Grenada

After departing Christianstead St. Croix on Thursday morning, we arrived at St. Georges Grenada on Saturday morning.  It was a fast passage, completing the 385nm rhumb line distance from the E. end of St. Croix in 49 hours.  We were under single reef main and #4 (85%) jib most of the way, then went to double reef and half of a #4 as the wind picked up to 24-25 kn True range.  Apparent wind angle ranged from 38 to 55 degrees, with 43 degrees AWA most of the trip. Adjustments were for the purpose of speed control in the choppy seas.  When they were spaced apart, we cranked up to over 9 knots; when the ride got rough, we throttled back to 7s and 8s.

We were somewhat surprised to see no dolphins or turtles, few birds, and very few other boats.  We saw one sailboat, a few ships, and that's it.  It was surprising like the trip from Hampton to the USVI.  Don on Freestyle was never more than 4nm away.  When we were ahead, we throttled back.  When we were behind, we trimmed up.  It was easy to stay together.

The full moon on Tuesday lit up the ocean a few hours after sunset.  It was spectacular to see all the stars in the sky until the moon came up, then to be able to see the ocean crests rolling by.

The strongest weather was the final 8 hours on approach to Grenada.  It was howling up to 30 kn true on gusts, but with the partially rolled #4 jib and double reefed main, we just glided along at 8-9.8 kn SOG, occasionally taking spray over the entire boat.  It was a salt cake when we arrived at St. Georges.  It's no fun going off watch with wet salty hair and dropping into your bunk.  Even after just two days, we were happy to get there.

After a loop through the inner harbor to check things out, we motored for an hour around the SE point of the island into Prickly Bay, where we are now.  Nice.  Very very nice.

Jon served up leftovers --homeade crab cakes and salad that he had prepared in Boston.   They were probably the best crab cakes we've ever tasted.  Jon is an awesom cook, and loves to prepare food in any conditions.  Wow.  I'm the opposite, happy to have a peanut butter spoon for a meal.

Everyone pulled their weight.  We had no passengers aboard.  Even Emily, who is a challenge to awaken on a normal school day, rose on time to stand her watch --4 on, 6 off, rotating through the day and night.  It's tough to show up for a watch at 0200.

Safe and sound.  400nm out of the 1000nm of this cruise completed.  Checked in to customs.  This is the farthest and most southerly (just below 12 degrees N lattitude) extent of our trip.  After Prickly Bay, we are now headed home to Marion.... after a few months in-between.  Let the adventure continue.  Jay