A Grenada Sailing Adventure – Part 2: Island Rhythms & Safety Drills

This trip was born from a sudden change in plans three weeks before departure: our original 41-foot monohull was replaced by a massive Moorings 5000 catamaran. A whirlwind scramble to find crew commenced, and within a week, against the odds, we assembled a five-person team ready to embrace the unknown.

What follows is Part 2 of 3 in our Grenada Sailing Adventure series. In this chapter, the hectic energy of boarding gives way as we find our rhythm as a crew. 

See A Grenada Sailing Adventure – Part 1: Finding Our Sea Legs.

Day 3: The Morning Waltz

On Saturday, January 10, I awoke at 6:00 AM in L’Esterre Bay, Carriacou and brewed a pot of coffee for the crew. The morning was calm as we discussed the day’s plan. We dropped the mooring ball to begin making our way toward Union Island. While underway, our 5-crew fell into a rhythm. Kent and I were at the helm, Katie and Maria prepared eggs in the galley, and Ron grilled bacon on the deck. The roles of our crew were so nicely balanced, Kent described it as “perfect geometric stability.”

A Pit Stop

En route, at 10:00 AM, we reached the white sand beach of Sandy Island where we made a pit stop. Kent decided to swim ashore. Watching him snorkel away from the boat caused me a bit of characteristic worry, but Ron suggested we keep the dinghy at the ready just in case. This was a solution I could live with and allowed me to relax and enjoy searching for sea glass on the beach with Katie.

Operational Readiness

That morning Ron noticed a bow line we’d been using for the mooring balls had chafed. We replaced it with a spare line retrieved from a storage locker and shared a celebratory high-five. This bit of preventative maintenance turned out to be the perfect warm-up for what was coming next.

We were back underway by noon. When an unexpected gust sent Katie’s hat flying into the waves, Ron seized the moment to initiate an impromptu safety drill. “Crew overboard!” he shouted to the crew, to which my sister hilariously replied, “Do I have to go overboard?”

While Kent handled the maneuver at the helm, the rest of us acted as a team to spot and recover the hat. Katie was the spotter at the bow, and Ron stationed himself at the stern with the boat hook. Maria and I posted ourselves as relayers, shouting communications up and down the chain. As we approached, the hat disappeared under the stepped hull but re-emerged at the stern where Ron scooped it up. Every hat deserves to be rescued, and every unexpected moment is a chance to sharpen your skills.

Island Time

We arrived at Clifton, Union Island, at 1:30 PM to check into St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The “island time” atmosphere was never more apparent than when Kent relayed to us from the immigration office that we’d have to wait, the officer was flying in from another island. It was almost surreal to hear, only minutes later, a prop plane approach and then watch it land on the tiny airstrip right in front of us.

Back on the boat, the afternoon was filled with local color: a “boat boy” in a brightly painted wooden boat approached, selling us a chunky tuna that he filleted right on the water. Soon after, a local named Charlie paddled up in a kayak to sell jewelry, and Katie bought turtle necklaces for Kent and me—gifts we now treasure! When check-in was complete, we got underway once again.

By 3:00 PM, we reached the breathtaking Salt Whistle Bay in Mayreau, a postcard place with white sand and palm-lined shores. Dropping anchor near an actual shipwreck on the beach, we settled in for an evening of Cards Against Humanity.

Day 4: Fifty Shades of Blue

We awoke on Sunday, January 11 and pulled anchor by 8:30 AM, our sights set on Tobago Cays Marine Park. As we approached, the water transformed into, yes, fifty shades of blue.

The navigation that morning highlighted once again the incredible value of our crew. As we entered the Cays, we approached a popular channel known as “the slot,” but Ron suggested we keep going. We ended up at the very front of the entire anchorage, where the view off our bow was simply the island, the reef, and the vastness of the ocean leading toward Africa. We arrived by 10:00 AM.

The day was a highlight of the trip. We spent hours snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters with sea turtles, stingrays, eagle rays and starfish. At one point, Ron brought up from the floor a fat starfish and baby conch shells for us to see and touch.

Royal Lobster

That afternoon we took the dinghy to the beach for Alphonso’s Lobster BBQ. We beached the dinghy and walked up to a large tent filled with picnic tables, glowing lights, and the soulful sound of steel drum music. The atmosphere was communal as we sat down amongst travelers from all over the world, savoring the island vibe. After we’d indulged, we were honored to meet the cook who had prepared our food, “Queen Elizabeth,” a proud, hardworking woman who’d served us a feast of Caribbean lobsters split open on the grill.

As the sun moved from the golden hour to the warm dark of the tropical night, the 80-degree breeze enveloped us. This was such a special experience for us, the connection with our mates and fellow travelers, the atmosphere, and the raw beauty. In our wildest dreams, when we’d imagined what it would be like to be sailors, this experience was exactly it.

Day 5: Exploration and Role Reversal

On Monday, January 12, I awoke by 6:30 AM to a beautiful, calm morning in the Tobago Cays. The water was still fifty shades of blue so we took the opportunity to swim once more with the sea creatures.

At 10:00 AM, Ron, Maria, and I headed ashore for a hike over the hill toward the site of Alphonso’s Lobster BBQ. Seeing the beach in the bright morning light was a contrast to the night before; we even ran into Alphonso himself and chatted with him while his team prepared for another evening of festivities. On the way back, we encountered an iguana on the trail, which reminded us how wild and untouched this paradise truly was.

After one last hour of snorkeling among the reefs, we prepared to move on toward our next destination: Canouan. As we prepared to set out, Kent suggested we swap roles: he would handle the mooring ball at the bow while I took the helm. But the anchorage had gotten crowded and we needed to make a tight pivot right off the mooring ball. Unfamiliar with the throttle range, I gave it what I thought was a firm boost of power, but I had underpowered the boat. Thankfully, once again, Ron was right by my side. He gave it the juice it needed, the boat turned on a dime, and we safely made our way out of the anchorage.

I continued to woman the helm as we made our way to Canouan. (While I don’t see my primary role as navigator, it’s important to have competency in every role. If it is ever necessary, a gal ought to be able to save her own life!)

Island Realities and Soul Food

We reached Canouan around 1:30 PM on Monday, January 12. As we approached, a local man assisted us with hooking up to a mooring ball, and in a moment of gritty island reality, advised us to be mindful of our belongings. He mentioned there had been a thief in the area who had fortunately been caught just the day before. We asked for restaurant recommendations and he suggested the Soul Food Restaurant & Bar a couple of blocks off the beach.

We initially looked for the restaurant recommended by the mooring assistant. Finding it closed until 7:00 PM, we instead opted for the Soho Beach House Canouan. The five of us enjoyed our beachside meal as the sun set, and Katie and I topped off the evening with decaf cappuccinos and shots of Kahlua. Unfortunately, the restaurant prohibited picture-taking.

Coming Up in Part 3: Our final leg brings the biggest challenges and island magic! Join us as we navigate the open ocean where Africa is the next stop and discover the tiny, sun-drenched sandbar of Mopion Island. We’ll brave a “tongue dip” of potent, “under the counter” rum and snorkel through an underwater sculpture garden guarded by a giant barracuda.