Cruising Grenada | Friendships, Challenges & Boat Life

After three weeks tied up at Le Phare Bleu Marina in Grenada, the cruising family aboard Sailing Big Lost found their island travel plans interrupted by persistent rainstorms and flooded roadways. Having arranged a rental car and prepared their tender, the crew encountered tough driving conditions and long distances across the island. Reflecting on the road conditions from their dock slip, the crew noted, “The island is challenging to get around on even though we have a rental car and a dinghy.” With inland exploration washed out by squalls, daily routines shifted toward dock life, prompting an honest assessment of close-quarters living among fellow voyagers.

The prolonged stay in Grenada followed months of relentless transitions and demanding ocean passages. After selling their Leopard 62 catamaran to downsize aboard a smaller Vision 444, the family navigated nonstop responsibilities to configure their new home for long-term cruising. The move was complicated by unexpected setbacks before their voyage began. “Between downsizing, moving boats, and getting our new home set up for comfortable living, we barely had time to catch our breath,” the crew explained, recounting compounding yard delays that pushed their departure uncomfortably close to the annual hurricane season.

Harbortown Setbacks and the Offshore Atlantic Passage

Before the crew could point their bows south, dockside mishaps created significant complications. While moored at Harbortown Marina, the catamaran suffered unexpected impacts from neighboring vessels. “At Harbortown Marina, we were hit by other boats twice,” the crew noted. When the boat hauled out to address the hull damage, yard handling caused additional structural issues, creating unexpected expenses and consuming critical preparation time.

By the time Big Lost departed Dania Beach, most cruising companions had already reached secure hurricane holes deep in the southern islands. The family faced an open-ended delivery of nearly 2,000 nautical miles to catch up. After a brief transit to Freeport to collect personal belongings, they staged in Eleuthera. Rather than tackling the exhausting, wave-battered passage along the north coasts of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the crew seized a favorable weather window to motor straight out into the deep Atlantic. By taking this offshore route, the crew bypassed the heavy headwinds of the traditional Thorny Path and avoided being pinned down by named tropical storms, reaching the Virgin Islands safely.

Island Hopping South with SV Magistra

The initial Caribbean miles required significant motoring and uncomfortable sea conditions as the catamaran worked east through the Virgin Islands. Upon reaching St. Martin, the family paused their southerly push for a few weeks of rest and awaited the delivery of a replacement tender. With the new dinghy secured on the davits, they joined friends aboard the buddy boat SV Magistra to continue south through the islands.

The passage down the island chain balanced cruising milestones with quick coastal hops:

• Deshaies, Guadeloupe: Anchoring off the quiet French coastal village to resupply on fresh boulangerie baguettes.
• Les Saintes: Exploring the historic French stone hilltop fortress overlooking the anchorage.
• Martinique: Touring the waterfront town of St. Pierre, completing a demanding climb up the volcanic slopes of Mount Pelee, and anchoring in St. Anne for final provisions.

Despite the camaraderie of traveling with SV Magistra, the family had to split off from the fleet to fulfill a rigid haulout booking in Grenada.

Haulout Repairs and Dock Dynamics at Le Phare Bleu

Arriving in Grenada on schedule, Big Lost reported directly to Clarkes Court boatyard. The crew tackled maintenance tasks, pushing through haulout repairs in about a week and a half before moving across the bay to Le Phare Bleu Marina. The facility offered a full range of shoreside amenities, including a restaurant, coffee shop, spa, boutique, and a swimming pool open to visiting sailors. The marina basin provided an immediate social circle for the children, who welcomed the chance to connect with fellow cruising kids and host gatherings.

However, concentrated dock life also introduced social frictions. Competing parenting perspectives, conflicting school routines, and differing family bedtimes created background tension across the piers. The crew observed that peer conflicts were natural, but overzealous adult intervention often prolonged arguments that children would otherwise resolve quickly. As the mother candidly admitted, “The truth is, not all kids get along.” When parents jump into squabbles too quickly, issues drag on for days instead of clearing up in hours. To protect family harmony, the crew maintained a grounded strategy: “So, for us, it’s about balance, supporting our kids, but also protecting our peace.” That commitment meant recognizing when to leave the slip and resume living on the hook.

Canvas Projects and Future Tracks West

While anchored to the dock waiting for an optimal weather window to sail west, the crew tackled essential boatkeeping chores. Sewing projects took center stage, culminating in a newly fabricated foredeck sunshade. “One of these calmer days, we’ll test it out and see how it fits,” the crew remarked, preparing to make minor adjustments to the custom canvas once trade winds eased.

Looking ahead, the family remains focused on their upcoming passage toward Colombia and Panama, anticipating reunions with cruising friends whose paths will intersect across the western Caribbean. Meanwhile, dockside life concluded on a humorous note, with the boat kids bantering about sleeping late, crowding marina piers, and spending downtime gaming on Minecraft and Fortnite.

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