Location: Carriacou to Union
Most of us woke up tired and a bit groggy after last night’s intense sail into Carriacou. It’s a cool grey morning, which is juxtaposed against the colorful port nestled between the green mountains. On our taxi ride we learned that the island seems quite hilly but the highest peak is only a thousand feet, this causes a lack of precipitation as no clouds are trapped in the elevation. So water is a pivotal issue on the island, with a proud six thousand people calling it home. Most are descendants of plantation eras; the locals are very friendly and have a tight bond with one another. Much of the island’s heritage comes from its boat building, specifically the legendary Carriacou sloop. A shallow draft, wide beam, and broad transom make an ideal cargo design for the beam reach commute between their beachfront boatyards known as Windward and St. Lucia. An ex-pro tennis player, after 30 years on the island, is as local as they get, affectionately known as Dave. He gave us a unique tour of the boat yards via the back of his truck, and his charming three-year-old daughter Bella patiently went along for the ride. After a beachside lunch, we said farewell to Carriacou. We headed for Union, the gateway to the Grenadines, where we skillfully dropped our two anchors between the myriad of reefs and patiently awaited the next chapter in our story.