Sailing the Caribbean - Grenada to Curacao

On October 14 I left Costa Rica and flew to St. Georges, Grenada to meet Doug and Bethanne Hazelton.  After a much needed rum, late in the evening I stepped aboard the ship 'Sindbad' for the start of an eight-week voyage through the Caribbean.

Sindbad is a very unique gaff-rigged ketch motor-sailing vessel that was built in Holland over 80 years old.  Doug and Bethanne live aboard the ship and raised their kids on it during their first trip around the world...which took 10 years!  For more on the ship and their adventures ahead (or if you want to join them in some exotic locale check out: www.sindbadadadventure.com).

Sindbad anchored off of the tiny island of Klein Curacao

The first days were spent in Grenada, with its friendly locals, bustling markets, and lush green hillsides.  Bethanne and I found time for a hike to a waterfall in between shopping for fresh local fruit like sugar apples, soursop, and papaya.  A stop by the local fish market was a must when we were in town too.

Drinking fresh coconut water sold on the roadside in St. Vincent with Bethanne

From Grenada we travelled to Carriacou and the Tobago Cays.  Just a few minutes in the turquoise water revealed an abundance of marine life, including parrot fish, barracuda, sea turtles, a nurse shark, and more.  The highlight here was an evening sail in the small boat around the reef with a rum in hand.

Bequia and St. Vincent were the last stops before the start of the official start of Doug and Bethanne's second circumnavigation around the world (and my journey with them to the San Blas Islands, Panama).  Three days motor-sailing west brought us to Bonaire, part of the Netherlands Antilles, then Curacao (can't figure out the funny accent that is supposed to be under the second 'C' on this keyboard!).

The view of the local bar in the Tobago Cays from the bow

Green Turtle hanging around Klein Curacao

Shipwreck off the coast of Klein Curacao

It is fair to say that since coming aboard, the notion of time has been re-conceived and the days have passed very pleasantly with no sense of loss for timetables and appointments. Many of us find ourselves constantly thinking about the future and what is coming next, or dwelling on matters in the past, when what we really need to do is enjoy the moment we are living.  Seeing different and beautiful parts of the world is a great way to immerse yourself in the now and to start enjoying life to the fullest. 

There is much still to be said about life aboard the ship, so that will be covered in the next entry.   

Chasing the first of many sunsets while sailing west