Living on ...ISH Time
Aboard the S/V Mandalay in the Grenadines
Even on Sunday morning in a church down south, the melody of Amazing Grace never sounded so good. Each day, as the sails were hoisted and the spiritual anthem echoed throughout the ship, the S/V Mandalay prepared to sail. No matter where he was, each passenger made his way to the upper deck to watch six or more burly men pull and tug ropes until the nine (or less depending on wind need) sails stood at attention. We watched, head uplifted, mouth dropped in awe of the stamina and power it took to get the grand old lady under way. The melody proclaimed we were moving, to another island, to another port. We had no clue of the time of day, just the fact that in the middle of the Southern Caribbean, we were changing course and what would happen between now and then didn't even matter. We had wind whipping through our hair, a bloody mary in hand, and we were open to anything. We were living on . . . ish time.
Ansa La Roche Carriacou, Chatham Bay Union Island
Bequia
Climbing the steep streets of Bequia on our way to Fort Hamilton. People are on the move or tucked inside buildings and homes working and watching.
Seargent Brothers Model Boat Shop in downtown Bequia squeezes big men into a tiny space. They are eager to show off their process and finally their masterpieces.
Augustine Pollard stops at the drop of a hat, smiles and poses for cameras. He knows he's got the best job in the world.
Canouan Island
One of the few resorts we see in our journey, Tamarind Beach Hotel and Yacht Club. They welcome us to their beach and their bar. It is quite different than most seaside accommodations we have seen thus far.
The Trump Casino will breathtaking views of Canouan Island. It was called Villa Monte Carlo, part of a upscale project to include custom designed villas and a golf course. That was 2003. Today, the casino which never opened is abandoned. Inside the windows, slot machines bunched in the corner.
Crab races aboard the S/V Mandalay.
Tobago Cays, Mayreau
On Tobago Cay, a withered shack to the right contained men cooking the day's catch. Small boats would come and go, delivering the day's feast to people that we could not see. Numerous sailboats and catamarans were anchored in the bay.
Carriacou and Sandy Island
We stop to view a boatbuilder's progress. We hear someone who has traveled here in the last few years say, "This was here the last time I was here. Not much has changed." It's a slow process; at times, they must wait for materials to wash up on shore.
Carriacou is most noted for its rum, Jack Iron. Many visit to stock up on the potent elixir, clocking in at 99 proof. They call it engine fuel or paint stripper and is only sold on this small island.
The pristine and solitary stretch of Sandy Island beach. It is considered a nature reserve and is only accessible by boat.
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The crew (left) and those who learned to forget the outside world for at least a week.
