Fine Sailing to Carriacou

Fine Sailing to Carriacou

Saturday 16th - Sunday 17th Nov 2024

We left Petit Calvigny anchorage on the south coast of Grenada around 8.30 am, motored out of the bay and motor sailed with our Genoa around the south-west corner of Grenada to St George’s. We planned to take a mooring here and spend the night, but there were no moorings free and it seemed quite rolly. We had been in two minds whether to go all the way to Carriacou in the first place, and with good south-easterly winds we decided to just keep going. We need to use the motor a little in the lee of west side of the island, but once we approached the northern tip we again picked up a good breeze. We had an outstanding sail for the remaining 20 miles up to Carriacou. The winds were 12-14 knots on the beam, and with full main and Genoa and pretty smooth seas, we sailed at close to hull speed ( a little under 8 knots) the entire way. Our route took us west of the undersea volcano “Kick ‘em Jenny”, staying outside the exclusion zone. We dropped anchor in Tyrol Bay and had a very pleasant evening on board. We strayed up past “passage makers midnight” (8 pm) but not as late as “sailors midnight” (9 pm).

This morning we took the “Dainty Dog” into town and tied up at the dinghy dock at Carriacou marine. The evidence of hurricane Beryl is all around. There are many boats in the harbor that are missing masts or have been sunk and re-floated. On shore most of the houses look like they have roof damage or completely lost their roofs. However, it does appear that a tremendous amount of progress has been made tidying up and repairing structures. The vegetation looks like it is recovering fast and the island looks much greener than it did when we were last here at the end of May. We walked along the front, chatted to a few people, took some pictures and enjoyed a cold drink in a beach side cafe. We were able to buy a few supplies (eggs, avocados and more ice) before returning for lunch on board.

It is brutally hot down here, but we did just get some cooling and a lot of rain form a passing squall. Our plan is to head round the corner to Sandy Island later this afternoon.

Mike

12 27.464 N, 61 29.328 W

Pete at the helm on route to Carriacou (photo: Jo Leeming)

Looking down on Tyrrel bay and the marina where we park the 'Dainty Dog'

The new dock and fuel supply building at Tyrrel Bay Marina

Young girl playing on the beach - Tyrrel Bay

Fishermen cleaning and selling their catch. We bought two beautiful red snapper and sauteed them in butter for dinner.

Wrecked Boat - Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou

Remnants of a vessel wrecked on a reef - Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou