Sailing in the Windward Islands
with Erik and Carmany (Peanut) Thorp and Mike and Sue O'Brien
December, 1985
Click on any image for a bigger view
In December, 1985, while we were struggling to make ends meet on the ranch,
Erik Thorp called up and asked,
"How would you and Amber like to go sailing for two weeks
in the Windward Islands?"
After a lot of careful consideration,
which took about half a second,
I said "sure!"
Amber and I flew to New York,
where it was bitter cold and snowy.
We spent two days doing business in upstate New York
before catching our plane to Barbados and then on to St. Vincent.
Since we were going sailing down south,
we didn't want to bring anything extra with us.
So we were walking around in shorts and sandals,
freezing our butts off,
and getting strange looks from hostile people.
Our boat was a CSY 44,
with the name "Whee Tree".
She was berthed at the CSY yacht club in St. Vincent.
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| CSY Yacht Club, St. Vincent |
Most of the windward islands drop steeply into the water,
so the scenery was spectacular.
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| Bequia |
Whee Tree in Port Elizabeth, Bequia |
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| Mike, Sue, and Amber |
We sailed down to Grenada,
where we picked up Peanut.
Then we turned around and came back at a more liesurely pace.
In Grenada, we ate at Mama's,
a place that would have filled even Ben Harding up.
It was an all you can eat place
and we each got two dishes of food,
each of which was all we could eat.
Except there were eight of us.
Groan.
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| West Coast of Grenada |
West Coast of Grenada |
Whee Tree in Grenada |
Whee Tree in Grenada |
West Coast of Grenada |
West Coast of Grenada |
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| Sheep on Carriacou |
Carriacou Post Office, Sue and Amber |
Hillsborough, Carriacou |
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| Carriacou, looking S |
Carriacou, looking SE |
Hillsborough, Carriacou |
As expected,
Amber found and scratched the ears of every animal
on every island we visited.
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| Amber and Friend |
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Schooner near Petit St. Vincent and Mopion |
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| Looking S from Petit St. Vincent |
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| Schooner |
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| Looking Up |
Amber, Sue, Mike, and Erik |
I think somewhere in here is where Peanut jumped overboard,
so we got a genuine man overboard drill.
We needed it.
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| Sailing, Sailing... |
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| Native Camp, Tobago Cays |
Sunset, Tobago Cays |
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| Near Petit St. Vincent, Carriacou, and Mayreau |
There be Dragons Here |
During the dry season, there is (surprise) very little rain.
Since there is not enough ground water,
they catch the rain as runoff and store it for later use.
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| Rain Collector |
Rain Catcher and Storage |
One evening, after we anchored,
we got to watch some people para sailing.
It was the first time I had ever seen it done.
I was impressed,
and still am.
It looks like fun.
Maybe some day I'll get to try it.
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| Captain Amber |
We met this French guy named Jean Pierre who had a steel boat,
and made a living making ships in bottles.
We couldn't resist, and bought one.
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| Whee Tree and Jean Pierre's Boat |
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| Goat |
Goats |
Amber and Friend |
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On one of the islands there was an old whaling slip.
They used to tow the whales in there and process them.
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| Whaling Slip |
Whale Boat |
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| Whee Tree |
There is nothing to the east of the windward islands until you get to Africa.
Which is why it's great sailing.
The islands are aptly named...
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| Why They're Called the Windward Islands |
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| Cactus with Pink Fruits |
Coast Road |
Flower |
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Cactus |
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| Crab which Pinched Amber |
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| Shoreline |
We wanted to buy three two pound lobsters,
but the guy didn't have any,
so he got us two three pound ones.
They were HUGE,
and wouldn't fit in the pot.
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| 3 lb. Lobsters |
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Shoreline |
