SAILING COWABUNGA

Trinidad to Grenada… Let the fun begin

Up until this point it has all been work work work. Now, its time to put down the tools, sit back and admire everything that has been achieved. Three friends flew in on the same day. Scotty Webster, long time friend and fellow sailor, and his girlfriend Ramona from Austria. Both of which have lived in Munich for years. Other mate Ollie Taylor, who I met at McGregor College back during the Uni days brings our numbers up to 5.

IMG_5563

While waiting for a weather window to start our movements north, we headed back down to Chacachacare to let the new crew members settle in. Webbo brought over a couple fishing reels amongst many other trinkets, and no sooner than the anchor was up, the lines were in the water.

IMG_2796

Ollie grew up in western NSW on a Sheep Station. So sailing 101 classes were introduced.

IMG_2798

“First fish will be this big”

IMG_5573

Ramona settling into routine in no time.

IMG_3576

Anchored up again with Amarula

IMG_5564

A quick trek to the lighthouse.

IMG_5566

Ramona scaling a palm tree for a better view

IMG_3577

Everytime we walk/drive/see a cemetery Bucko looks over at me with a knowing look on her face just waiting for me to say “Dead Centre of town”

IMG_3567

Ramona goes down in the record book as first fish caught on board. And what a beauty.

IMG_3571

I told Ollie over email that I wanted him to bring me a BBQ with him from Australia. The email thread went as follows: AP “I want a BBQ, can you bring me a BabyQ” OT “Are you fucking serious. AP “Do I look serious?” OT “Can you even take them on a plane” AP “You’ll find out” So now we have a BBQ. Well done Ollie. And with a bit of running around chasing gas bottles and a regulator… it works.

IMG_3582

Ollie in the galley. They built this boat around a bloke around 5’11”-6”. If your any taller you have to stick your head out the conveniently placed hatch in the galley.

IMG_5587

Webbo admiring the jerry can collection. With the weather looking good to leave, we load every available space with diesel and fuel. Not because we need to carry it, but because it is cheap. There are 3 ways to acquire Diesel in Trinidad, 2 of which are illegal. We chose the illegal ways. Either pumping it yourself at the service station getting the subsidised prices for the locals. Or heading to some illegal Venezuelan fuel station around the corner. Both the same result with Diesel setting you back around AUS$0.25 a litre and fuel a little more than that. I went to 6 KFCS over the course of a fortnight to acquire the old yellow oil containers. Also gave me an excuse each time to get a 2 piece feed.

IMG_5592

And last but not least. RUM. Cheap duty free rum. 30 litres of Black Label Rum. About $300. Should last a couple months if we keep Bucko away from it. So all cleared out from Trinidad we got up early at 2am and started our 80nm trip to Grenada,

IMG_3612

Sunrise as we passed the Hibiscus Oil rig.

IMG_5600

We had near perfect conditions for the first leg. 15-20 knots on the beam and the boat comfortably doing 7-9 knots.

IMG_5602

It didn’t take long. First decent fish.

IMG_3624

The usual bloodbath follows.

IMG_5605

No one put their hand up to eat the still beating heart.

IMG_3627

Webbo had been harping on for days about the fish we were gonna catch. At least this shut him up for a while. Well done Webbo. Nice sized skipjack Tuna

IMG_3620

There were many guesses what the hell this was from a distance. Some drilling platform destined for god knows where

IMG_5607

Captain Ollie soon made the autopilot redundant.

IMG_5606

Land ho with Grenada in the distance.

PC030063

After a perfect trip, we head into the bar at Prickly Bay for beers and Trivia night

PC040072

As if you wouldn’t call your trivia team “Screamin Seaman”

IMG_3633

The next day we rented a driver for the day to take us for a tour of Grenada. Annendale falls in the middle of the Island.

IMG_3638

The team having a quick dip

IMG_5631

IMG_3645

Mona Monkey. Lipstick and all.

IMG_5636

IMG_3652

Monkey left, Ollie right

IMG_5642

The were two attractions on the island we wanted to see. The first was for the girls… An organic cocoa plantation. Bucko above fondling a Cocoa bean on Belmont estate.

IMG_5645

It was actually quite interesting the process from pod to Cadburys chocolate.

IMG_5653

Tour guide Kelly giving the run down

IMG_5652

Cocoa beans drying

IMG_3657

This is what us boys got excited about. Rivers Rum distillery… This distillery was started  way back in 1785 and not much has changed since. A tour cost $2 and allowed us to drink as much rum as we wanted.

IMG_3659

They have the oldest working water wheel in the Caribbean.

IMG_5665

They use it to crush the cane twice to remove the cane juice. The wheel itself is 230 something years old.

IMG_5667

They built shit to last back then. This press still going hard.

IMG_3664

The cane juice is brought to the boil in various copper pots and once the right sugar concentration has been reached, it is pumped to the fermentation tanks

IMG_5675

Here it ferments until it reaches about 14% alcohol

IMG_5677

The liquid is then distilled.

IMG_3665

They produce two products. Really strong, and really fucking strong. Both clear, un-aged rum. That’s right, 75%.. and an aeroplane friendly 69%. Needless to say its good for paint stripping, cleaning the windows and destroying brain cells. An awesome place to visit.

IMG_5684

Back on board for tuna fest 2013. What better way to wrap up a day than fresh Sashimi and Rum strong enough that the Ice sinks in it.

IMG_5691

The Weber getting its virgin cookup. Marinated tuna loins.

DSCF0705

We headed around to Hog island the next day to get some sand between our toes. Popcorn and beers on the beach

DSCF0716

Rogers bar

IMG_5699

Quick snorkel in search of some crays.

IMG_5721

Didn’t take long to find these little buggers.

IMG_5728

We purchased some fresh fish off the local boys for next to nothing. Webbo baking these bad boys on the Weber. Webbo and Weber, a formidable combination.

DSCF0751

We went in and met bar owner Roger, sharing many rums/paint strippers while Webbo discussed world politics with other yachties.

IMG_5742

Up the rig again for an inspection. Looking out over the anchorage at Hog Island.

IMG_2839

We made our way for the Capital St Georges. “It is that way isn’t it?”

IMG_2821

Nice little Barracuda for dinner

IMG_3740

Main down as we arrive in St Georges. Have a look at those flowing locks.

IMG_5749

Oh my god its a double rainbow

IMG_3735

The Carenage in St George

IMG_2834

We took a stroll up to Fort George. Moni, Bucko and Webbo enjoying the view

IMG_2829

Grenada spent a few years under left wing leader Maurice Bishop who tried to turn Grenada into a socialist state. Eventually the army took Bishop prisoner and executed him and half his cabinet by firing squad against the basketball pole above, which has the bullet holes to prove it.

IMG_2831

Nice day to shoot a cannon

IMG_2836

Meatfest

IMG_5770

I woke up one morning to some grunting and groaning, to find SS Cowabunga giving birth to a baby boy

IMG_5774

His names Trev, named after none other than Trevor Hendy. Fully equipped with storage, and double rod holders.

IMG_2852

Back in the galley Bucko has mastered the art of baking bread.

IMG_5767

And in the vege patch, Coriander wins the first sprout prize, beating Basil, Chives and Parsley to the title

DSCF0709

Trev the one man Kayak becomes a one and a half man Kayak

IMG_5765

Bucko refuses to call Trev by his name and refers to him simply as “The Kayak”. Here they seem to be bonding.

PC090089

Ky Hurst returning from a paddle and Ironman event win.

IMG_2952

Captain Moni at the wheel as we leave Grenada behind bound for the Island of Carriacou.

IMG_2954

PC080076

Arrival beers in the Lambi Queen Bar

Fullscreen capture 11122013 115001 AM.bmp

There was a massive 12 inch northerly swell rolling into the anchorage and setting up some nice waves on the reef. Trevs not one to miss an opportunity.

Fullscreen capture 11122013 115006 AM.bmp

Just try and wipe that smile off my face.

IMG_2961

Webbo’s idea of a nightcap

IMG_5785

After 2 weeks our green bananas are FINALLY taking on some colour and becoming edible

PC090084

The Mangrove swamp in Tyrrel bay is home to a type of Mangrove oyster.

PC090086

Trev and I went and explored the pristine national park.

IMG_5781

Local guy who goes by the name Warrior with his mutt “Doberman” next to him, offered to fetch and open a couple dozen of these oysters for us to try so long as I poured him a good rum while he did it. He said my first rum was weak, so enough fucking around, I opened up the recently acquired Rivers/paint stripper rum… It would of been a long paddle home for the guy.

IMG_5782

Quite nice with a squirt of Lime.

IMG_3743

Just around the corner from Tyrrel Bay is Sandy Island. A awesome national park. This place is normally busy, but it was blowing 20-25 knots which meant we had the place to ourselves.

IMG_3842

With Trev, Moni and Bucko playing support, we took all the kite gear over to the beach

IMG_3750

Zinc on

IMG_3845

I recruited this bloke to take some aerial shots of us and the boat.

Fullscreen capture 12122013 83809 AM.bmp

It’s been a long time since the kites have been in the air

Fullscreen capture 12122013 84215 AM.bmp

SS Cowabunga all alone in this beautiful spot, leaving us tons of room to kite

Fullscreen capture 12122013 84104 AM.bmp

IMG_4159

Give credit where credits due, Webbo threw himself in the deep end and came out on top.

IMG_3973

The Slingshot 12m VS the Wainman 9m

IMG_4033

Paddling out for some photo duties while Webbo loads up

Fullscreen capture 13122013 75607 AM.bmp

IMG_4050

IMG_4093

Thanks Ollie and Moni for playing photographers. With Ollie foaming at the mouth, lessons have been booked in Union Island and the roles will be reversed.

IMG_4114

Fullscreen capture 12122013 84359 AM.bmp

Bucko and Trev enjoying the turquoise waters.

IMG_4222

IMG_4170

Stupid charter boat comes and parks in the middle of our run

Fullscreen capture 12122013 84657 AM.bmp

Bucko cleaning up the mess as we wrap up our days in Sandy Island and make a move for the biggest city on Carriacou, Hillsborough. Here we checked out and then made our way to a new country. St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Share:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter

7 Responses

  1. Froffin over these pics! Looks like you need more rum though…flick me an email or message mate, wanna get flights booked soon

  2. Your my hero Andy one day I hope I have hair like u and can sail already got your body so I’m half way there !! Not missing anything at all in isa hope ya had a good Chrissy and an even better New Years , good on ya Andy looks fucking awsome !

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *