Sailing to Grenada

The beach view from the Barbados Yacht Club   

The morning of Thursday 17 January was a busy one because we had several jobs to do before we left Barbados. My computer had been complaining that it had not been updated with the latest software and so we went ashore to Barbados Yacht Club, where we had a good internet connection, so that I could get it updated whilst Nicky checked her e-mails. It was a long process and so in the end Nicky set off on her own to get our official clearance paperwork from the Port Police and Immigration and to pick up some last-minute food stores. My attempt to update my computer turned out to be a very bad move. Instead of updating, the process corrupted everything on the computer and stopped it from starting up properly [Ed: somebody was a very frustrated and grumpy bear as a result!]. So, with a dead computer, the correct clearance paperwork and a chicken we returned to BV and got her ready to go.

Leaving Carlisle Bay in Barbados   

The passage to Grenada would be about 140 miles and so we had set ourselves up for an overnight crossing arriving in Grenada when their Customs and Immigration would be open so that we wouldn’t have to pay extra overtime fees when we cleared in. We left just after midday and Barbados slipped away behind us.

It was the start of the Mount Gay Barbados Regatta and our route took us through the middle of one of their race courses. We kept out of the way of the racing yachts but stayed close enough to get some good views of the competing vessels. Later on, my new fishing reel was tested out by a large bill fish which leapt out of the water several times before shaking the hook free; another ‘one that got away’ tale!

The overnight passage was a very comfortable one and we were both able to get some good sleep…

Grenada ahead   

... and as the sun rose we got our first sight of Grenada ahead of us.

Approaching Prickly Bay    

We worked our way along the southern end of the island towards our destination, Prickly Bay. We had picked this port of entry because on the chart it seemed to be a lovely looking bay and it is a well set up yachting centre with good chandleries.

The entrance was relatively straight forward with just a few rocks to dodge on the way in.

Inside, the bay was filled with hundreds of moored yachts. All around were exclusive looking villas and apartments overlooking the anchorage; it was a much more sheltered anchorage than we had found in Barbados and it is easy to see why it has become a popular base for yachts.

The Prickly Bay Yacht Club ahead and the area we had picked to anchor in   

We worked our way right into the top of the bay, close to the Prickly Bay Yacht Club, and started looking around for a space to anchor. Fortunately, there was a large enough space for us there and, being close in, it would save us a lot of dinghy transit time. With the anchor dug in our first priority was to complete the arrivals formalities with Customs and Immigration when they opened after lunch. That all turned out to be a very easy process in their offices right next to the yacht club. Arrival formalities completed, we were free to start exploring our second Caribbean island (and to try to see if my computer could be resuscitated).

Prickly Bay, Grenada