Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou 
12.27.355N
61.29.317W
I got up early today thinking I could squeeze in one more snorkel but the weather wouldn’t cooperate. It was once again overcast and windy. So at a reasonable time to call, we let the others know that we were ready to leave when they were.
MTNest elected to stay for another day in the Cays and visit some of the other islands in the Grenadines while we planned on joining Orpailleur in Carriacou for their haul out and bottom job. We e-mailed our mail forwarding service to let them know that we’d be in one spot for more than a day and to forward our mail to us in Carriacou. It’s time to renew all of our vehicle and vessel registrations and hopefully, this year we’ll be able to do it via the internet without a problem.
We hoisted anchors and made our way through the southern channel leading out of the Tobago Cays and south towards Union Island where we needed to clear out of the Grenadines. Once we cleared all of the reefs protecting the Cays, we unfurled our sails and made a quick transit.
We rounded the reefs protecting Clifton Harbor on Union Island and followed the buoys marking the entrance into the anchorage which is divided into two areas with a reef in the middle. Only the perimeter has anchoring depths with a bottom of sand over maurl; which means iffy holding at best.
Dale & I eased close to one side and dropped our anchor in what little sand there was and gratefully accepted that we had found a good spot. Orpailleur wasn’t as lucky and dragged anchor on their first try. With hand signals we suggested that they move up and try again in the same spot. This time it dug in although Gerry felt that it was still inching its way back. In any event, we dropped our dinghy and Dale picked up Gerry for the trip into town to the customs office and the hike to the airport for the immigration office. Nicky and I stayed aboard to make sure the boats didn’t move. Luckily, we didn’t have to do anything.
When the guys came back, we once again hoisted anchor and tried to make our way out of the anchorage around a huge catamaran that wasn’t having any luck finding a spot that would hold. They took position directly behind Orpailleur and us waiting to take our spots but didn’t leave a whole lot of room to maneuver in. With help from the wind and current, I was able to pivot the Palace around and get out but they really put the squeeze play on Orpailleur. Since we were making our own way out between the reefs, I wasn’t able to see how Gerry & Nicky were able to get out with the cat in the way.
We cleared the reefs, unfurled our sails and were making great speeds towards Carriacou when Dale suddenly shouted “Right! Right! Turn Right” He had caught sight of another boat coming at us from beneath our sail. I turned a little right, thinking that a fishing boat was coming at us. “Hard right!” was the next command. Boy was I surprised when I spun the wheel to its full potential to see that we narrowly missed another huge cat passing a boat length or two from us.
Rules of the Road dictated that they had the right of way. Still, they had seen us because I heard them blowing a whistle when we passed by. In close calls, the tendency is to figure out what we did wrong and make adjustments. I’m not sure what we could have done differently. Both boats were blanketed by each other’s sails. Both Dale & I were top side and keeping watch. Neither one of us saw the boat approaching. Now what? No harm, no foul, but still its unnerving.
We continued on shaken but unscathed and rounded around Carriacou to enter into Hillsborough Harbor to clear into a new country. Once again we did the anchor dance and Nicky and I were left to guard home and hearth while the guys dinghied in. This time though, we had cut it too close to the lunch hour and the doors were shut in their face. As luck would have it, the cricket match was playing nearby in a café across from the bank and the hour they had to wait was gone in a heartbeat.
Once the paperwork was completed, they returned to the harbor, we hoisted anchors and motored around the corner to Tyrrel Bay where Orpailleur has an appointment for sanding and new bottom paint.
For the final time, we did the anchor dance but this time, the anchors bit into deep sand and snapped the boats back into alignment indicating that they had dug themselves into a home for the next week or so.
The guys dinghied into the haul out yard and confirmed the scheduled maintenance with the yard manager over a couple of cold brews. Gerry was able to book a little 2 bedroom chalet with kitchenette and living area next door for the time they will be on the hard and things appear to be on right on schedule for a haul out on Thursday.
In the meantime, I put up the front and back awnings. Since we’re going to be here awhile, might as well get comfortable. Hummm, I wonder where I put that hammock?
12.27.355N
61.29.317W
I got up early today thinking I could squeeze in one more snorkel but the weather wouldn’t cooperate. It was once again overcast and windy. So at a reasonable time to call, we let the others know that we were ready to leave when they were.
MTNest elected to stay for another day in the Cays and visit some of the other islands in the Grenadines while we planned on joining Orpailleur in Carriacou for their haul out and bottom job. We e-mailed our mail forwarding service to let them know that we’d be in one spot for more than a day and to forward our mail to us in Carriacou. It’s time to renew all of our vehicle and vessel registrations and hopefully, this year we’ll be able to do it via the internet without a problem.
We hoisted anchors and made our way through the southern channel leading out of the Tobago Cays and south towards Union Island where we needed to clear out of the Grenadines. Once we cleared all of the reefs protecting the Cays, we unfurled our sails and made a quick transit.
We rounded the reefs protecting Clifton Harbor on Union Island and followed the buoys marking the entrance into the anchorage which is divided into two areas with a reef in the middle. Only the perimeter has anchoring depths with a bottom of sand over maurl; which means iffy holding at best.
Dale & I eased close to one side and dropped our anchor in what little sand there was and gratefully accepted that we had found a good spot. Orpailleur wasn’t as lucky and dragged anchor on their first try. With hand signals we suggested that they move up and try again in the same spot. This time it dug in although Gerry felt that it was still inching its way back. In any event, we dropped our dinghy and Dale picked up Gerry for the trip into town to the customs office and the hike to the airport for the immigration office. Nicky and I stayed aboard to make sure the boats didn’t move. Luckily, we didn’t have to do anything.
When the guys came back, we once again hoisted anchor and tried to make our way out of the anchorage around a huge catamaran that wasn’t having any luck finding a spot that would hold. They took position directly behind Orpailleur and us waiting to take our spots but didn’t leave a whole lot of room to maneuver in. With help from the wind and current, I was able to pivot the Palace around and get out but they really put the squeeze play on Orpailleur. Since we were making our own way out between the reefs, I wasn’t able to see how Gerry & Nicky were able to get out with the cat in the way.
We cleared the reefs, unfurled our sails and were making great speeds towards Carriacou when Dale suddenly shouted “Right! Right! Turn Right” He had caught sight of another boat coming at us from beneath our sail. I turned a little right, thinking that a fishing boat was coming at us. “Hard right!” was the next command. Boy was I surprised when I spun the wheel to its full potential to see that we narrowly missed another huge cat passing a boat length or two from us.
Rules of the Road dictated that they had the right of way. Still, they had seen us because I heard them blowing a whistle when we passed by. In close calls, the tendency is to figure out what we did wrong and make adjustments. I’m not sure what we could have done differently. Both boats were blanketed by each other’s sails. Both Dale & I were top side and keeping watch. Neither one of us saw the boat approaching. Now what? No harm, no foul, but still its unnerving.
We continued on shaken but unscathed and rounded around Carriacou to enter into Hillsborough Harbor to clear into a new country. Once again we did the anchor dance and Nicky and I were left to guard home and hearth while the guys dinghied in. This time though, we had cut it too close to the lunch hour and the doors were shut in their face. As luck would have it, the cricket match was playing nearby in a café across from the bank and the hour they had to wait was gone in a heartbeat.
Once the paperwork was completed, they returned to the harbor, we hoisted anchors and motored around the corner to Tyrrel Bay where Orpailleur has an appointment for sanding and new bottom paint.
For the final time, we did the anchor dance but this time, the anchors bit into deep sand and snapped the boats back into alignment indicating that they had dug themselves into a home for the next week or so.
The guys dinghied into the haul out yard and confirmed the scheduled maintenance with the yard manager over a couple of cold brews. Gerry was able to book a little 2 bedroom chalet with kitchenette and living area next door for the time they will be on the hard and things appear to be on right on schedule for a haul out on Thursday.
In the meantime, I put up the front and back awnings. Since we’re going to be here awhile, might as well get comfortable. Hummm, I wonder where I put that hammock?
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