Captain's Log Page 12

Tideline Yacht Sales
17 Lockwood Drive
Charleston, SC 29401

PHONE: 843.813.3711
FAX: 866.467.8840
Email: glen@tidelineyachtsales.com

      I dropped anchor and decided to dive to see that it had set. While I was down I checked on "Three Ships" 65 CQR. He had ridden out a hurricane in St Maarten, and all his other lines and hurricane moorings had failed. All that held him was his 65 lbs CQR. When I looked at his anchor, it had raised a mound of sand with 3 conch shells. Although over time it would no doubt have dug in, at that time it certainly was not secure. The Delta had dug its point in, and looked set to withstand anything.

After a few days at anchor we decided to head up toward Union Island, St Vincent. We cleared out of Carriacou and headed north. Union Island is a very pretty island that is a main stopping point for cruisers heading north. There is no water on the island, which is technically a desert. The people are friendly, but poor.

To clear in to Customs we had to walk to the airport and hope that a flight was expected. Luckily there was a flight coming in, and we were able to clear in before the passengers off the flight. We noticed that flying into Union Island can be hazardous, as the goats need to be cleared from the runway before the plane can land. Some of the goats are wild, and do not take kindly to being chased off the field. Fortunately, this is not something we had to deal with.

From Union Island we hopped north to Mayreau, which is not more than 5 miles away. We dropped anchor and decided to do some exploring. There is a village that sits on the hill overlooking the ocean, and if it were not for the poverty one would think one were in paradise. From the hilltop Tobago Cays can be seen clearly. This is a group of uninhabited islands that is very popular with cruisers and divers. The water is literally crystal clear, and visibility is over 100 feet.

Mayreau has a bay called Salt Whistle Bay. It is sheltered completely by the island, and is a perfect place to spend if looking for peace and tranquility. There is a curved beach about a mile long, and just across from the beach, about 500 yards over the rise, is the Atlantic Ocean. The contrast between the calm bay and relatively tempestuous ocean is dramatic. continue to page 13 >>