Discover what it’s like to haul out in Trinidad, learn how to do a ‘Med Mooring’, check out all the work that goes into preparing a boat for storage on the hard, get our latest CopperCoat antifoul update and see what life on as a liveaboard is truly like. Hauling Out, Med Mooring & CopperCoat[Read More]
Videos
Sailing Grenada to Trinidad – Any Pirates?!
We’re getting to the end of our America to southern Caribbean eight-month sailing adventure! With Hurrican Season upon us, we had to decide to either hunker down in an anchorage or take the boat out of the water and fly ‘home’ to the US and the UK. We decided to take some time out and head home to see family and friends.
By the time we made it to Grenada, all the boatyards were at full capacity.
Due to Hurrican Irma and other horrible hurricanes, Grenada has seen a massive increase in demand for boat storage. Grenada has been hit by some very bad storms but not recently. Knowing Grenada was full we made plans to sail down to Trinidad.
In this video, we’ll show you a bit about Grenada and why so many boaties, especially kid boats, head to this amazing destination. We’ll also show you our passage down to Trinidad. Did we encounter any pirates? Find out by watching the video now.
Sailing To Carriacou
Carriacou is a Carib word meaning, “island surrounded by reefs.’ Upon approach, your eye’s will smile when they see the tropical turquoise waters marking the shallows. The Winward Island of Carriacou is located below St Vincent & Grenadines chain of islands and above the large island of Grenada. There are around 10,000 people that live on the island and many are of the friendliest people we’ve come across.
There’s a small town charm to the island.
The people make a living from fishing, boat building, and farming. No large cruise ships or tourist boats descend upon the quiet island making it more authentic than most. The video below showcases our very first visit to Carriacou. Since the video, we’ve been back at least 10 more times. We’ve taken a land trip checking out every corner of the island, tested out other anchorages and discovered Grenada’s largest gem – Sandy Island. Sandy is a wildlife reserve so the fish are protected. The reef is AMAZING. It’s like swimming in an aquarium. I even had a Medical Emergency on a deserted island there! Enjoy the video…
Liveaboard Experience On Sailing Britican (Video)
Our Liveaboard Experience charter offering is now fully up and running! Come join us on Britican for a week-long sailing adventure. Not only will you learn about sailing, but you’ll also discover what it’s like to be a full-fledged liveaboard. You’ll see what it’s like to provision in the Tropics, do routine engine checks, troubleshoot the latest breakage, run the watermaker, create passage plans to new islands or countries, reef the sails and much more. The Experiece is customised to what you/your family need to help you hit the waves running. Jumpstart your path to living the dream – get a headstart by joining Simon, Sienna and me this year.
But what’s a Britican Experience like?! To get an idea as to some sights you’ll see and some things you’ll learn, watch the following video about Andy and Ene Stewart’s Britican Experience. This delightful couple have sailed a bit in the past but never in the Caribbean. The enjoy sailing and wanted a closer glimpse into what liveaboard life is truly like. Find out what they discovered…
Sailing To A New Country
Sailing to a new country can be daunting for the first few times. It’s best to understand the process and learn tips and tricks before you go. So, what’s the procedure to book in? How about booking out? What information to do you need to supply? Where can things go terribly wrong? Are there any tips to make the process easier, faster and less painful? What about spear guns, real guns, and pets? What about booking into the US of A?! That’s a big topic in its own right. Watch the video and then read below for a checklist on what we bring with us every time we enter and leave a country.
Kite Surfing And More On Union Island Grenadines
Join us for a voyage from Bequia to Union Island in St Vincent & The Grenadines. You’ll enjoy some sailing, a fish story (that ends badly for Simon and the fish), some awesome Kite surfing stunts, spectacular views you’ll get when on land and some information on what to do with trash and booking in/out from Union Island Grenadines.
What’s liveaboard Life Like in Bequia, St Vincent?
In this episode of Sailing Britican, you’ll gain a well-rounded picture of what liveaboard life Bequia St Vincent is like. Simon will show you his passage plan from St Vincent to Bequia in the Grenadines. We’ll show you what it looks like when an anchor drags, some sights of Bequia including the town, some beaches and a walk across the island. Simon will explain the process of repairing the black caulk on our teak deck, we’ll show you the liveaboard cruiser hang out, show you what our daughter Sienna gets up to on a daily basis (does she have a social life?!), a crazily insane rainstorm, and a small bug issue.
Also, find out if Simon recovers from being trapped between the dinghy and the dock – does he stay dry or does he get wet?
Is it safe to sail to St Vincent & The Grenadines?
The title should actually be, ‘Is it safe to sail to St Vincent’? The Grenadines, as a whole, are known to be safe. It’s St Vincent that has the bad reputation. There are 32 islands and cays (pronounced ‘Keys’) that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Nine are inhabited, including the mainland St Vincent and the Grenadines islands: Young Island, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Union Island, Mayreau, Petit St Vincent and Palm Island.
In 2016 when we did our first full Caribbean sailing season we skipped St Vincent. Immediately after passing it by I had several cruisers say, ‘Don’t miss St Vincent – it’s great!’ I vowed that I would most definitely visit the island if the opportunity came up again.
On our visit we checked into Chateaubelair on the northwest side of the island. Then we sailed down to Cumberland Bay and anchored with our stern facing the shore – an anchor heading out to sea and a line tided to the shore. What were our overall thoughts of the island and the people? Watch the video to find out. And check out the photo gallery too.
Boat Life With Boat Buddies
What is a boat life with boat buddies like? Boat buddies are boats that you decide to travel with. Once you start cruising, you’ll meet a variety of boaters in an anchorage. Considering that most people are heading the same direction, many boaters choose to team up for social, safety and, if it’s a kid boat, guaranteed play dates.
Watch the following video to get a glimpse into the boat buddies we had on our journey from the Bahamas down to Trinidad. Find out why all the girlies from Rondo, Pura Vida and Britican are bending over. Watch now…
Boat Handling – Leaving A Dock
Most boat crashes and hull crunches happen when docking and leaving a dock. Why? There’s a variety of reasons. Some new (and experienced) boat owners misread the elements (wind, tide, current). Other’s misjudge the space available. And it’s very common for inexperienced marina dock hands or crew to mess things up with the lines. Boat handling leaving a dock is a key skill to learn.
Unfortunately, once a new boat owner has a crunch it can be quite a setback.
Sure, there’s a cost associated to a scratch or hole but the real issue is with confidence. We’ve met many new boat owners that have a few small accidents and decide to call it a day. Take a look at all the boats you’ll find in a marina on a perfect sailing day – many people want to live the dream, buy access to the dream and then lose steam when it comes to actually making the dream happen (leaving the dock).
The crazy thing is that there are very safe and easy steps regarding boat handling leaving a dock.
In fact, the steps that we use make docking and leaving a dock look like a breeze – even for newbies. Like so many things with boat ownership, having a blueprint or a checklist can help you make a success out of it more times than not. Below you’ll find a video where Simon explains the procedure, we then demonstrate leaving a dock and we also provide an alternative. Furthermore, you’ll find the steps written below the video.
To access this post, you must purchase The Britican Club.
