Follow us as we plan to travel around the world by cruising sailboat.This blog will be interactive as we ask those in the sailing community and those who are seeking the same lifestyle to join in and comment on there experiences as we explore topics relating to plans for purchasing and outfitting a cruising sailboat, learning the skills from novice to sailor, and finally untying the dock lines and changing our occupation to world traveler as we set out to circumnavigate the globe.
There is nothing better in this world then waking up on a sailing yacht anchored to a tropical island, that's the way to start the day. After getting a cup of Bob's amazing coffee and some fruit for breakfast it was time to head up to the deck to have a look around.
This anchorage at Petite St Vincent or PSV , (http://www.petitstvincent.com) was just amazing and the water was a brilliant turquoise.One word "Paradise".
And on this day, Thursday the 5th day of our trip we would again go sailing - what else!
Leaving PSV we would make our way through the reef to travel to tiny Mopion Island.....the one used in the commercials and magazine covers. (See the first photo at the top of the page)
Without even a single palm tree, the only speck of shade on Mopion is from a thatch umbrella. We just could not find a patch of good sand to anchor the boat in, so we did the next best thing laying out 150 ft of chain in the 15 ft of water to hold the boat while we went ashore. We snorkeled the clear water exploring several parts of the reef and took the necessary photos then it was back to the boat to continue with the days plans and agenda.
Looking out across the reef to our boat with Carriacou in the background.
The thatched umbrella at Mopion Island with S/V Ambrosia in the background
Looking from Mopion Island back towards PSV. You can see the Reef we snorkeled.
Our next stop was the fuel dock at Petite Martinique to top off our water supply as we had used both our 75 and 50 gallon water tanks. This stop afforded us about an hour and a half to explore the island and meet a few more of the friendly locals there. We walked to a grocery store, then walked up the beach past the local fishing boats and back around through the town. It was a nice day out and we really needed the exercise.
Then we set sail again making a course heading towards Union Island as we again would round Carriacou's Gun Point with our final course laid in to head for Sandy Island, our stop for the night. But first we decided to mutiny. We had to get rid of that tyrant skipper of ours. So we set the scurvy dog Tim adrift in the dinghy with no motor, no oars, only his camera in which to capture photo's of us sailing away. After a few practice sailing man over board drills and figure eight's led by Shaun we felt pity for the poor lass and brought him back aboard before he drifted out to sea.
Photo of S/V AMBROSIA under sail by Tim Geisler
We did get in another great day of sailing as we made our way. We practiced different points of sail, tacking and more man overboard drills, once again taking turns at the helm. As we arrived at Sandy Island the winds picked up, and as it was our turn it was up to Amanda and I to pick up that mooring. We decided to put Amanda on the helm and I would go to the bow. As Amanda brought it around heading for the mooring, and with winds gusting to 34 knot's (Near Gale Force) Chris picked up the mooring and tied off the bridle on the first pass and we were elated at our accomplishment. Now that's the conditions to really learn in. The front passed and allowed us time to study up for tonight's exam as the others went ashore for some snorkeling. We joined them ashore a while later close to sundown looking for a nice sunset, but once again the low clouds on the horizon continued to keep our perfect sunsets illusive.
Previous cruisers made coral sculptures on the island.
A view of Ambrosia on her mooring at Sandy Island.
Sandy Island really did live up to it's name
Amanda on Sandy Island near Sunset
Put a sailor and a aeronautical engineer on the same boat and what do you get?
Again, no sunsets to the horizon.
Back on the boat, and after a quick review session with Tim and Shaun who would work on dinner as the four of us took our Basic Coastal Cruising ASA 103 test. A progressively harder test then the Basic Keel-boat test we had taken yesterday. We were on pins and needles as we turned in our tests for grading until we found out that once again we had all finished with passing grades.
We awoke bright and early on Friday morning (day 6) to the roar of the diesel auxiliary as we broke anchor for the expected 8 hour sail back to True Blue Bay in Grenada. Once again hurrying to get some coffee and a bite of cereal and join the rest of the crew on the deck. Our course today would take us straight out to sea on a westerly coarse so we would once again make clear of the underwater volcano and working out the navigation on our charts we laid in the course south once again thru the open sea and down the coast of Grenada. We were surprised as we checked our course at how much the current was taking us off coarse. This would be a good lesson as we made the necessary course corrections.
This would be our final leg of the trip, the last chance to get in some good sailing and we each took full advantage of this time switching off at the helm every so often. The seas built for awhile as we passed between Carriacou and Grenada and we even made 10.1 knots for awhile, our best speed of the trip. After a brief pause near the entrance to St Georges harbor for some additional practice we continued towards the dock. We brought down the sails and motored into True Blue Bay around 3 PM awaiting the charter companies pilot to come aboard and med moor us to the dock.
Amanda winching in the Jib Sheet as we sailed back to Grenada.
Just before sunset we had a final text review session, immediately followed by our final testing for our Bare-boat Chartering Certification ASA 104. This would be the toughest test yet and none of us were sure we were ready. But after living on the sailboat for a week and getting hands on experience night and day with the boats systems and navigation processes we just had to know this stuff. It was grueling, but one by one as we finished and our tests were graded we found out that all of us had passing grades. I'm convinced that this could not have happened in such a short period of time if it wasn't for the expert training we received from Tim and Shaun and making the choice for a live aboard course.
In celebration of all that we accomplished during the weeks crash coarse we decided to go out to one of the best restaurant's on the island for dinner. Once again we climbed into Shauns car and headed to The Aquarium Restaurant (http://aquarium-grenada.com/) which was ocean front dining in an open Balinese tropical setting.
The Crew at the Captains Table: From the left is Shaun, Amanda, Chris,Tim,Rob and Bob.
A last night sleeping on our sailing home for this trip really concluded our fun filled week aboard. We were sad that this part of the trip was over, glad that we accomplished what we set out to do and ready for a relaxing couple days to unwind ashore before going back home.
Introducing the New Charter Captains Amanda & Chris July
Stay tuned in for our next segment as we move off the boat and back onto dry land coming soon.
We had our first look this afternoon at the Bavaria 42 that would be our home on the water for the next week. The 2005 boat was chartered by our sailing school Nautilus Sailing (http://www.nautilussailing.com) from Horizon Yacht Charters Grenada (http://www.horizonyachtcharters.com/grenada/grenada.html). After meeting the rest of the crew, we moved our baggage aboard and got settled into our cabin. Amanda and I had lucked out with the owners cabin which had more storage which we needed as we were traveling an additional week before/after the trip and had alot of luggage to store.
I had spoke to our sailing instructor Tim Geisler, the owner of Nautilus Sailing on many occaisons as we prepared for the trip and was glad to finaly meet him. He introduced us to Shaun, his newest instructor who would also be along to help us and to learn Tim's curriculum. Shaun had many, many years experience as a delivery skipper and would offer us lots of great advise from his local perspective and his extensive sailing experience.
First thing was to get aquainted with the crew and our new floating home. We were briefed on it's systems, and after introducing ourselves and getting aquainted a scavenger hunt was on as we tried to find everything on a list which included counting the boats through hulls. Then as night fell, we all stuffed into Shaun's car to go out for a bit of Sushi at a great local place he knew.
Early Sunday morning June 10th we began to settle into what would be our routine over the next week. With six people on a 42 foot boat we needed to be orderly and organized. Our breakfast's would consist of cerial and fruit, lunch meat sandwiches for lunch and we would each take turns preparing a dinner.
After our initial chart briefing with sailing conditions in the area and information about all of our destinations by Bernadette with Horizon Yacht Charters and discussion of the days route and activities over some amazing fruit smoothies we untied the docklines and headed out to sea.
This first day (Sunday) we sailed out of True Blue Bay and rounded the island into the west coast along the Caribbean Sea while doing motoring figure 8's and man overboard drills finishing with an introduction to anchoring. We did have some strong weather today and heeled the boat occaisionally in the gusty winds.
We went out Monday morning sailing and getting the feel for our boat as we learned mainsail trim and points of sail. Re-anchoring at Ross Pt. This time a dingy ride into St Georges Harbor to a dingy dock on the Carenage. We all walked to the fish and street market's to pick up more supplies of food for the week. We realized now after so much walking about why everyone on boats are so fit. Tim bought the largest 10 lbs chunk of fresh (half day old) ahi Tuna I had ever seen, and for about $15 U.S. from a vendor at the local fish market. It was enough to serve a dinner for six and to supplement our lunch's for many days after. We also got a deal on Mangos from a street vendor and stocked up on spices as well.
On day three (Tuesday) we had a morning introduction into navigation, chart reading. Then we headed out early for what would be our longest passage making our way to Tyrell Bay, Carriacou a 32 nautical mile journey that would take at least 6 hours. Sailing North along the Grenadian coast Shaun pointed out an awesome picturesque anchorage in Black Bay that he said had good holding near the river and amazing clearity to the water over a completely black sand bay/beach. Definately a stop to look forward too on the next trip.
Staying only a few hundred yards offshore motor sailing up the coast untill rounding Sauters Bay and laying the Sisters of Rhonde Island we pointed up for Carriacou keeping well clear of Kick ‘em Jenny an underwater valcano. Today would be more then amazing sailing as we saw upwards of 34 plus knot winds as we made passage through the adverse current and 8-9 foot waves. This made for quick learning of heavy weather sailing, and was quite the test for a boatload of student sailors. What a way to learn sailing as we each took turns on the helm.
In addition and for us to learn fishing techniques for cruisers 101, instructor Shaun had put out three fishing lines to troll behind us as we made our passage and as luck would have it we cought a huge Mackeral. Which he brought aboard and fileted for us to grill later for a fresh fish lunch from the sea. If we could just learn how to fish we will never go hungry aboard a sailboat.
As we approached Carriacou we made our way East to White Island which was our aftrenoon destination. Once we arrived, we found it unsutable for anchoring in the current weather. But with Shauns local experience we tucked around and through the reefs into the bay at Saline Island and anchored there for Lunch after our crossing.
Saline Island was everything you expect to see in the Caribbean, a tropical beach with crystal-clear turquoise water. Here we could do a little snorkeling and BBQ that fresh Mackeral for our lunch. You couldnt have dreamed of a better day so far. We were thrilled.
Making our way around Carriacou from Saline Island after lunch we put in for the night at the natural harbor of Tyrel Bay. This anchorage was filled with cruising boats from all over, even some that looked to be abandon there for many years. The Bay was tight and did not leave much room for swing giving us additional anchoring practice.
Taking the dingy ride ashore some of the crew who had lap tops tried out the local Wi-Fi cafe's so they could get back in touch while Amanda and I walked around exploring the town and meeting some wonderful locals.
We were told in our briefing that we could get a good dinner at a The Slipway restaurent (http://slipwayrestaurant.com/) at Tyrell Bay Yacht Club but it was closed while the proprieters took there own vacation. We wound up having a fantastic dinner though of fresh cought Red Snapper and Lambie (Conch) at the Lambie Queen Restaurant & Bar. A wet dingy ride back to Ambrosia and a glass of wine before putting the long day behind us exausted and ready for our bunks.
Halfway through the week now as we departed Tyrell Bay, Carriacou on Wednesday June 13th,day four. Today we will head up and around the Northern coast of Carriocou headed to the Private Island of Petit St Vincent (http://www.petitstvincent.com/) for our evening anchorage. This would be another good passage but not as long as yesterdays.
We made a course for Sandy Island stopping briefly to practice picking up a mooring ball. We each took turns learning the fine art of mooring to the balls at Sandy Island and then headed with good wind up past and around Gun Point as we tacked for PSV.
Todays sailing took the better part of the day. When we arrived we anchored on a nice sandy shelf just 15 ft deep and just across from the private Islands Bar/ Restaurant. We went snorkeling to check out how well our anchor was set in the crystal clear water and noticed that the scope laid the boat out past a deeper ledge. That was spectacular.
We all jumped into the dingy to shore for a quick drink and review session before takeing our first test. Yes, here in the most beautiful island paradise you could imagine we would take our first big test. Just 100 questions to answer for our ASA 101 certification, could we remember everything? We would find out an hour or so later that all four of us passed and we could progress to the next phase.
Haveing passed the first of three certification tests (this was a working vacation after all) we concluded the day with another fantastic celebritory dinner aboard. Getting a physical workout all day followed by the mental workout taking our test we found it easy to call it a night early. We then tried sleeping as off and on storms kept awaking us occaisionally to open/close hatches as the storm rains came and passed through the night.
Stay tuned for our next chapter as we continue to learn and sail in the Spice Islands.
