December 17, 2012-A Turn around Grenada

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Storm at the North Shore.

I would not have believed when we set out on Wednesday in a rented car to go around Grenada that we could make as many wrong turns as we did. We hit them all.

Not that it made much difference; Grenada is a small island. Even with our wrong turns we got to all of our destinations on time, although if we hadn’t gotten directions from locals a couple of times we might not have. For example when we were going up this one road which simply got worse and worse until it was just two ruts going up a hillside and Judy thought we should turn back but the guidebook said that the road was scenic even if it wasn’t very good so I thought we should keep going. Then we encountered a guy walking down the road, a rasta man with dreadlocks down to the middle of his back and a huge machete slung across his shoulder. I stopped and rolled down the window, “Is this the road to Windsor?” I asked.

“No man, this road goes to Bubbling Springs. You gotta go back down and turn left at the bridge, then right at the…” The rest was lost on me, but we went down, and eventually we found Windsor.

Another time three school girls gave us the scoop, “Yes, the fishing village of Gouyave is this way.”

“Thank you.” Zoom.

So in this manner we found our way and wound up at our hotel on Grenada’s north coast in time for cocktails. Success!

And just in time to see a big storm roll in.

Right as night fell the wind started to howl, the waves kicked up, and rain soon followed. We had our wine on the deck overlooking the passage to the Grenadines and watched the fury of the wind and waves. They told us at the hotel that this was the worst they’d seen since Hurricane Ivan. Boy, were we glad we were not sailing to Carriacou that night, although we saw two boats out there that were. I think they had a rough night. Instead the bartender shuttered the doors and served us an excellent dinner inside while the rain beat on the window panes.

Later that night we retired to our cottage on the beach and left the doors wide open. We felt the wind on our faces and listened to the crashing surf, the wildly swaying palm trees, and the rain on our veranda roof, all from our four poster bed. It was pretty fantastic.

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Grenada Woman.

Thursday morning the storm was over and we continued on our drive, hit all the tourist spots, and got back to Wings by dark.

Could you say we’ve done Grenada?

Well, in a sort of cursory way, yes, and it was great.

Next we head to Carriacou.

Click here to see more of our road trip.

Click here to see more shots of the storm at the Hotel at Petite Anse

Click here to see some more Grenadian people.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Grenada

November 27, 2012-Night Passage to Prickly Bay

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Anchored in Hog Island Bay, Grenada.

The first night at sea after a period at anchor is the same; the sea always reminds us of what happens if we aren’t exactly ready, if everything isn’t properly stowed, and in general, lets us know it’s still boss. Here we were, the first night out, charging along powered up and driving on a fresh breeze with the wind just ahead of the beam, seeing sevens and eights, waves splashing onto the foredeck, the vane working hard and then there was enough of a side roll to throw some gear loose below deck. I heard it fall then I heard Judy moving around below picking up the items which had gone adrift.

I guess we weren't all that prepared.

We left Man of War Bay at dusk headed for Prickly Bay, Grenada, and by nightfall we were on this fast reach with the full main eased out and the small jib pulling strongly and I was sitting in the cockpit behind the dodger, taking one of my first watches at sea after a while, and honestly, I would have been happier with a little less wind. I just wanted things to be mellow.

Instead I got squalls, the first one rolled through around eight o’clock, darkening the sky, and suddenly the wind was 24.5 knots true. The boat speed shot up.

There was a groan from the winch drum as the turns of the main sheet shifted under the increased force. The boat rolled hard on a big wave and we threatened to round up and then the rig shook as the sail luffed violently.

I bore off and we accelerated and I wondered if the wind was going to continue to increase or if it would moderate? The black cloud overhead didn’t look particularly big but sometimes these things get a life of their own and just keep growing once they get started. I didn’t want the fuss of having to put a reef in, maybe in the midst of a pouring rain and howling breeze. I just wanted it easy but you don’t always get to choose.

Fortunately the squall passed, the wind went back to eighteen, and I came back up to our previous course. I settled down a little. This night would pass.

But now I was keeping a closer watch on the sky; there could be more of these squalls and Ruth and Angus, who just arrived in Man of War Bay earlier today, reported a violent previous night of 45 knot winds and heavy rain.

We didn’t get that; our squalls were moderate and short, and in fact, with the full moon, it was a glorious night of sailing, fast and wet, and with just enough of an edge on to keep us on our toes.

By morning we were easing our way into Prickly Bay.

Click here for a few more photos from Hog Island Bay and Whisper Cove Marina Bar, Grenada

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Hog Island, Grenada

December 8, updated for typo