Refreshed

We have had a refreshing week, doing almost nothing, in the south of Grenada. Now we are slowly working our way north to meet my mother in Martinique on 6th April

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Arrived in Grenada

All safe and sound listening to a steel band and loving being back in the Caribbean. 

Last day

We have about 120M to go to Grenada and will probably be arriving around dawn.

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Good prgress

Still nice sailing.

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Getting excited

We have traveled half way around the world in 8 months. It feels like time for a rest. So we are looking forward to the Caribbean.

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Final leg

We rested 2 days in French Guiana. We needed it after our colds and some hard sailing. Now we have light winds but a fair current to take us towards Grenada. Then it is just gentle island hopping for the next 2 months.

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Isles de Salut

We are in a little bay, not much shelter from the swell unfortunately but sufficient to rest for a couple of days

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Good sailing

Yesterday was rough and windy but today much nicer. We are sailing fast and tomorrow hope to be in Iles de Salut for a couple of days rest before carrying on.

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North of the equator

Still making great progress. The wind is not quite so favorable this side of the equator though. Maybe it will be a bit cooler.

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Fine weather

We have had the best run of weather since leaving Bali. Tomorrow the wind gets strong, still fair but maybe a bit uncomfortable.

Crossing the mouth of the Amazon in the next day - and the equator.

9knots

Very fast sailing thanks to finding the best current via charts downloaded by radio. We both have horrible colds picked up in the carnival crowds no doubt. Today we will cross the ITCZ the meteorological boundary between N and S, and the chart equator should be tomorrow.

HOT

We have fair winds and currents and are mainly sailing more than 7 knot. Excellent sailing, perhaps the best since leaving Bali as it is smooth and comfortable aboard.

Running away

We feel a bit as though we are running away. Mainly from the heat which we both find intolerable. For this reason we plan to miss French Guiana and go straight to Grenada, which we hope will be fresher.

We weren't entirely impressed with Brazil. Very dirty and inefficient with hours of waiting, often to be told to come back next day to do the official paperwork. But the Brazilians are friendly happy people and we had memorable night at carnival events in Joao Pessoa and Recife.

It is not a cheap place, especially after South Africa and as the infrastructure and general state of care of everything was so much worse we found this rather surprising. To sum up: First World prices in a dirty third world country.

We had no problems with robbery or violence and felt safe, though were cautious. We have no pictures as the cameras stayed at home - people in our Carnival parties lost cameras, phones and money.

One result of carnival crowds is that we both have colds. Not the best way to start a voyage but preferable to baking anymore in Jacare.