind picked up to 25 knots. Isn’t always the way , nice winds all day then coming up to anchor the wind decides to blast away! Just to make life interesting I guess. Anyway lots of room so anchor down in 5 meters and lots of chain out so holding well.
No anchoring is allowed in the Lagoon anymore, its been developed for a marina, and the Carenage is reserved for fishing boats so the anchorage is quite a dinghy ride out of the town but worthwhile for a look around. A few days here and I moved on to Prickly Bay just a few miles around the corner. This is the favoured anchorage for cruising folk. Here I had a chance encounter with another Vancouver, this a 32 “Naomi” with Ian who had recently completed a solo circumnavigation over 4 years. Had tea with him and a good gam. He too was on his way to Trinidad to store the boat for the hurricane season.
Leaving Carriacou
Rum Barrels