Livaboard "Boot Camp" Sail Instruction in Paradise Part # 1 of 2

 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 would anchor for the night at Ross Pt in Grand Anse Bay (http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=8CMfa ) and took the dingy ashore for rum punches at The Coconut Beach French Creole Restaurant (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coconut-Beach-Restaurant/242236219162412) then it was back to the boat for dinner.

 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.