A lucky dog and a big decision.

Date: 21st March 2020
Location: Tyrrell Bay, Carriacou

We've been teamed up with three other boats and treating our little group as a self isolating family since we arrived here in Carriacou. Us, Dick and Mary on Alakazam (we stayed in their house in Plymouth last year as we worked on Mehalah), Tim and Gayle on Wildbird (friends of ours and Jack and Fizzy) and Tor and Ingermar on Zappa who we followed down all night from Martinique a few days ago. We've enjoyed fresh tuna dinners from the boat that wasn't allowed into Trinidad to sell its catch so sold it in our bay at £2/pound, some laughs, some drinks but also a lot of reflection.

When we arrived my debit card got rejected and then frozen and then my phone top up was rejected too. Things were bad as we wanted to check in with friends and family. A trip into the capital Hillsborough was required so next day six of us got a taxi into town where after some trouble we finally got a local Flow SIM card with data that actually worked. Back in the dive shop's cafe (Lumba Dive) we isolated ourselves and used their wifi to rescue the situation. We now have topped up sat phone and ordinary mobile phone.

Yesterday though we went for a walk up the (almost) highest hill on the island. A good hot pull up through the light forest. Around four miles I guess but hot, steep work. Halfway up was an abandoned building with associated open cistern around 4m x 4m x 4m. Tim and Gayle's two Patterdale Terriers were scampering along the 30cm surround which we were a bit concerned about but they were cool about. Then the younger one Pip bumped into her mum Gem and in she tumbled. Steep sides, water in the bottom. Oh no, this looks bad. We saw that the water wasn't too deep in one corner so we all collected big boulders and dropped them in so Gem had somewhere to stand rather than swimming round and round. Now what? How to get her out? In the end the solution was simple. Tie the two dog leads together, get Tim to test it with his weight, lower Gayle down by her wrist protected by Tim's t-shirt, put leads on Gem's collar, pull her up, pull Gayle up and breath a sigh of relief. Here are some pictures of 'The Great Dog Rescue' and strongman Tim.

Oh dear. Dog in cistern.

Let's make a plan.

Over she goes.

At the bottom

Missed the dog rescue but here comes Gayle!

Back on solid ground.

Anyway we continued to the top and looked down on beautiful Tyrell Bay. The troubles of the world seemed far away.

Looking back down on the busy anchorage.

Great setting for a cool down beach.

Hey guys. That's enough of that! Tim and Dick.

But by the evening things had become much more complicated for us yachties. We were informed that no more boats could enter Grenada and that we were not allowed off our boats. The right things for Grenada but much more difficult for us. We could only get fuel and water. After that all stores must be ordered via VHF and they would be delivered to us. So today has been a day of great upheaval. First thing Dick and Mary left for Grenada hoping to get a flight back to the UK - I have to say not a few tears were shed at least on Mehalah as we don't don't know if, when or where we might ever meet again. Then the Minister of Health spoke to us all on VHF confirming that we were indeed in quarantine. Up til this point we were pretty sure that Carriacou with its zero cases of the virus was the best place to be but with things worsening seemingly by the hour it was time to take stock of our position.

1. Stay in Carriacou.

Pros: Beautiful place, lovely weather, good friends, no virus yet, no panic buying.
Cons: What happens when it gets here and the yachties are the richest people around - security issues? When will we ever be able to get home? Will there ever be good cruising anywhere again? What happens at hurricane time?


2. Return to UK

Pros: Safer probably security wise. Back in Europe which is probably a good thing? Boat hopefully in a relatively hurricane safe boatyard. Closer to family and friends and able to help look after my mum.
Cons: All the shit that's happening in Europe at the moment. Much higher risk of getting the virus especially during return travel.


We think we have decided to sail to Grenada tomorrow and see if we can haul out and then get a flight back. At present there is a flight available on 1st April via Barbados and Frankfurt (if they will let us in). More research required.

So by the time you get this we will probably be on the south coast of Grenada, 40 miles from here, trying to work out our next move. Wish us luck as this is maybe the most difficult decision we have ever had to make.

Stay well. Stay safe.

Update: Sunday 22nd.

So that's that. Looks like we're stuck here for the foreseeable.


Use https://www.noforeignland.com/boat/4717902794063872 with SHOW JOURNEY to track our progress.