Cricket 101

It was our good fortune to attend a One-day International Cricket Match at the National Stadium in Grenada.
The match was between the first place standing Australian team and the West Indies team. (The Aussies would claim another win today)
Luckily we had our U.K. friend, Neal, along with us. He kindly explained wickets, bails, stumps, overs, extras, bowler, batsman, wicket keepers, 4s, 6s, "lbw"s, ducks, scoring and the game in general.
We found many similarities between cricket and baseball and thoroughly enjoyed the match.
When the play stopped for the lunch break the field filled with groups of local children who jumped right into their own games of cricket, complete with plastic wickets and all. We can only imagine their excitement at the opportunity to play in the National Stadium.
With interest, we watched the goats "maintaining the grounds" of the cemetery adjacent to the stadium.

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Windwards Carriacou to Grenada (Prickly Bay) Anchor to Anchor - June 8, 2008 55 miles - 9 hours With both the wave and current with us we made good time in the light wind (E 10-15 knot) and arrrived in to Prickly Bay at 4 p.m. on June 8th. We enjoyed a wonderful reunion at the tiki bar that night with our friends that we summered with in Trinidad last year - Neal (England) on Dream Chaser and Robin & Sandra (Zimbabwe) on Ngoma. It felt like we were home again after our 17 day passage of over 600 miles (straight line) - Culebra to Grenada.

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Windwards
Union Island to Carriacou (Anse La Roche)

Anchor to Anchor - June 7, 2008
8 miles - 1 1/2 hours

We cleared out of customs in the Grenadines at Union Island and sailed the short distance of 8 miles south to over-night in Carriacou.
Anse La Roche is an amazingly beautiful, picturesque, small cove that is listed as a day anchorage only in our guide book. Unable to resist the lure of its charm we decided to take our chances on over-nighting.
Signs on the beach state that it is a turtle nesting area and indeed the next morning there were tracks in the sand from at least one of the huge leatherbacks plus a couple of other smaller turtles.

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Windwards Bequia to Union Island (Chatham Bay) Anchor to Anchor - June 6, 2008 33 miles - 6 hours Today we had a perfect sail in excellent conditions. Along the way a large number of flying fish sightings were made - many more than usual. We snorkelled and collected shells on the great expanse of beach in this almost deserted anchorage.

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Windwards
St. Vincent to Bequia (Admiralty Bay)

Anchor to Anchor - June 5, 2008
2l miles - 4 1/2 hours

Rain, Rain, Go Away ! (Please)
After a night of heavy rain we set off carefully along St. Vincent's shore as local fishermen seem to be everywhere. Unlike other islands where the fishing boats are manned by 2-3 men and carry large out-board motors, here the fishermen are alone rowing their small wooden boats. They can be seen tending their nets miles from shore.
We experienced difficulty anchoring in Bequia due to crowded conditions in the bay. We wound our way between the many other anchored boats, locals kayaking after their toy sailboats as well as other local traffic "bombing" through the anchorage at high speed; all while winds up to 35 knots with rain blew us about.

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Windwards - St. Lucia to St. Vincent

Anchor to Anchor - June 4, 2008
60 miles - 11 hours

A tropical wave crossed over us today with its many squalls which resulted in a very wet passage. Barry was rained on 8 times during the day.
The sun set was a back-drop for the showers as we anchored off a spectacularly beautiful palm-lined coast in Chateaubelair, St. Vincent.
Our knot-log today read 60 miles while the straight line distance was actually 37 (no tacks were made today). This is a direct result of the tidal current as it wrapped up along St. Lucia's south and west coast at 3 knots speed.
We do very well to make 6 knots under sail; 3 against us is a real impediment.

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Windwards
Passages:
Anchor to Anchor - June 2, 2008
Dominica to Martinique (Fort de France, Anse a l'ane)
54 miles - ll hours
great sail - great weather - great day

Anchor to Anchor - June 3, 2008
Martinique to St. Lucia (Rodney Bay)
37 miles - 7 hours
wet sail - 3 squalls passed during day

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Leewards (The Saintes to Dominica)

Becalmed - A day of unusual calm conditions had us motoring most of the way to our next anchorage off the black sand beach at Canefield, Dominica.
Here we sat back and enjoyed the simple pleasure of watching day-to-day life on shore.
On the beach, engrossed in music, locals bathed and children played as ash gently drifted down from a cane-field burning above them on the mountainside.
Just down from us we watched 5 trucks and a front-end loader as they synchronized to unload gravel from a barge only to refill it with soil; the job complete and the barge silently slipped away before dawn.
In the evening we listened to a local radio station's broadcast of a football game between the veterans (old guys) and the new-comers, who happened to be boasting new uniforms for the occasion.
Life was carrying on around us but it was as if the whole world was becalmed and standing still.
The next day as we made our way in the calm, early morning hours a rainbow spread its reflection across the flat, still sea. We sipped our coffee and slid past the town of Roseau to see it, as the sun peaked over the mountain, bathed in radiant sun-beams of light.
We didn't go to shore in Dominica nor tour any of its sights. We simply made our way southward along its lee coast yet we felt completely contented with our time there. Perhaps we saw all that mattered.
Anchor to Anchor - June 1, 2008
The Saintes to Dominica (Canefield)
34 miles - 7 hours
under power - becalmed

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Leewards (Guadeloupe to the Saintes)

As we had endured the stress of anchoring in the dark at our last two locations we felt that today a shorter day's travel would be in order and hopefully we could make landfall before sunset. With that goal in mind we set off along Guadeloupe's west coast for the Saintes; however, half way along we encountered the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Park at Pigeon Island and the lure of great snorkelling was just too much to pass by.
We spent 2 hours exploring the rich sea life that encircles Pigeon Island before setting sail once more for the Saintes.
Our anchorage was in sight as the sun set but unfortunately we experienced difficulties dropping the main-sail as the halyard and topping lift tangled and ended up "feeling" our way in to yet another anchorage in the dark.
Where is the moon when you need it?
Anchor to Anchor - May 3l, 2008
Deshaies Guadeloupe to The Saintes

37 miles - l0 hours

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Leewards (Nevis to Guadeloupe)

As we make our way along the lee of the islands the wind fluctuates as it is blocked by the land mass and mountains.

We alternate between total calm, thereby making our way under power to "heeled and holding on" as we encounter bursts of wind (bullets) that escape through passes and down mountain slopes.

In the passages between the islands where the wind is not obscured but constant (as the trades often are), when our sails are set right we find that Sea Star will balance herself perfectly and sail unassisted, all on her own.

This was the case as we passed Montserrat's south coast and sailed to our next anchorage in Deshaies, Guadeloupe. She balanced herself, close hauled, on a course that put us 9 hours later (averaging a speed of 5.5 knots) perfectly at the entrance to the anchorage (a real treat for us as we lack any self-steering equipment).

Anchor to Anchor - May 30, 2008

Nevis to Guadeloupe (Deshaies)

85 miles - l6 hours

Island Hopping - Heading South - The Leewards (St. Martin to Nevis)

On May 29, 2008 we exited the Simpson Bay lagoon, St. Martin, by way of the bridge on the Dutch side and set a course for Nevis.
Just 3 miles out we underwent an interrogation, by way of our VHF radio, with the (Dutch) coast guard. This was our 3rd encounter with them during our 2 visits to St. Martin. One would have to say they are most certainly "on the job".
We enjoyed a great sail in light (l0-l5 knot) east winds as we slipped by St. Bart's (in the distance), Saba, Statia and St. Kitt's to arrive (after dark) in Nevis.
We are thrilled to find, once again the Southern Cross in the night sky, showing us the way.
Anchor to Anchor - St. Martin to Nevis
72 miles - 13 hours

Third pass along the Lesser Antilles (Virgins, Leeward & Windward Islands) Five days after our return to Culebra a weather window opened to allow us to make progress in an east direction and we set sail on our way back along the island chain to summer once again in Trinidad. Before leaving, in preparation for our passages, Barry did an oil change on our diesel and changed the fuel filters. We filled the fuel, water and propane; did the laundry and provisioned. As well, Barry purchased and repaired a broken 1979 6.5 hp Johnson outboard thus putting an end to the dinghy rowing for the moment. We were delighted to spend time with our friends that we met in Grenada last year, Gary & Sharon (boat - Elusive) as they stopped in Culebra for 2 days on their way west (north). Passages east: May 23, 2008 - Anchor to Anchor Culebra to U.S.V.I. St. Thomas (Lindbergh Bay) 32 miles (tacks included) - 7 hours May 24, 2008 - Anchor to Anchor St. Thomas to British Virgin Island - Peter Island (Little Harbour) 30 miles (tacks included) - 7 hours May 25/26, 2008 - Anchor to Anchor Peter Island to St. Martin (Marigot) 110 miles (tacks included) - 27 hours

Bahamas/Turks & Caicos - Bird's eye view

On May 18th, 2008 after a most enjoyable visit home, we made our way back to Sea Star in Culebra (off Puerto Rico's east coast).
As we flew out of Fort Lauderdale we had an excellent view of the Intercoastal Waterway. Further along we were in awe to see the beauty of the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos as our flight path took us directly over them.
We easily recognized Bimini, the Great Bahamas Bank, the Exumas, Long Island, Mayaguana and even Big Sand Cay.
It was amazing to see clearly, from the air, the deep water cuts through the turquoise shallow banks.
After a very interesting and enjoyable flight we arrived and were happy to find Sea Star safely as we had left her.

Time together - touring Niagara

While home for the birthday celebrations we enjoyed time together with our family as we spent 2 days touring the Niagara area.
Our timing was perfect to catch the blossoms and lilacs in bloom.
The captivating beauty of the falls, gorge and whirlpool never fail to charm the imagination.
Along with touring the greenhouse and butterfly conservatory the ladies enjoyed shopping in Niagara-on-the-lake while the gents checked out the marina.