Sonosailor - Wow! Talk about a small world! We bought our
boat from Bob and Judy Goodchild, and they used to look after it for us in the Hog Island anchorage! And, yes - Bob did sell his business. He's now affilliated with the new Clarkes Court marina just around the corner.
Sadly, when Ivan the Terrible came through, all of the docks there wre destroyed along with several boats. Of the 30 or so boats moored behind Hog, only 3 survived. We know of several people who suffered major damage to their boats along Grenada, or
lost them completely. The devastation was unbelievable!
So far as a sugestion, we moved our boat to a little
commercial boatyard on Carriacou, one island north of Grenada two years ago - Tyrrel Bay Yacht Haulout. EXCELLEVT little yard - very cooperative. We suffered no damage in the storm whatsoeveer, nor did any of the other boats in the yard (they only have room for 18 or so). Unfortunately, I don't think they could handle your width. There is, however, a brand new marina currently under construction right across the bay which supposedly will be able to handle cats, and I know there is one on Grenada as well - either St. David's marina or Point David's -St.David's, I think. They had a lot of damage, too - but should be OK by thetime you get there.
Must see's:
Along the
west coast of St. Vincent is, about 1/3 of the way up the island, is Walallabou Bay. It is where they filmed most of the
movie "Pirates of the Caribbean". The set is still there on the beach, and you can wander around on it. Boat boys will help you with a stern line ashore - which you'll need. OK place to overnight, with a couple of decent restaurants ashore.
As you sail out of Bequia (I assume you'll stop there again), sort of go around the corner and along the southern shore between Bequia and the littleisland to its south. You'll come to Petit
Nevis - which used to be a whaling station for the fishermen on Bequia. Go in quite close to shore and drop your hook just to the left of the remains of a concrete jetty in about 15-20 feet onto clean sand. Go ashore and explore - fascinating. Also its a great overnight spot (tho it doesn't look like it) where you'll most likely be all by yourselves.
As you sail down the
west coast of Canouan there are a couple of LITTLE places which you can tuck into - gotta look real hard for them, and you'll need a stern
anchor or a line ashore. (Don't bother with the main anchorage on Canouan - it is a base for The Moorings, and they take up nearly the whole anchorage.)
On the north end of the next island south - I can't remember its name at the moment - is a lovely little anchorage called Saltwhistle Bay. Get there early afternoon, and
anchor well inside and to the north side if you can - it gets rolly. Beautiful beach (maintained by a resort there) and the restaurant at the resort os open to the public. Contact them on VHF16 and make a reservation and place your order in advance.
Of course,
Tobago Keys is worth at least a week! Be careful navigating the challen between the two islands as you enter from the west, then hang a right into the main anchorage. Best snorkelling in the world, and if you're into
SCUBA, excellent for that as well. You'll anchor over clear, white sand in about 12 feet behind the third longest reef in the world. Like a millpond in the midle of the ocean! Boat Boys are great, too. Be sure to look up Walter (multicolored boat - pink, green, yellow and black lst year - deep booming voice) - he's fair and very helpful. Also, another big fellow Mr. Fantastic, the Ocean Mall - good guy and fair. Don't miss out on lobster! By the way, another part of that
movie was filmed in the Keys - on Petit Tobac - a little island sort of all by itself outside of the main reef and to the east of most of the other keys. If you are careful and are familiar with reef
navigation you can safely exit the keys directlyto the south. Study your
charts and watch the other boats - will save a lot of time.
Union Island has an interesting anchorage - again behind a reef. Watch your chart going in - its tricky - and anchor on the outer (eastern) reef as far north as you can. Drop the hook in about 10-12 feet onto clean sand. Some very good restaurants, great local market for veggies, etc., a fair supermarket and good opportunity for fresh
fish. Be a bit wary of the
water taxi boys, but most are reliable.
Petit St. Vincent is completely owned by a private resort, but there is a very good anchorage there along the southern shore. Watch your bottom, though - it is mostly sand, but there are areas of gravel which makes for very poor holding. There is a lovely little island (or there was pre-Ivan) just to the NW on which there is a sun shelter and a great beach. You can take the big boat up fairly close, then pick your way ashore among the
reefs - (stay to the west and take it real easy!) Good snorkelplace, and a great place for a picnic lunch.
Fuel and water available on Petit
Martinique, but its not much of a point of interest.
Clear ccustoms for Grenada on Carruacou in Hillsborough. TERRIBLE anchorage, with a very nasty place to tie your dink. Be careful if any sea is running. Decent
provisioning available here.
One of our favorite places is Tyrell Bay, just south of Hillsborough. Go well inside, favoring the south side of the bay where the other yachties are. The farther inside you go, the less roll you'll have. Holding is decent, but there are patches of hard pan and some weedy areas, so post a bow lookout and anchor carefully. There's a great italian restaurant along the south side of the bay, but their landing
dock is VERY tricky. Might be better to pull the dink ashore. Wonderful Pizza, too! Also a very good French restaurant, and another, which recently changed hands, called After Ours, upstairs over a convenience store and a dive shop - which is now run by a fellow who used to be the private
chef for the Prime Minister of Trinidad - GREAT chef! Also sever other neat little local places. John will take garbage, sell youlimes and is a good source for lobster. Sebastian has some excellent prices on wines. (Both boat boys.) Good place here for all types of
repair services, too - Dominique has an excellent stainless nd
aluminum shop set up on a
trimaran anchored on the southside of the bay. There's a good sail loft which also does reasonalbe
canvas work called "in Stitches", located along the watefront - good
mechanic available at the yachy haulout - as well as a good source for
parts, and Michael Ward is a top notch
electrical and
electronics man - also available through the boatyard. (Manager's name there is Roy.)
There are a couple of nice little
anchorages just south of Carriacou, but they can be tricky and are
weather dependent.
Only other place we know of is only a coupleof miles north of St. Georges, so its not really worth stopping - and its kinda rolly at times anyways. You'll see it on your chart, and it can he handy if you need to tuck in somewhere.
In St. Georges, Johnathan runs the Island Water World store - they stock a huge variety of stuff, and can get you anything else. Johnathan's great, and has a good staff. Right on the
lagoon. Also,
Food Land is an excellent supermarket - air conditioned even! They offer yachties a discount on big orders, and they have (had) a very good
dinghy dock right in front of the store. Lots of very good restaurants. For a unique experience - and LOTS of
food - try Patrick's. A little pink place about 1/4 mile to the south of the
Lagoon on the main road - an easy walk.
Hope this helps - I suggest youpick up a
current copy of Doyle's Cruising Guide for the area as well.
So far as the
health issue, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in April, and, believe it or not, my wife was diagnosed with colon cancer three weeks later! Say a little prayer for us - we'll take all the help we can get.
Enjoy your trip south - we hope to be there during Feb and March.
Regards -
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