We made it!
On July 31st, 2010, we set sail from Collins Bay Marina in Kingston, Ontario and for the entire 314 days that we’ve been out, our only absolute destination was to get to Grenada for Hurricane Season. Well, we made it. Yesterday, after a beautiful sail (not motor sail, but sail!) we arrived in Grenada and only a few days after the official start of the windy season, June 1st.
We had plotted routes down to the southeastern coast of Grenada where we’ll likely make our base for the next little while but while on route, decided instead pull in to an anchorage a bit farther up the coast to enjoy the day. Both Flamingo Bay, and Dragon Bay beside it, are listed in the Doyle cruising guide as nice anchorages with decent snorkeling. In other words, perfect places to stop. Minutes after arriving and setting our anchor though, we were visited by “rangers” CJ and Cesil who politely informed us that the entire area was now a marine park and that instead of anchoring, we would need to take one of the mooring balls along the shore (there were signs along the shore that said this, but we didn’t get close enough to read them). “Would there be a charge” I asked? CJ must have been misinformed because he smiled and said no, because yesterday was my birthday, there would be no charge. He actually went on to explain that the park designation is quite new and a fee structure has not yet been established. Also, because this info has not yet made it into the cruising guides, there is still a lot of confusion. No problem for us, we just picked up our anchor and grabbed a mooring. We were happy to see that when we dove on the mooring, it was nice and beefy and in excellent condition.
Although we won’t visit there now, just offshore from here is what looks to be a very cool snorkeling/diving site with a number of underwater sculptures. We definitely plan to come back and explore this place, perhaps after we get our SCUBA certification.
This morning we got in the water and scrubbed the boat’s bottom and are now under sail towards the Hog Island anchorage about 11-12 miles away. We were concerned that we might not have enough wind to sail. Apparently those concerns were unnecessary because we’re smoking along under reefed main and jib doing an average of 8 knots SOG. Nice!
Strangely, the sky all above us was blue and cloud free…
but we still felt rain, apparently from these clouds over top of the nearby hill. Weird.
S/V Highheeled, from Hamilton, Ontario. We first met them back in Carriacou.
There appears to be numerous excellent anchorages along the southeastern coast of Grenada!
Cool! Glad you avoided the angry underwater volcano. Please let us know if you get scuba certified there how your experience goes. We’re debating getting certified here vs someplace else.
Our friend Wade on s/v Joana has gear and said that he could teach us. He has taught many people in the past and seems very safety conscious.
Congratulations in making it to Grenada! 314 days huh, wow, that seems like a really good way to spend a year. Can’t wait to see and hear about all your experiences in Grenada.
We’ll be sure to share our experiences. 🙂
Well done – congratulations!
Thanks Jeffrey!
Congratulations on making it to Grenada. We have been following your blog religiously (daily) since you left Kingston and we look forward to reading it every day and seeing all the wonderful places you have been, always fantastic pictures by the way. We hope to one day follow pretty much your same path, what a way to spend a year.
We are in Kingston but we sure wish we were down south like you. Enjoy Grenada and please continue posting
Hi Denis. Thanks you. Hopefully you do make it… it is very worth it.
Yay!! I am so proud of you guys! I hope your time there is amazing.
Thanks Sandra!
It’s been that long already? And you’re still together, and still cruising- this bodes well! There’s so much yet to be seen and done, and it does sound like you’re (mostly) enjoying it. And you’re certainly making the rest of us want to speed up our boat projects and lock in a course of one-eight-zero.
They say the most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule, but I don’t think “ah, twelve degrees latitude by early June-ish” counts as much of a schedule.
H-dock is looking pretty empty without you guys, by the way….
Hey Matt
Tell Hub to get busy and fill H-dock back up again, but I definitely recommend that they be shoal draft vessels.
Congratulations
Thanks Joey.
As watchers of the skies, you probably already have this link, but just in case:
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/
Interesting.
Hey Mike!
Melanie and I are going to Miami tomorrow and sailing with a friend back to Myrtle Beach. We are planning to come back by the ocean weather permitting for 3 or more days. What should we take to eat and what to do for the time on the water. This will be a great learning experience for us. We have not been on a big sailboat other than my Hobie Cat. I know we will be learning all kinds of things along the way but do you have any suggestions?
Thanks for your time and information.
Drew
Hi Drew
Good questions. As for food, I recommend having a bunch of things already prepared so that crew doesn’t have to spend time in the galley in case it get’s rough. Sandwiches, granola bars, fruit, hot water in thermoses for soup, etc.
As for what to spend time on, many people read but that will depend upon your tolerance for reading while underway. When we first set out I couldn’t read without getting sick but now find that I can get away with it in most conditions without getting ill.
I’m knee deep in fries, burgers, jumbo dogs etc. and just before I go to work to begin the day I read your blogs. I’m not going to say it’s the ONLY thing that keeps me going but it sure helps!! Congrats on achieving your goal; many more good days to come I’m sure. Dave and T say hey. Marc0
You make awesome fries, Mark. I am drooling thinking about them.
Please say Hi to D&T for us!
Sounds like you are going to be settled there for a while 🙂 As for doing a dive course as I said if you haven’t done one by the time we are that way & if we do manage to have a catch up I will teach you & get you the correct ticket. If you are going to do a course & “that goes for any one “then make sure they have a good reputation & have safety in mind all the time. & “enjoy the course” There are companies out there that do “cheep” courses due to competition but others cut corners in many ways, So just be very careful as there is no coming back alive when bad mistakes happen. especially when going from clear water to murky 3inches or no visibility
Keep the sun on your face & the rain behind you.
We have a friend with gear who tells us that he has taught many people. He seems quite safety conscious and although he can’t give us a “ticket,” he is willing to teach us.
Then if you feel comfortable & don’t go over 10 to 15 feet the first time you try it & NO deeper than 10 meters “30 feet” on your first ‘main” dives get use to the pressure on your ears & equalize regular & always breath normally. It will be great fun.
Really happy for both of you – congrats!! Keep up the great blog.
We’ll definitely try, guys.