| Some people say I have the best job in the world. | | | | and Sunsail havebases, it's 40 miles (mostly upwind) to |
| Sometimes I even think so myself. My job, in addition | | | | Carriacou in thesouthern Grenadines. Between |
| toteaching sailing, directing the sailing school program at | | | | Carriacou to Bequia it'sgenerally reaching with gaps |
| Spinnaker Sailing in Redwood City and brokering | | | | between the islands of lessthan 15 miles. Returning to |
| chartervacations is to organize and lead group flotilla | | | | Grenada is another glorioussleigh ride. |
| charters onbehalf of Spinnaker Sailing. This has been | | | | For those who don't like or don't have time for |
| going on threeor four times a year since the late | | | | longpassages, there are currently two places to |
| 1980's. | | | | charter right in |
| Our most recent trip was to The Grenadine Islands in | | | | The Grenadines. The Sunsail base is at the Blue |
| the | | | | Lagoon |
| Windward Antilles from May 2 to May 11, where we | | | | Marina at the southern end of St. Vincent. From thereit |
| chartered | | | | is only 8 miles into Admiralty Bay in Bequia. Also, The |
| 4 boats from Sunsail in St. Vincent. We were 19 | | | | Moorings has recently opened up a base in |
| people inall making comfortable boat loading of 4 to 6 | | | | Charlestown |
| people onboats ranging from 45 to 50 feet in length. | | | | Bay at Canouan Island right in the middle of the |
| The daytimetemperatures were in the mid 80's and | | | | Grenadines. From California, both places can be |
| the wind was steadyin the 20 knot range just slightly | | | | reachedby 3 flights which means getting to either base |
| north of east. My boat wasan Oceanis 461 which also | | | | is almost aseasy as getting to B.V.I. We wanted a |
| carried my wife, Melinda, Harry | | | | charter location wherewe could enjoy as much time |
| Gull who has done numerous trips with us and Paul | | | | as possible in The |
| Disenso, a student going for his ASA Bareboat | | | | Grenadines. St. Vincent fit the bill quite well. |
| Chartercertification during the trip. | | | | After a mid-afternoon arrival in St. Vincent and a night |
| There are several bases for a Grenadines charter | | | | on theboats, Sunsail provided us with boat and chart |
| bothinside and outside the immediate area. Bases | | | | briefings. |
| outside the | | | | Before setting sail on a bareboat vacation there's |
| Grenadines in the north are in St. Lucia and even | | | | more todo. There's checking and stowing the |
| further in | | | | provisions andchecking out the boat and all the |
| Martinique. It's a glorious reach south into the | | | | equipment. Sunsail has aprovision and beverage |
| Grenadinesfrom the north. The distance is about 70 | | | | ordering system via the internet thatis reminiscent of |
| miles from The | | | | ordering from Webvan. The cold andfrozen stuff was |
| Moorings base at Marigot Bay in St. Lucia (north of St. | | | | bagged up and waiting for us to pick up inthe market |
| Vincent) to Bequia in the northern Grenadines. Getting | | | | at the marina and the rest was aboard the boatswhen |
| backisn't so easy and many charterers choose to | | | | we arrived. It was mid-day before we set sail for |
| continue oneway to Grenada to finish their charters. If | | | | theshort passage to Bequia on an easy reach. |
| you choose tostart in Grenada where both Moorings | | | | |