Final Push South: Sailing into Grenada!

Before departing Martinique on the final southward push toward Grenada, Connor addressed an urgent masthead issue aboard the catamaran Big Lost. The vessel’s topping lift line had jumped off its masthead pulley wheel and suffered severe chafe against an aluminum flange, forcing Connor to stitch the new line directly to the damaged halyard with needle and thread so he could reeve it cleanly down through the internal mast conduit and back to the helm clutch. Documenting their voyage on Sailing Big Lost, the crew balanced rigging repairs with dockside logistics before beginning their passage toward the southern Caribbean.

To avoid maneuvering into a crowded fuel dock and dropping anchor a second time, Connor decided to haul diesel in jerry cans, explaining, “so we can save ourselves the effort of reanchoring.” A quick stop at the local French boulangerie for fresh baguettes and sweet pastries completed their shore preparations. As the catamaran motored out into open water, the crew evaluated their passage options, balancing a continuous 21-hour voyage against the convenience of splitting the distance with an overnight stop.

Mast Repair and Martinique Departure

Deck preparations in Martinique centered on restoring the topping lift before committing to open water. The line runs from the boom end up to the masthead pulley, down the interior of the spar, through a base turning block, and aft through a line clutch at the helm station. Because the line had slipped off its sheave and rubbed continuously against the masthead metal flange, chafe threatened the integrity of the line. Connor carefully aligned the ends of the replacement line and the old halyard, stitching them securely together to lead the fresh line down through the mast without losing the messenger run.

With the rig secured, the crew completed shore errands. Transporting fuel in handheld jerry cans allowed the catamaran to remain undisturbed at anchor rather than entering a cramped marina fuel berth. After gathering fresh baked bread and pastries from the local French bakery, the family raised anchor and departed the French islands, steering south into the channel between Martinique and Saint Vincent.

Passage Past Saint Vincent and La Soufrière

Underway along the western coastline of Saint Vincent, conditions remained calm as commercial traffic crossed their path. The crew tracked the ship Predator steaming nearby at 11 knots while monitoring their own southward heading. To the east, the towering silhouette of La Soufrière dominated the skyline. Connor and the crew observed the ash scars running down the volcano’s northern slopes, visual remnants left behind by its explosive eruption in 2021.

As the catamaran sailed quietly offshore, a pod of dolphins surfaced at the bows, riding the pressure wave and leaping alongside the twin hulls. The sighting provided a welcome break during an otherwise quiet day sail as the crew calculated their arrival timing and decided to seek shelter along the Saint Vincent coast rather than sailing through the night.

Overnight Anchorage Under the Yellow Flag

Because the crew did not plan to clear customs and immigration in Saint Vincent, they hoisted their yellow quarantine code flag to signal that the vessel remained in transit and had not cleared into the country. Choosing an anchorage required careful consideration of local reports. Rather than dropping anchor near towns, the crew selected an isolated cove along the coast.

“We chose this one because there’s no town or people nearby and there have been reports of thievery and boardings in the area.”

Peering through the clear water at the seabed, the crew noted scattered debris, sticks, and scrap metal below before securing the anchor. The stop offered a peaceful night of rest. Reflecting on their broader journey, the crew noted that their 40-day southward island-hopping campaign had consisted entirely of daytime hops, with no overnight passages since their Atlantic offshore crossing from Eleuthera south to the USVI.

Alternator Electrical Failure Underway

At dawn, the crew hauled anchor from Saint Vincent to begin the final leg toward Grenada. While at the helm, the crew smelled burning rubber coming from the engine compartments. Connor immediately shut down the engines and descended into the starboard engine bay to investigate the source of the smoke.

Connor found that the heavy-gauge electrical cable on the starboard alternator had suffered severe arcing where it bolted to the terminal. The electrical fault had generated extreme heat, burning through half of the threaded mounting bolt while completely disintegrating the nut. Surveying the damaged terminal, Connor remarked, “It’s a welder,” observing how the electrical arcing had melted solid metal away.

To prevent electrical fire or alternator damage, Connor isolated the starboard unit. With an extra Balmar alternator on board that required a new rectifier, Connor investigated whether spare components could be scavenged or if the system needed to remain completely disconnected until arriving in Grenada. With the starboard engine out of commission, the catamaran pressed on under sail and single-engine propulsion, as the crew reported: “We are running just the port engine right now. We have a full main up and our jib up.” Wind speeds hovered at 11 knots, leaving the jib telltales hanging limp as the vessel continued motor-sailing south.

Clearing Customs at Tyrell Bay and Clark’s Court Arrival

Approaching the waters of Grenada, the crew altered their clearance strategy. With Carnival underway in St. George’s, rumors of crowded anchorages, loud celebrations, and packed mooring fields convinced the crew to divert to Tyrell Bay. Clearing customs and immigration in Tyrell Bay proved efficient and calm, allowing the crew to check in without contending with harbor congestion.

After completing border formalities, Big Lost rounded the southern headlands of Grenada, motoring into headwind and opposing current toward Clark’s Court Marina. The crew rigged fenders and prepared dock lines along the gunwales, spotting their cruising friends aboard the sailing vessel Firefly resting in the anchorage as they negotiated the harbor approach.

Clark’s Court Haulout and Shore Lodging

Haulout day at Clark’s Court Marina marked the beginning of a scheduled yard period. Having experienced past complications during a haulout at Harbor Town Marina, Connor and the crew approached the travel lift with caution. To provide an extra set of hands during line handling and haulout positioning, friend Jesse from the vessel McGistra joined them aboard.

The yard crew at Clark’s Court utilized professional precautions. A yard diver entered the water beneath the catamaran, tapping the hull to locate interior structural bulkheads and ensuring protective plastic covered the lifting slings. The primary work list for the haulout included repairing an acrylic escape hatch window that cracked during their offshore passage to the USVI, servicing the starboard propeller, and stripping old cockpit cushions so they could be fitted with quick-drying reticulated foam.

Because the travel lift slip could not place the catamaran directly into its tight yard berth, the boatyard transferred Big Lost onto a tractor trailer to maneuver the multihull between closely spaced vessels. Yard technicians climbed aboard and poured water along the decks to confirm proper rainwater drainage angles. With the catamaran safely blocked on the hard, the crew moved their bags into a villa at Le Phare Bleu for 5 days of shore living, situated right by the historic red lightship that houses the marina showers and shore facilities.

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