Author: svdrakkar

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma we are pretty thankful our hurricane season plan has us in Grenada and well away from the devastation up north. Two more disturbances have just spun off the coast of Africa and while they are low probability at the moment, as usual we will be keeping an eye on … Continue reading French Quickie

Writing this in Grenada as the category 5 hurricane Irma thunders over the northern Caribbean islands is humbling. Our thoughts are with our friends in her path and all the people affected. It’s sobering when the media is hyping Irma as a category 6 when the scale only goes to catastrophic at category 5. The … Continue reading Hurricane thoughts

Arriving in Statia on 21 May 2015 it was pretty obvious why Statia, St Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat are called The Islands That Brush The Clouds. Here we are tucked into the open roadstead of Oranje Baai and overlooked by the beautiful 1,970’ volcanic peak The Quill. Anchored in front of us is a stunning … Continue reading Islands that brush the clouds

After motoring across from Tortola to Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda, topping off with diesel and clearing customs it was midday by the time we left BVI on 11 May 2017. Now it was late in the season the chances of the wind having any north in it was pretty low so we picked a … Continue reading Headed South

Writing this now at the end of July and after a 10 day haul out in Grenada the BVI’s in late April seem many adventures ago. Arriving in the beautiful BVI’s it was quickly apparent why this place is an iconic destination. The brochure promises beautiful white sandy beaches, plenty of sheltered bays and a … Continue reading Beautiful BVI’s

A few cool pics from Anna on S/V Blue Zulu of us terrorising the kids on the biscuit back in Falmouth Antigua… Ready. Set. GO! The expressions say it all really. Arriving in the big and busy Marigot Bay, St Martin we managed to catch up again for a few days with our SOL friends … Continue reading Kids Paradise in St Martin

“Dad, I’m glad we are not in a boat like that” was Boston’s comment as we passed this 40’ leaner-maran thrashing along on its side on the boisterous trade wind passage. Wind was 60° apparent and 20 knots as we romped along at mid to high 8 knots. There was quite an exodus in the … Continue reading Return to Paradise

Departing Vieux Fort at the south end of St Lucia on 17 Feb 2017 we had a good forecast to run up the windward side towards Martinique.   A short tack out to sea and then we were just able to lay a course close hauled to clear the reefs off the rugged coastline. Another … Continue reading Significant Birthdays

Castries was a different place on a bustling Monday, but the poverty was still not far away. A cruise liner was in the harbour and all the markets open so after provisioning we had a wander while waiting for our friends to make it up from the airport. Eye opening to see someone just outside … Continue reading Kiwi Friends in St Lucia

Our three countries in one day drew to a close as we approached Martinique in a dying breeze looking forward to another French Island. Typical stunning Caribbean scenery even if a zephyr of a breeze is unusual in the trade wind belt.   Motoring into Saint Pierre after the wind died completely we were greeted … Continue reading Marvellous Martinique