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Exploring the Grenadines
Stretching like a carelessly dropped
necklace of precious jewels, the Grenadines are part of
the Windward Islands in the Caribbean's eastern archipelago.
St. Vincent to the North and Grenada to the South, this
lovely chain of islands are isolated enough to remain relatively
unspoiled, yet lively enough to be both stimulating and
entertaining. A perfect place for your Caribbean yacht charter
vacation.
Bequia is the most northern, a has long
been a favorite of yachtsmen. Admiralty Bay is a large,
well-protected harbor with Bequia's largest town, Port Elizabeth
at its head. Boats anchoring in the harbor are often greeted
by the young men rowing out to meet them. One of the items
they offer for sale are sailboats crafted from coconut husks,
with a bit of iron for a keel and sails of brightly colored
cloth. You, of course, will want to purchase the fastest
one in their fleet, so have them toss them into the water
for a colorful mini-regatta.
You will discover that the building of
model boats is a Bequia specialty, and the coconut husk
boats are only the start. Truly beautiful examples of this
are to be found in either Mauvin's or Sargeant's. They will
build any design to order, or you can buy one of their many
display models.
An island of sailors and boats, Bequia
used to be an active whaling station, though the tradition
of hunting whales in small open boats using hand thrown
harpoons is dying out. While exploring the island, you can
visit the small whaling museum located in the home of the
late Athneal Olliviere, formerly the head whale harpooner.
Now that you have visited the whaling museum, you should
probably visit the Hindson's Whaleboner. True to its name,
the bar, stools and entrance have all been built of whalebone
from the old whaling days
Bequia, with its hilly terrain and many inlets, can be explored
by land and sea. You can see all the best and most scenic
spots in a 3-hour taxi tour, or do-it-yourself with a 4-wheel
drive rental vehicle.
 More
leisurely still, is the prospect of taking a nice stroll
and stopping often to visit with the friendly people that
populate the island, trying out the local cuisine and beverages
or shopping at the many shops that feature locally made
craft items. The third method for exploring is by visiting
the many coves and beaches onboard the tender. Your captain
and crew are sure to have their own favorite places to introduce
you to.
Approximately 10 miles to the Southeast
of Bequia lies Mustique. Unique among the Grenadines, Mustique
is a privately owned island that has been developed as an
area of holiday homes for the rich and famous. Well worth
the time to stop and take a tour, there are miles of unspoiled
beaches and countryside whether you choose to explore by
foot or some other means. Rental mules are really heavy
duty golf carts, not the floppy-eared four-legged variety.
Horse riding available in the cool of the morning and evening,
for those who want to enjoy the scenery from a higher seat!
Delightful, but so very different, are
the atmospheres to be found at the Cotton House and at Basil's
Bar. Superb cuisine in lavish elegance are the hallmark
of the Cotton House, run by the Mustique Company. A short
walk, or they will come to pick you up from the dock. The
other end of the spectrum is Basil's Bar. Built of thatch
and bamboo, it is perch on stilts with the water lapping
below. This is a great place to meet relax and meet people
while watching a sunset!
Heading Southwest 11 miles will take you to Canouan.
An island of bumpy hills and only a few
hundred inhabitants, there are two major hotels and the
vast new Canouan Resort Development. The resort includes
a golf course, tennis courts and a casino. The shallow water
surrounding Canouan is responsible for the exquisite water
colors, and there is plenty of excellent snorkeling areas
to explore. The deeper waters close by hide There are several
excellent dive sites in the deeper waters close by that
have been discovered by the local diving center.
Between Canouan and Carriacou, the islands
are all tiny, quiet and almost only a stone's throw from
each other. Though sparsely inhabited, each island that
boasts residents is sure to have a rum shop. Often diminutive
in size, the rum shops in this area will introduce you to
the local rum…Jack Iron. Powerful, rough, white rum,
probably aged about 1 minute before bottling. Reputation
has it that ice cubes won't float in it. Ice being a rare
commodity on many of the small islands, a small shot is
poured into a glass and drunk in one gulp, hopefully without
tasting it! Best to keep a large glass of water nearby to
quench the heat.
Mayreau is a rimmed with pristine beaches
affords beautiful views for those who venture up the hill.
With only one road, you certainly won't get lost! The two
main bays are Salt Whistle Bay and Saline Bay. Salt Whistle
Bay with its sweeping half moon beach, is home to the Salt
Whistle Bay Club. Its dining area is set in the open among
the trees and each table is built of stone with its own
thatched roof.
East of Mayreau lie the Tobago Cays, a group of small deserted
islands protected by Horseshoe Reef.
 Spectacular
barely comes close to describing this bit of heaven on earth.
The water and reef colors are a shifting pattern of turquoise,
blue, green and gold. White sand beaches ring the islands.
The water is so beautiful here that you will surely want
to simply jump over the side of your yacht and snorkel to
the closest reef. The Tobago Cays are a national park. Fishing
is not allowed, nor are jet or water skis.
The large island of Union Island, with
its smaller sibling Palm Island nearby, are next in the
chain. Union is visible from afar, thanks to its Mount Taboi,
reaching the height of 1000 feet. Union is generally considered
the jump-up center of the Grenadines and you are sure to
find plenty of entertainment and live music.
Technically part of Grenada, Carriacou
is like the final gem in the necklace. Carriacou is a Carib
word meaning "island surrounded by reefs". Local
legend has it that there are over a hundred rum shops on
the island, but only one gasoline station, which could explain
the high population of donkeys. One things to put on your
"to do at Carriacou" list should be sampling the
mangrove oysters. Delicate and sweet, a squeeze of lime
and a dash of local hot sauce will have you rolling your
eyes and asking for more.
The Grenadines, more accessible now than
before, but far enough off the beaten track to offer secluded
coves, empty beaches and pristine waters. The sparkle of
the water by day is rivaled only by the breathtaking sight
of the black velvet of the evening sky thickly studded with
stars. You have discovered paradise. The only remaining
question is: how soon can you return?
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