Sandy Island, Grenada
12.28.944N
61.29.062W

One of the reasons why we don’t particularly like Prickly Bay is due to the constant roll. It’s an easy harbor to enter but because of that, it is also easy for the swell to roll in. Last night was one of the worst ones. Neither one of us got much sleep, so when we hoisted anchor at 7 am, it seemed really, really early.

We scooted out of Prickly Bay heading west, tippy toed though the shallows south of Grenada and then turned anticipating a lively romp north. Except that the wind was on our nose again! It wasn’t until we left Grenada behind us that we were finally able to cut the engine and sail. However, when we were able to unfurl those big white floppy things, they filled with enough breezes to have us traveling 5.5 - 6 kts.

Along the way we commissioned Roger & Elaine’s laptop computer to the deep when we tossed it into the underwater volcano, Kick ‘em Jenny. We bellowed on the conch horn to call Poseidon, Neptune and all of the denizens of the deep to safeguard Roger & Elaine’s privacy against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Then we blew the conch horn again 4 or 5 times and rendered their computer to Davy Jones’ locker. Normally, we don’t like throwing trash into the ocean but Elaine wanted to make sure that no one could get to their personal information. Dunking it in salt water then throwing into the trash seemed too impersonal. We figured this was way more ‘old sailor’ salty. It sank like a stone so I don’t think anyone will be seeing it for the next 20-30 years. That is, unless the volcano blows tomorrow and spits it back out.

We made Carriacou by early afternoon and anchored near what used to be a great reef to snorkel around. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ivan leveled the poor thing; wiping out all of the palm trees and churned up the reef below.

Once we anchored, we donned our gear, jumped in and headed out for a swim. It was wonderful to be in clear water again. The reef is making a valiant effort in returning and I really enjoyed the tiny fish, crabs, and Christmas tree worms in the new growth. We saw the usual assortment of blue tang, parrot fish, trigger fish, and damsel fish and I was delighted to see those little silversides that look like underwater clouds. Inside a barrel shaped sponge, a large porcupine fish was hiding.

On our way back to the boat, we saw the trunk of a palm tree about 80’ long submerged between the reef and where we were anchored. I was glad we had anchored further out; I saw how it had the potential for being a hazard for those dropping their anchors across it. At least it was in shallow enough water that you could dive it if you had to. When we got back to our boat, a stingray was on the sandy bottom below our transom ladder munching away at something. Since we were in 20’ of water, we were no where near it and it completely ignored us.

Tomorrow we’ll check out of the country of Grenada (of which Carriacou and Sandy Island belong) and check into Union Island, a member of the Grenadines, before we make our way to Tobago Cays (which are also part of the Grenadines).

Right now, I need some sleep, except that the wind is picking up and the boat is starting to dance.