The seas were white tipped as we sailed into the island archipelago of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, indicating strong winds.The original people who settled these islands called St. Vincent “Yaramaqui.”Unlike a number of the other islands, the native population of the Grenadines, the Caribs, were left alone by the early French colonials. Once the Europeans were well established, however, competition for the islands and ownership of the islands seesawed back and forth between French and English overlords. Today they are autonomous.This small island nation gained its independence form England in 1979 and today is governed by a House of Assembly with elected members and appointed senators and a governor-general. We are reminded that we are in a richly volcanic area, as St. Vincent’s Mount Soufrière erupted in 1902 killing two thousand.
There are 36 small islands, which make up this small nation. Our actual destination is Union Island, which is the largest of the five islands that make up the “Tobago Cays.” At its broadest point Union Island is almost two miles long and its widest 2.5 miles. Its capital is the charming village of Clifton, which has become one of the most visited of the yachting venues in the Grenadines. We anchored just off Chatham Bay, which is on the lee side of Union and protected from the winds. If ever there was a tropical island paradise this is it. Gleaming white crystal sands with tropical trees gently moving in the whispering breeze and no one else there! Sections of the Tobago Cays have been designated a national park of the Grenadines because of the pristine quality of the marine environment and the preponderance of sea turtles who nest here.
Mike Greenfelder and a considerable number of guests raved about the variety of fish they saw in their snorkeling expedition -- rasses, grunts, angelfish, lobster, and parrotfish were in great abundance. Almost all of us also visited the famous, or should I say infamous, pub owner “Shark Attack.” “Shark Attack” is not only an institution on Chatham Bay but he is now written up in guidebooks. He serves the meanest rum punch in the Grenadines and a visit to “Shark Attack” is a must. Of course being at “Shark Attack’s” emporium means that you will see chickens and goats scattering around around foraging for a meal! The afternoon was spent swimming in the beautiful bay and lounging on the sand until the last Zodiac returned us to the ship at 6:00 p.m. Can anyone ask for a more perfect day? Dinner tonight had a nautical flavor and all the servers were dressed in sailor costumes and hats. We retired exhilarated and exhausted from a full day.
