Sunday January 5th, Bequia  13:00.326 N  61: 14.841 W     Distance travelled 26 miles

 

Reluctantly we departed Tobago Cays at 10.00 for the short passage to Admiralty Bay, Bequia. Wind blowing 20 knots,as usual,with gusts of 25. We had 3 reefs in the main and the dinghy on the foredeck. We set up the headsail with two sheets on the port side coming to two separate leads so that we could reef in and out moving from one sheet to the other. The dinghy on the foredeck covers the hatches in the forward cabin so allowing us keep them open at night, even in rain, to help cool us which is also helped by leaving a fan on continuously at night.

Arrived in Admiralty Bay without incident and were offered a mooring by two young men and then more persistently my a much older man rowing a very small punt. We refused both and anchored. The bay was full of yachts. I hailed a water taxi called Why Worry who delivered me to the Customs and Immigration in Port Elizabeth where I checked out of St Vincent and the Grenadines and was surprised to find we had to leave the country in 24 hours as we had planned to spend a night further north to shorten the passage to Marigot Bay. While I was ashore Shelduck dragged her anchor towards a large tug behind. The man in the small punt was still around and said to Anne “now do you want my mooring” She strongly but politely refused on safety grounds. We had been told by a Swiss yachtsman that the mooring was unauthorised. John immediately started the engine and took control of the wheel and with Anne in charge of the anchor winch they reset in a new location.

Why Worry did not return for me at the agreed time. I looked for advise at a Port office and was told that a road taxi would call him for me. I went to the taxi rank and soon Why Worry was waving to me from nearby. When we arrived near the tug we were surprised to find no Shelduck. I had decided not to take my mobile phone ashore with me. A short search revealed Shelduck well positioned and safely anchored by my excellent crew.

This was a lesson not leaving the boat too soon after anchoring even if the Customs and Immigration might be about to close.