"Singlehanding"

Persephone is still playing in the waters of Admiralty Bay, Bequia. Bequia is in the Grenadines Island chain which is part of the country of St. Vincent (also known as SVG….St. V and the Grenadines). The residents of Bequia really live sailing….sailing seems to be the island’s passion. From old wooden schooners which were built here (and are still being used here), to sailing “work boats” still used for fishing, to working on modern “plastic” boats. When they are not using the “work boats” the residents are racing them.


Bequia is a beautiful, more upscale island that has everything a cruising sailor needs right at hand. We are anchored off a great beach, town is just a short dinghy ride away with needed supplies, laundry is picked up by the “laundry boat” when you call and returned later in the day; washed, dried and folded. The same company delivers water if needed (Persephone has been collecting rain water for a couple of weeks, as this is the rainy season in the islands. So, no water has been purchased or hauled….thank you rain gods !!)

Now that the awning is complete (few adjustments are needed when the wind drops !) I have been working with the boy’s high school sailing team. Their coach has not been available, so I have been helping out; basically working on starts, mark roundings and basic rules. The crews from “Boldly Go” and “Persephone” chipped in and bought the team T-shirts which say ‘Sail Fast, Live Slow---Bequia” for the big regatta which starts today in Tortola. We all went to the ferry yesterday to see the team off, and to wish them good luck. The team will be competing against 16 other Caribbean island nations, and we wish them well…..The Caribbean newspaper “Compass” showed up with a photographer and got some group shots as the team boarded the ferry. Go Bequia !!!!!!

Lastly, Trudie has decided to return to Connecticut for a while. She left Bequia yesterday morning. Since leaving Connecticut, Persephone has safely sailed over 2000 miles with “THE CREW”. T will be missed.

 
Persephone and I will sail to the Tobago Keys early next week, then on to Carriacou, and finally Grenada.   As soon as the tropical waves stop going over the SE Carib, we will leave Bequia.  (Tropical Waves bring clouds, wind, and thunder storms across the Atlantic all the way from Africa.  In addition they bring a reddish-brown dust which causes a thick haze around the sun and gets all over everything.  What's with this annoying red dust on everything?  "Oh, that's sand from the Sahara Desert".  You've got to be kidding me !!  Unbelievable but true....pretty small planet.  I have to put up with dust from Africa !!)  Hopefully, we will be underway by Sunday or Monday.
 
Singlehanding Dave