UNION ISLAND, GRENADINES

UNION ISLAND, GRENADINES

APRIL 11-13, 2017

We set sail from Tyrell Bay at 0818 on April 11^th.  It’s a short hop of 13 nm from Tyrell Bay to Clifton Harbor, Union Island.  This is the administrative center for the Grenadines because it is a Marine Park that encompasses the Tobago Cays (not to be confused with the island of Tobago).  These Cays reputedly offer some of the finest snorkeling and diving to be found anywhere.  They are protected from the sea by Horseshoe Reef but still open to the full force of the ocean winds.  The St Vincent and Grenadines Park Service charges about $US 4 per day per person.  Mooring are available for $US 45 per night. We didn’t have time to go into this area and Phyllis doesn’t snorkel so it wasn’t worth the time.

WE picked up one of the National Park Service Moorings (12-35,793’ N;061-24.836’ W) in Clifton Harbor: $US 22 per night.  The moorings are well maintained and strong.  Given the amount of traffic that is buzzing around, I felt that the mooring was the best bet but I could have anchored.  In addition to the Tobago Cays, Clifton Harbor is protected by a reef that shows off its brilliant kaleidoscopic colors and patterns as you sail in.  The expanse of brilliant green-turquoise and brown are stunning. 

Once we were moored, our eyes caught this amazing display of kiteboarding.  It appears that Union is the kiteboarding center of the Windward Islands.  Unfortunately, Clifton is not as beautiful and pristine as its surroundings.  It has a colorful picture- perfect market around a green and some small buildings that, architecturally, are interesting.  Outside of this, the town has a run-down dinginess that is hard to forgive.  The locals don’t seem to have that special “Keep Clifton Clean” attitude.  There are some good restaurants and eateries as well as hiking trails.  We only had a very small view of the whole so, maybe, there is more to recommend it.

Given that this town is totally dedicated to tourism arriving in planes and boats, it isn’t surprising that the prices reflect the clientele.  I tried to buy a small 10 lb watermelon and, after bargaining, could not get the price below $US1.50 per lb so I walked away.  Tuna, Conch and Mahi-Mahi are caught daily and cheap.

We departed Union Island at 0724 hrs on April 13, 2017 for Bequia.  In 1978, on the 40’ Ocean-going Wharram Catamaran that we had spent six years in the Canary Islands building, Bequia was as far South in the Windward Islands that we sailed.  After that, we sailed north to Martinique and Antigua.  We are now picking up that track again and, as before, will make a landing on the east Florida coast.