The Grenadines

Mustique Harbour

View from "The View" - a local Mustique rewtaurant

Enjoying the beach! - Endevour Beach - Mustique

The Grenadines

 March 27, 2017

We are spending a few weeks exploring around the Grenadian islands which belong to St. Vincent. After leaving Marigot Bay in St. Lucia, we stopped one night off Soufriere in the south. From there we spent a long day, from 5:45am, to arrive in Bequia about 5pm. As the weather was quite settled we sailed along the east coast of St. Vincent. The seas are higher but the wind more consistent. The new autopilot was a treat. As the wind decreased, we decided to motor to arrive in daylight. Soon after, the engine stalled. Rob replaced the fuel filter and bled the system, then it worked fine for us. This is why you don't often travel on the lee shore!

We enjoyed three days in Bequia. You need to stop there to check in if you don't stop in St Vincent. But it also is a pleasant place to spend time, with lots of services for yachts, and not crowded. We managed to get chaps (sunbrella cover) made for the dinghy pontoons and motor. We also managed to arrange a swap of our sewing machine for that work. That's what came of taking the machine in for repairs. All future sewing work will have to be contracted out. (Too bad?)

Sat. morning we took a short sail across to Mustique, where we are now. I'm beginning to think that all passages will have some drama or trauma. The wind was almost on the nose, so eventually needed to motor into it. The engine was again not too happy, but we kept it going. But the autopilot stopped working. After taking everything out the next day, it seems like the motor has burned out. Rob has installed a spare and we will check that out tomorrow.

On a happier note, we are enjoying the stop off Mustique. This is one of the islands in the world for the "rich and famous". It is privately owned by the Mustique Company. There are about 70 private homes and 2 small hotels, all in the "money is no object" category. One of the estates rents for US$150,000 a week! We have been on the trails and at 2 of the beaches, but if someone famous were about, I'm sure I wouldn't recognize them. It costs $100 Cdn to be on a mooring ball for one to three nights. If there are no available balls, the price is the same for anchoring. We are obviously here for 3 days, although I'm surprised at how many charter boats come only for the day.

Today is my 69th birthday. For years now, we have been on passage or in an isolated spot for my birthday. Tonight we are going to have a romantic dinner overlooking the anchorage in a beautiful (and I'm sure $$$) restaurant. I'm also enjoying getting so many birthday greetings on the cell phone. It is great to be back in the land of internet access. Thanks everyone!

Carol