By now we are living January 7, 2020. Time is running so fast as we have to be in St. Martin already in a few weeks. And we still have many more islands to discover! So we decided to go to Grenada first. The most southern island of the windward Caribbean islands. Enjoying a beautiful sailing day we left early in the morning. On our way, we were talking about the Grenadines and the islands around till we suddenly we’re asking ourselves if we needed to check out? And then you realize that we did not really exactly know how the region is divided! One of the reasons to write a post explaining the region. But now we had to change the plan again! We needed to go port first to sail to Clifton Bay to check out. This is the main bay where you need to go for immigration. This bay is very very busy with boats. It’s the most popular spot because it’s close to the Anchorage Yacht Club, restaurants and bars, provisioning services, hotels and guest houses, and tourist information services. There are moorings in Clifton Harbor put down by the Tobago Cays Marine Park (white in color). Most are located out close to the reef and have TCMP on them. A park ranger will come to collect the fee and if a boat boy helps you with the mooring, they are supposed to give you their card to pass on to the park rangers who will then give the boat boy commission. If the boat boy asks you to pay him directly, tell him you cannot pay him unless he provides a receipt. Be sure to check the mooring for strength. There is a dinghy dock just outside the L’Aquarium restaurant in the Bourganville complex and a dinghy dock at the Anchorage Yacht Club. In the middle of Clifton harbour sits Happy Island, a man-made island featuring a bar. Ashton Lagoon and Chatham Bay are the other popular places to anchor and for kitesurfing Frigate Rock is the place to be!
Union Island is a lovely place. Colourful and friendly people. In the middle of town, you find the vegetable market where the fruits are hanging in baskets outside of the small places. There are small very nice shops selling exclusive food. Many restaurants with a ton of choice. Supermarkets and restaurants. A very bubbly place! Immigration is at the Airport.  A 10-minute walk from the dinghy dock. If you do not check out from one island and enter a new island they will send you back. You first need to clear out!  We walked around the main street, bought some veggies and went back to the boat. Next day we would sail to Grenada.

Union Island
Due to its volcanic silhouette, it is also called the ‘Tahiti of the West Indies’. The island is approximately three miles (4.8 kilometres) long and one mile (1.6 kilometres) wide. Surrounding islands are Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Palm Island, and Petit Saint Vincent. The highest peak is Mount Taboi – 999 feet (304 metres) above sea level. Union Island has a semi-arid climate – its hills are not high enough to produce the rainfall that transforms Grenada’s northern coastal areas into the rainforest. During the dry season, December/January through June, the only source of water on the island is the water stored during the rainy season (June–December).

grenadines mapSt Vincent and the Grenadines is a multi-island country. The Grenadines are a chain of small islands that lie on a line between the larger islands of Saint Vincent and Grenada. Part of the  Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.
In the Northern part, you’ll find the islands of Bequia and Mustique. The Southern Grenadines consist of Canouan, Mayreau and Union Island. There are 10 uninhabited islands are Palm Island, Petit Saint Vincent, Tobago Cays, Isle à Quatre, Baliceaux, Bettowia, Petit Mustique, Petit Nevis, Petit Canouan. and Savan.  The Grenadines is known for the haunts of the rich and famous – yachting, diving and fine beaches. Many rich and famous have a house somewhere around in one of the islands!