Quick Update....

Persephone is currently moored under the Twin Pitons of St. Lucia.  The sail from SVG to St. Lucia was aggressive with winds averaging 25-28 knots with gusts to 32 knts (Read: very windy).  Waves were between 6 and 10 feet, which frequently broke over the boat.   One particularly large wave submerged the boat and my mouth flopped open as I watched green water wash down the companionway stairs flooding the galley.  (I should have known better to keep the hatch boards in.....dumb !!)  But during the fury, I was able to pull in a nice 12 +  pound yellow fin tuna.  Sushi anyone ??

Next blog....how Persephone sailed into Port Royal Sound in search of  the "Pirates of the Caribbean"...but you will have to wait ! 

  

Back in Bequia.....

For the past month the cruisers have been calling Grenada "Hotel California"....as Don Henley sings...'you can check out, but you can never leave'.  Well, we finally broke out and are on the way north for the winter. (North for the winter....sounds strange !!)

On Sunday, Persephone had one of the best sails in a long time; voyaging from Chatham Bay, Union Island to the island Bequia in the country of SVG.  Arriving in Bequia was like coming home after spending nearly a month here in July.   It is nice to know where all of the services are located upon arrival.  This is Admiralty Bay where Persephone is anchored.... 

Boats sailing in and out of Admiralty Harbor

The inner harbor, unfortunately it was misting when we were overlooking the harbor.
 Persephone is just off camera to the right.

Turtles are everywhere in Admiralty Bay.  It seems every time you look out from the boat, you see a turtle bobbing to the surface for air looking back......

The turtles come in all sizes...from the size of a baseball, to nearly TWO feet across.  The turtle pictured above is about a foot long.

            The colorful roofs of the home which ring Friendship Bay, Bequia with their boats anchored in front.

Union Island....

We left Carriacou yesterday morning and had a delightful sail up to Union Island. (Union Is is in the country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines i.e. "SVG" ) We are in Chatham Bay on the west side of the island. What a great, quiet place with a terrific beach (tog with several beach bars). We planned on stopping here only overnight, but enjoyed it so much, we decided to stay another day (today, Saturday). The water is the clearest since the Bahamas...we can see the bottom clearly at 18-20 feet.
As soon as we anchored, some local boat boys came by with fresh King fish and lobsters. "A pound of King fish, and two 2 lb lobsters, please". "Yeah, mon...no problem"..... Had a fresh lobster dinner on the grill last nite and saved the fish for tonight. This place is incredibly quiet...no phone service, no internet....no nothing....just a million stars. Interestingly, we are on ONLY US flagged boat here. (there are about 15-20 boats here...several of which we know). Similarly, I saw only one other US flagged boat at Tyrrel Bay of about 50+ boats.....where are all the US cruisers ??
Plan on beaching, and snorkeling today and will move up to Bequia tomorrow am. Will keep you updated on our voyage. THE CREW
P.S. We are back to using amateur radio (HAM) as our only mode to communication. Kind of a culture shock after being in Grenada with semi-reliable internet, and phone service....But, I am sure we will survive !! LOL.

Enjoy Some Pictures of Carriacou Island, Grenada

Sunset at Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou Island, Grenada

Dock in the Town of Windward, Carriacou.  Petit Martinique is in the background.

In Carriacou, they build their workboats in the traditional way....by eye.  There are no plans,  it just has to look right.  Here is a boat whose wooden ribs were recently layed.  The boats are built of wood all grown on the island.   It is due to be launched in about 6 months.

 

Overlooking a meadow on Carriacou's north coast.  Union Island, of the country of

 St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in the background.

Carriacou......

     Our guide book describes Carriacou as an island "with over a hundred rum shops, and only one gasoline station ".  Sounds like they have their priorities straight; if you ask me.  On a short walk to the beach, here are a couple of signs of note....

What are 'spiritious' liquors ??  To bad the rum shop was closed, I would have asked....>>>>>>>>

Uncle Tom's must be a religious retreat...featuring 'spiritiual' liquor...alter wine perhaps ?


This is the sign at the entrance to a beach bar.  How subtle is the graphic ??  HARD wood ???  Yikes !!

Here is Paradise Beach, which is right in front of the Hard Wood Bar.....

This beach is so pretty, maybe the bar's name is appropriate...

Drums in the Night....

Just before leaving Grenada, it was announced on the morning radio net that there would be a drum concert at Grenada's National Museum.  A drum concert ??  What's that all about??  Well, we had to check it out....especially since it was free !!

What a fantastic evening  !!  Highly decorated drums with the performers in  African/Carib costumes (with faces painted in Grenada's national colors of red, yellow and green)  performing traditional drum music.

The drum on the left is over 5 feet tall !!



Phil Collins would be amazed !!

Join us at the concert:



On the Move.....

Persephone arrived in Carriacou (an island in the country of Grenada) after a "spirited" sail.  (Read:  22+/- knots, gusting 28 with 8-10 foot seas !! on a close reach).  Perhaps 'spirited' should be changed to 'wet and wild'.  But, we got here without incident, and most importantly didn't break anything.

Will be in Carriacou for at least a couple of days.  Internet is intermittent at best.  We will try and keep you updated with what's happening as conditions with the net permit.

THE CREW