Trinidad

Arrived in Trinidad after a pleasant, but slow, overnight sail from Carriacou. It is a pleasure to return once again to Trinidad. It always seems like home.

Parrot Watching in Chaguaramas

The trees across the road from the marina attract a great number of parrots in the evening. They congregate there to feed and roost for the night. The loud squawking can be heard all the way to the docks.

ASA Wright Nature Center

I visited there for the 6th time in September. It was a rainy day, but I still managed to see a great number of birds. Some familiar and some new to me. I am getting better at taking pictures, so more pictures to work look through.

The Caroni Swamp

After the visit to ASA Wright, we moved on once again to the Caroni Swamp. We were very fortunate to spot a Scarlet Ibis perched in a tree, so we were able to get a close up view. We took the boat out to the mangrove island were they come to roost in the evening. There were fewer there because many were still nesting. But, they still made a spectacle

Fort George

Overlooking Port of Spain is Fort George. Fort George was part of a complex of fortifications, the building of which began in 1804 under the direction of the then British Governor, Brigadier-General Sir Thomas Hislop. The fortifications consisted of sea defenses and a series of supporting batteries: the York, Princess Charlotte, Abercromby and Cambridge on the lower slopes and the Cumberland to the North above the Fort. Considered impregnable, it was the major defensive position in the island, but never to experience military action.

We visited it just before a rain storm swept in from the east. We were treated to some spectacular clouds before the rains came.

Yerette, Hummingbirds

Yerette is situated in Trinidad’s lush Maracas Valley just east of Port of Spain. It is a pleasant house and grounds devoted to the hummingbird. A large number of feeders attract hundreds of hummingbirds. We were treated to a nice talk, a great lunch and plenty of time to wander about and take pictures. I was able to get some good close up pictures of several hummingbirds.

Please click on an image to see a larger version or to see related pictures.

Carriacou

Arrived in Carriacou after a nice two day sail down from Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia. Was pleasantly surprised to find Rowina and Richard from Galine in Bequia when i toped there for the night. Had a very nice get together.

Hike Around Tyrell Bay

Liz and Devin organized a hike for the group of us to take a walk around the bay. As it turned out we managed to climb one of the hills and got several good panoramic views. We also saw some of the wildlife. Alas no tortuous.

Martinique

Saint Pierre

Saint Pierre is a interesting town on the northwest coast of Martinique. it is often a point i would stop either going north or south, but frequently i would not go ashore. Good anchoring spots are few. in the season there are all filled. This time i decided to explore ashore. Mount Pelee dominates the town and played a significant part in the towns history. Spent a nice Saturday morning ashore, but was forced to move on after the wind shifted to the west.

Le Marin

After a brief stop in Ans Mitan, I sailed around to Le Marin. Le Marin is the center of sailing activity for Martinique and a good source for spare parts and good eating.

Island Tour - Jardin de Balata, Botanical Garden

Our first stop, heading north from the capital along the winding road through the rain forest, was the Jardin de Balatia, Botanical Garden. it is easy to miss on the winding road, but worth the stop.

Island Tour - Château Dubuc

This was my fourth visit to the restoration of Château Dubuc. Each time i see it from a different view. This time it was late afternoon and the shadows changed the look.

Dominica

Portsmouth

Continuing south on my "Stop and Smell the Roses" tour, my next stop was Portsmouth, Dominica. A short sail from the Saints, but worlds apart in culture.

As it was late in the season the anchorage was wide open with plenty of space to anchor.

Fort Shirley, Portsmouth, Dominica

North of the Anchorage at Portsmouth is a very well restored fort. Luck was with me. The day I decided to go the weather was sunny, but blowing hard. The wind kept the temperature down. The trails were dry so I was able to hike up to the peaks behind the fort and view the bay to the north.

Tour to the Hot Springs East of Roseau

A group of cruisers put together a tour to a hot spring spa located in the hills just east of Roseau. The place was empty as the cruise ships have finished for the season. We enjoyed a dip in the hot spring wasters and a refreshing cold spring water rinse. After that we had a very nice lunch and a quick tour of Roseau on the way back to Portsmouth.

Guadeloupe and the Illes des Saintes

Guadeloupe and particularly the Saints is a favorite of mine.

Deshaies

Rain and cloudy weather kept me on the boat and reduced my exploring.

Illes des Saintes

Always a nice place to be. Good food and many places to explore. With the recent rain, many flowers were now in bloom. It is after the peak of the season for cruisers, so there were ample moorings available.

Antigua and Barbuda - April and May

Arrived in Antigua to enjoy the Classic Yacht Regatta and catch up with friends.

Jolly Harbor

Our first stop was Jolly Harbor on the west side of Antigua. A good place to check in, get groceries, and pick up a SIM card.

Falmouth Harbor and Classics

I motored around the corner to Falmouth Harbor and found a quite spot to anchor for the upcoming Classics. It seems that many others liked my quite spot. So may not so quite.

The first sunny day (Easter) I walked the ridge between Falmouth and English Harbors and saw plenty of hummingbirds in the pink blooming trees along the path.

Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta

I volunteered as photographer for the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. It did give me a chance to rub elbows with other professional photographers and with some of the owners and crew of the Classic Yachts. I have devoted a page to the races.

Dominica, The Saints, and Guadeloupe - March

Dominica is one of my favorite countries. After cosmopolitan Martinique, Dominica is a major change. Its natural beauty is hard to equal.

Fort Shirley, Portsmouth, Dominica

North of the Anchorage at Portsmouth is a very well restored fort. Unfortunately the day we decided to visit it, it rained. Got only a few pictures.

Dominica Island Tour

The day we did the island tour the weather decided to cooperate and it was one of the clearest days we had. Traveled to the east coast of the island and then back across the middle.

The Saints and Marie-Gallant

The stop in Marie-Gallant was a first for my Caribbean travels. Our short stay prevented any major exploration, but on first look it was very nice.

The Saints are always a favorite of mine. But, I saw mostly the inside of a doctors office.

Guadeloupe, Pigeon Island and Deshaies

Working our way north to Antigua we stopped first at the anchorage off Pigeon Island. Too much swell for a longer stay so the next day we moved on to Deshaies. Enjoyed several days at anchor there. Lots of moorings, but most taken by local boats.

The passage north to Antigua was one of the nicest i have had. Beam reach, moderate seas, and hull speed much of the way.

Martinique - February to March

As if trying to make up for earlier passages, the 25 mile passage was close to ideal. Seven and one half knots average anchor up to anchor down, flat seas and blue skies.

Saint Anne

Saint Anne is one of my favorite spots. A large anchorage and a nice small town.

As I arrived, they were starting Carnival. It continued through the weekend and till Wednesday of the following week. Not as large as others perhaps, but a lot of energy and a small town flavor.

An Island Tour

We rented a car and drove up the eastern side of the island. Visited a restored plantation, a rum factory, and the banana museum.

Saint Lucia, a short stay - February

The sail from Grenada to Saint Lucia had all the elements of an "interesting" passage. At times, the wind and seas cooperated to produce an ideal sail we look for but seldom see. At other times, they conspired to frustrate reaching our intended destination at all. Then there were the mechanical problems that teach a sailor his (or her) wide range of expletives.

Rodney Bay

Dropped anchor at my usual spot in Rodney Bay. A good place to lick my wounds, make repairs, and stock up on Groceries.

Grenada - January to mid February

The sail from Trinidad to Grenada was refreshing after several months inactivity. The wind was just ahead of the beam and the seas were moderate. Enough to take the polish the rust off the sailing skills. Average speed for the passage was 6.5 knots.

Mount Hartman Bay

I anchored in the bay i first visited some 25 years ago when chartering for the first time in the Caribbean. In those days, Secret Harbor Marina was a Moorings Base. Now much has changed.

Trinidad - December 2016 to January 2017

I returned to Trinidad to join friends for the holidays and to do some necessary repairs.

Holidays in Chaguaramas

I returned once again to Coral Cove Marina and promptly twisted my knee. So for the first several weeks i hobbled around with a brace on my knee.

In early January, the boat chores done and the knee much better I set sail for Grenada.

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