One overnighter away
After having arrived in St. Lucia yesterday afternoon, we are now officially just one overnighter away from Grenada. It’s funny how each time we consider that our short trip should be easy (yesterday’s journey was only 32 miles – short by recent standards), it turns out to be a bit of work. I mentioned the other day that certain weather forecasters had been calling for 8′ foot waves. Well we found out where they had been hiding, offshore between Martinique and St. Lucia, right along with the 20-25 knots of wind.
The weather yesterday was excellent for sailing, even if it was coming from pretty much the direction we wanted to go. We had all day to make the trip though so we were happy to enjoy our time out on the water, without running the engines. As the day progressed, the wind and waves continued to build, ultimately breaching the 20 knot mark which is typically when we would begin to shorten sail. We held off though because we were pinching so much, our speed was being limited. It was the waves that ultimately forced us to reef though as our autopilot started to groan when the waves came around and started slapping us on the beam.
Just as the sun started getting lower in the horizon, we found a nice anchor spot just off the beach in Rodney Bay. It was too late to clear customs yesterday so that’s on the agenda this morning. What will follow that we’re unsure. I do think we’ll hang around here a couple of days before we head any further south.
Anchorage: Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
Internet on boat with Alfa: Yes. Free and fast.
Internet on boat without Alfa: Yes. Free and fast.
Internet on shore: NA
Mike,
Enjoy the sunsets ! Five years ago, one the first day of hurricane season Dawn and I were married there on St. Lucia! If you do stick around, check out the mud bath and the Grand Pitons. There is also a small bay there where the filmed The Blue Lagoon.
Safe travels,
Mark & Dawn
Happy anniversary you two. What a great place for a wedding!
So much to see between there and Granada.
So we hear.
http://www.bikestlucia.com/
We visited the above on our honeymoon in St. Lucia. Great picture op!
Love the blog!!!
Thomas
That looks cool. I couldn’t see any prices on their site, other than packages which included a hotel room.
Here’s our route from St Vincent to Grenada in 2008. Tobago Cay is incredible. There are also turtle farms, celebrity homes, and lots more to see. http://www.epstein.bz/gallery/Album12.htm
Fair winds…
Thanks Eric.
If you hit St Vincent’s, go to Georgetown Market for provisions and lots of fresh fruit.
Pretty sure we will be bypassing St. Vincent. From here we’ll head to Bequia.
I have been lurking on your site since you left ………very enjoyable thanks for taking the time to let us share your trip.
Have you guys met these peeps yet? they are right behind you .
http://sailingaroundtheglobe.blogspot.com/
Jim
Hi Jim. No, we haven’t met them. I did come across their blog just a day or two ago though.
http://www.bikestlucia.com/
On the home page, look for an orange band with a link for Day Visitors. Just need to email them to set everything up.
Thomas
I sent them an email last evening. Thanks Thomas.
Booked it. We’re going tomorrow. 🙂
Been following your blog for months and think its great. We have a 32PDQ as well and I am learning from your experiences. What are your plans when you finally reach Grenada? Do you plan to stay there for the hurricane season or go farther south? Also, will you be heading back north in your boat once the “season” is over? You missed many fantastic islands on your voyage south so thought maybe you will hit them on the way back. Have fun and stay safe. Kathy
Hi Kathy
It’s always nice to meet other PDQ 32 owners:)
It is our intention to hang out in Grenada, or points south of there, for H-season. Following that we will likely work our way north again, filling in some of the gaps that our fast track south left us.