26/Oct/2009, St Georges, Grenada
Once upon a time, many years before we arrived here, Grenada was the hub of yachting in the Caribbean. It boasted the first haulout facility, a well respected yacht club and racing every weekend. For whatever reason it went into decline, and has become overshadowed by Antigua and St Maarten, so it's nice to see a yacht racing programme back on the agenda.
This occasion marked the thanksgiving regatta, a series of races for local work boats at Woburn. Colourful wooden dorys and rowing boats, fitted with masts and sailed, somehow, once a year, amid lots of shouting, gesticulating and frenzied bailing.
The yacht race started inside the lagoon of St Georges. A run down to Point Salines in sheltered water followed by a lengthy beat up the south coast against the current. The wind filled in, just as ordered, and we all had a thoroughly enjoyable time.
There were only seven entrants, but it's a start. We were second over the finish line, off Hog island, inside the reefs of Clarkes Court Bay. For once, ahead of Alex on his fast Beneteau 461, Chao Lay, and still in touch with a fully-crewed Swan 53.
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11/Oct/2009, St Georges, Grenada
We seem to have been in Grenada for ages. In fact it has been little more than a month since we dropped our anchor in St Georges, and have since flitted between here, True Blue Bay and Calivigny, even sailing around the island one fine Sunday. The days seem to have flown by. A number of familiar faces are down here from Antigua, doing the same as us, keeping out of the hurricane belt for the summer months.
This weekend has seen the Grenada Cricket Classics festival. International test cricketers from the golden age of the game. There was a big party at the True Blue Bay Resort last night, followed this afternoon by the main event, when the West Indies took on a World XI in a 20/20 overs game.
The world eleven were made up of Alan lamb, Derek Randall, Nick Cook, Devon Malcolm, Andrew Caddick, and some relatively little known (by me at least) Aussie players, some looking a little more portly than when they were at their peak in the 80's, but still pretty quick between the wickets. The guys the crowd really came to see however, were best the West Indies had ever produced: Sir Vivian Richards, Richie Richardson, Joel Garner, Courtenay Walsh and Curtly Ambrose. So it was a big disappointment when two young batsmen from the current West Indies test squad got into the team and occupied the crease virtually all afternoon. A bit of a mis-match, as you can imagine, and not at all what we wanted to see.
The photo is of Sir Vivian going for another big one!
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05/Aug/2009, Tyrrel bay, Carriacou
Back in Carriacou. It's regatta time again, and back on Chao Lay with Alex, and his two yachtmaster students. We couldn't all get together in time for the first race, around the island, which was won by Tim Sudell's old 44 foot IOR racer Saga. However, they didn't have it all their own way in the second race, which we won by six minutes. In the third race, we were neck and neck, going around the sisters, less than six inches apart, and close enough to reach out and touch the rocks. All good fun. First place overall was once again taken by Jerry Stewarts' Bloody Mary, despite being pipped in the last race by Mike and Lucy's Tulaichean II from Grenada. It's long past time someone challenged the established order here. Next year perhaps, who knows? The photo is of a certain French restauranteur on Saga shaking his fist at us as we pulled away from them once again, shortly before their headsail ripped in two.
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I am enjoying your blog as I sit in Prickley Bay, Grenada. My husband and I have been involved with racing for many years including providing support for the America's Cup PRO.
We are new to cruising and hope to attend several of the races scheduled for 2010. We hope to meet you in person and thank you for sharing your experiences on this site.
Sincerely
Nell and Dr.Philip Kellett
SV Moon Dancer
18/Jul/2009, Bequia
After far too long ashore, getting fat and lazy, in a comfortable villa, we are back on the move once again. Overnight from Antigua we are now back down in Bequia once more. Moored in Admiralty Bay. I normally enjoy sailing at night, but not so much this time; squalls, pouring rain, lightning, the works. The weather forecasters got it all wrong. At least the sun is out now we're here.
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30/May/2009, Antigua
A tot on tour was held on this venerable old lady last night. Amazon was built as a gentlemans steam yacht in 1885, although no longer steam driven. She was in Malta being restored the last time we saw her, and stopped off in Antigua on her way up to Bermuda.
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