The Adventures of TooTs
1 May 12
Union Island - Canouan - Bequia - St Lucia
We spent nearly a month in Ashton Bay on the south side of Union Island. The anchorage was perfect: not crowded, excellent kitesurfing, superb snorkelling and the water was clear enough for us to use our watermaker.
As an added bonus, the social side of things was good with Juffa, Spruce and Bumblebee also in the anchorage. We last saw Bumblebee, a Wharram catamaran with Tim, Julie and Tiger on board, in the Canary Islands.
After doing the daily boat jobs, we spent most afternoons kitesurfing. Launching from the tiny beach was a little tricky with lots of thorns and sharp coral fragments to rip the kite if we made a mess of the launch and drop. Once out, the flat water and constant wind made conditions a dream.
With shallow water, one of us could stand waist deep whilst the other posed for the camera.
One downside of the anchorage was that we had to walk a couple of miles to Clifton for stores, but the walk was pleasant with a colourful church on route
and an unusual law office building with some very attractive curtains. Not that I'm any sort of expert in these matters, but the last time I saw decor like this was, I think, in The Reeperbahn.
With our cruising permit for the Grenadines starting to run out, we weighed anchor and had a brisk 2 day sail to Bequia, via Canouan. In Bequia we anchored in Admiralty Bay which again was a delight, although very busy as it was Easter Monday.
Bequia - Admiralty Bay
Bequia felt like a city after Union Island. We enjoyed the waterside cafes and again found some good snorkelling, seeing manta rays for the first time.
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Bequia waterfront
After a week in Bequia, we decided to sail direct for St Lucia which meant an 0500 hours start if we were to arrive in View Fort in daylight. Going up the windward side of St Vincent rewarded us with 2 fair sized barracuda. Sadly, but not for the fish, we lost a big dorado as we were trying to net it.
After clearing in with immigration and customs at View Fort, we only stayed a few days before heading north to sail past The Pitons.
We had hoped to stop in Marigot Harbour but all the anchoring spots have now been taken up by buoys so we pressed on to Rodney Bay where there was plenty of space to anchor. The following day we took the dinghy into recce the fabulous new Rodney Bay Marina.
After 4 months of either being at sea or at anchor, we are currently docked in the marina enjoying the supreme luxury of running water and shore power.
Our next big decision is where to go for the impending hurricane season.
Bumblebee
IRodney Bay Marina