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Starblazer - 28/03/2016 - Another day, another anchorage.



We dropped the mooring in Dragon Bay on the west coast of Grenada soon after 0830 and started sailing northwards along the coast. It was not the kind of sailing I like, the wind jumping between a comfortable 12-14 knots to an uncomfortable 20-24! I can get used to any angle of heel given time but when the boat suddenly28/03/2016 - Another day, another anchorage. lays over after some gentle sailing I just don't like it. John hand steered for the first couple of hours to save the batteries, however the wind backed, pushing us more to the north rather than North East, then it died completely so we started the engine and motor sailed. The wind was only kidding and came back strongly so we continued motor sailing, tacking in towards the shore then away again (you can sail closer to the wind whilst motor sailing and charge the batteries). In all we tacked 12 times to gain 10nM, covering 16 nM in the process. Eventually we got ourselves into a position to sail towards Tyrrel Bay on Carriacou without having to tack, allowing for a slight detour around Les Tantes which are a few small islands. We did have to put in one last tack when an overtaking Danish boat motoring in, crowded us so badly we couldn't keep the Genoa filled and had to tack behind them to get moving again. We were hard on the wind so couldn't sail away from them, it was poor seamanship on their behalf. (Overtaking boats ALWAYS give way to the boat ahead! IRPCS)

The straight line distance from Dragon Bay to Tyrrel Bay is 27nM, however that line takes you straight over an active underwater volcano. There is a recommended 1.5 km exclusion zone, however the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre has described the volcano as 'restless' and issued a yellow warning. They have recommended that the voluntary 1.5km exclusion zone be made compulsory and that the 5km zone should be adhered to for non-essential vessels. This means that you have to detour around Ronde and Caille Islands making the trip about 30nM. In all we sailed 36.5 nM because of our zigzag route including one leg well inside the 5km zone! The fear is that bubbles in the water make it less buoyant and there is a possibility that boats might sink. We saw a number of yachts sailing south, almost over the top of the volcano, with no ill effects.

We have just had a visit from a 'boat boy' offering to take rubbish and sell us fruit and oysters. We declined. Tomorrow we will take our rubbish ashore and ensure it is placed in a suitable bin! Boat boys have been known to take rubbish for a few dollars then just throw it over a hedge after sorting through it for anything useful. We will probably stay here two nights to give us a chance to see some of the island tomorrow, then we will clear out early on Wednesday morning, sail 10 nM to Clifton on Union Island to clear in to the St Vincent Grenadines. We'll probably anchor in Chatham Bay on the west coast, somewhere we haven't been before (it's supposed to be largely deserted except for a few beach bars/'restaurants' and John hopes to get a BBQ Lobster), then make our way to the beautiful, unspoilt Tobago Cays for another few days.

Joyce


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