EXPLORING BEQUIA - MOONHOLE AND THE EPIC WESTERN SWELL
#catamaransailing #leopard48catamaran #sailing #bequia #moonhole #grenadines
Bequia is a beautiful island mixture of unique houses, lots of anchored boats in a large bay, lots of sandy beaches, plenty of Beach bars, restaurants and more. Bequia is the largest island in the Grenadines at 7 square miles.
The Sail from St. Vincent to Bequia was only about an hour, hardly long enough to put the sails up! We anchored in Admiralty Bay out between Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay.
One of the highlights of our time in Bequia was Moonhole, a community built into the cliffs on the far edge of Bequia. In order to see it, we had to snorkel in the front bay. You may have watched a SV Delos episode 10 years ago, where they interview one of the owners.
MOONHOLE HISTORY
Moonhole derives its name from a massive arch formed in volcanic substrate through which the setting moon is sometimes visible.
Founded by Thomas and Gladys Johnston in the 1960s, Moonhole is now a private nature preserve. In the late 1960s, the Johnstons retired from an advertising business in New York and founded the Moonhole community on the narrow western tip of the island. Tom and Gladys began building a house beneath the arch with the aid of local masons from the nearby village of Paget Farm. Using whalebones, native hardwoods, and objects recovered from the sea, they built large open rooms with sea views. Without wells or electricity, they collected rainwater from the roofs and stored it in cisterns for bathing and washing. The master bath had a large tree that grew right up through a large hole in the roof. Large windows facing the prevailing trade winds had plexiglass panes that could be lowered into place. The bedrooms surrounded a central dining room, veranda and large bar made from a humpback whale’s jaw bone. In the early years there was not even a road to Moonhole. People from Paget Farm walked in daily to bring in fresh fruit and freshly baked bread and to do any necessary cooking. https://www.moonholecompany.com/mission-and-history
EXPLORING TOWN
With our guests Bill and Pauline, we set off to explore town.
Bequia has a really nice walkway that goes from town all the way to Lower Bay. It’s a longish walk, but plenty of places to stop along the way for rest, refreshments and swimming. We loved our lunch at Mango Restaurant, overlooking the water. That night, a quick stop at Bar One floating bar.
We also hired a tour truck and saw the Friendship Bay side of the island, with the whaling museum. We tried to stop at Firefly for lunch, but when we sat down and could not get any service, we knew it would be a 2 hour ordeal, so we went on our way.
Laundry service came to your boat! Very entrepreneurial!
Cocktail Lab was a favorite spot to hang out – only for drinks and light snacks.
After Bill and Pauline left, we woke the next morning to a western swell coming into the anchorage. Because the trade winds are always from East, this wreaks havoc in the anchorages, so we made a hasty exit and sailed further south. We did not know quite where we could find a safe anchorage, but it was better to be on the sea than anywhere else.
We ended up at Sandy Lane on Canouan Island – a very good choice.
TIMELINE:
0:00 Introduction
0:31 Sailing from St Vincent to Bequia
0:55 Moonhole Bequia
3:12 Exploring Town of Bequia
3:49 Bequia Walkway – Princess Margaret Beach, Lower Bay
7:03 Bar One
7:56 Bequia Tour
9:31 Good Bye Bill and Pauline
9:52 The Cocktail Lab
10:32 Big Swell – Hasty Exit
LINKS:
SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfh_pM48xnJ7dr4jTvt8cw?sub_confirmation=1
WEB SITE: https://bluedotvoyages.com
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/bluedotvoyages
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotvoyages.sailingpilar
COMPLETE PLAYLIST: SAILING & CRUISING VIDEOS
CATAMARAN MAINTENANCE VIDEOS:
Blue Dot Voyages is a Sailing Adventure Company. We recently packed up our belongings, sold our house and moved on to our Leopard48 Sailing Catamaran PILAR, where we are traveling the world. We offer travel advice as well as boat maintenance tips. We offer charter sailing experience trips when we can. Watch our videos and live vicariously through us!
Master Captain: Stephen Bell
First Officer: Dawn Bell
#catamaransailing #leopard48catamaran #sailing #bequia #moonhole #grenadines
Bequia is a beautiful island mixture of unique houses, lots of anchored boats in a large bay, lots of sandy beaches, plenty of Beach bars, restaurants and more. Bequia is the largest island in the Grenadines at 7 square miles.
The Sail from St. Vincent to Bequia was only about an hour, hardly long enough to put the sails up! We anchored in Admiralty Bay out between Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay.
One of the highlights of our time in Bequia was Moonhole, a community built into the cliffs on the far edge of Bequia. In order to see it, we had to snorkel in the front bay. You may have watched a SV Delos episode 10 years ago, where they interview one of the owners.
MOONHOLE HISTORY
Moonhole derives its name from a massive arch formed in volcanic substrate through which the setting moon is sometimes visible.
Founded by Thomas and Gladys Johnston in the 1960s, Moonhole is now a private nature preserve. In the late 1960s, the Johnstons retired from an advertising business in New York and founded the Moonhole community on the narrow western tip of the island. Tom and Gladys began building a house beneath the arch with the aid of local masons from the nearby village of Paget Farm. Using whalebones, native hardwoods, and objects recovered from the sea, they built large open rooms with sea views. Without wells or electricity, they collected rainwater from the roofs and stored it in cisterns for bathing and washing. The master bath had a large tree that grew right up through a large hole in the roof. Large windows facing the prevailing trade winds had plexiglass panes that could be lowered into place. The bedrooms surrounded a central dining room, veranda and large bar made from a humpback whale’s jaw bone. In the early years there was not even a road to Moonhole. People from Paget Farm walked in daily to bring in fresh fruit and freshly baked bread and to do any necessary cooking. https://www.moonholecompany.com/mission-and-history
EXPLORING TOWN
With our guests Bill and Pauline, we set off to explore town.
Bequia has a really nice walkway that goes from town all the way to Lower Bay. It’s a longish walk, but plenty of places to stop along the way for rest, refreshments and swimming. We loved our lunch at Mango Restaurant, overlooking the water. That night, a quick stop at Bar One floating bar.
We also hired a tour truck and saw the Friendship Bay side of the island, with the whaling museum. We tried to stop at Firefly for lunch, but when we sat down and could not get any service, we knew it would be a 2 hour ordeal, so we went on our way.
Laundry service came to your boat! Very entrepreneurial!
Cocktail Lab was a favorite spot to hang out - only for drinks and light snacks.
After Bill and Pauline left, we woke the next morning to a western swell coming into the anchorage. Because the trade winds are always from East, this wreaks havoc in the anchorages, so we made a hasty exit and sailed further south. We did not know quite where we could find a safe anchorage, but it was better to be on the sea than anywhere else.
We ended up at Sandy Lane on Canouan Island - a very good choice.
TIMELINE:
0:00 Introduction
0:31 Sailing from St Vincent to Bequia
0:55 Moonhole Bequia
3:12 Exploring Town of Bequia
3:49 Bequia Walkway - Princess Margaret Beach, Lower Bay
7:03 Bar One
7:56 Bequia Tour
9:31 Good Bye Bill and Pauline
9:52 The Cocktail Lab
10:32 Big Swell - Hasty Exit
LINKS:
SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfh_pM48xnJ7dr4jTvt8cw?sub_confirmation=1
WEB SITE: https://bluedotvoyages.com
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/bluedotvoyages
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotvoyages.sailingpilar
COMPLETE PLAYLIST: SAILING & CRUISING VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz8Z8h1MloaPq2o05r6wnJqaqyeABUKiu
CATAMARAN MAINTENANCE VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz8Z8h1MloaOcpGajnaH0DPm1U0otTJtc
Blue Dot Voyages is a Sailing Adventure Company. We recently packed up our belongings, sold our house and moved on to our Leopard48 Sailing Catamaran PILAR, where we are traveling the world. We offer travel advice as well as boat maintenance tips. We offer charter sailing experience trips when we can. Watch our videos and live vicariously through us!
Master Captain: Stephen Bell
First Officer: Dawn Bell
EXPLORING BEQUIA - MOONHOLE AND THE EPIC WESTERN SWELL Locations
- Bequia (13.0117059,-61.2272312)
Sailing PILAR - Blue Dot Voyages
Sailing PILAR - Blue Dot Voyages is a Sailing channel sharing adventures of Dawn and Stephen Bell on SV PILAR, a 2015 Leopard 48 Catamaran Yacht. ⛵️Currently weekend and vacation voyagers, while we finish out the last years of our careers and prepare to sail around the world. ⛵️Sail extensively in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Georgia. ⛵️Sailed Grand Cayman, Cuba and BVI. ⛵️Offer sailing charters when we can that are longer travel opportunities where you learn to sail our catamaran! ⛵️We are not "Below Deck" drama, but focus on sailing fun, life on the water, boat maintenance, marine creatures, unique places and islands. Visit our Web Site Blog for more than videos. https://bluedotvoyages.com Follow Facebook for sailing opportunities. https://www.facebook.com/bluedotvoyages Follow Instagram for the best travel pics. https://www.instagram.com/bluedotvoyages.sailingpilar
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Note of Recognition for Sailing PILAR - Blue Dot Voyages
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Sailing PILAR - Blue Dot Voyages and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the video description of "EXPLORING BEQUIA - MOONHOLE AND THE EPIC WESTERN SWELL", or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Sailing PILAR - Blue Dot Voyages but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Sailing PILAR - Blue Dot Voyages or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
Sailing PILAR - Blue Dot Voyages Lastest Videos
Our 900 Mile 5 Day Sail – Charleston to Bermuda
On November 4, we left Bohicket Marina in Charleston and sailed to Bermuda. As the first leg of our journey, we covered over 900 miles in a mixture of headwinds, tailwinds, storms, and beautiful calm days. Joining us were Renata & Kevin, friends fro...
Balance Catamaran Sail Demos
Watch us raise 4 different sails on a Balance catamaran with our friends Paul and Meg.
Annapolis Boat show favorite. The GODU dinghy tender.
Listen to all the great features!
WHICH PERFORMANCE CATAMARAN ARE WE BUYING ? PART 2 – BALANCE, OUTREMER & CATANA OC COMPARED
Are we buying a new performance catamaran? What is the best blue water sail boat for us? This part 2 covers the Outremer and the Catana OC50 and OC2. AND we reveal our final choice. Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY0IaEpgkQs Part 2 - you are h...
ARE WE BUYING A NEW PERFORMANCE CATAMARAN? ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW TOURS – PART 1
Is it time for a Performance Catamaran? What is the best blue water sail boat for us? Come along with us as we explore 3 performance catamarans - Balance, Outremer and Catana OC50 at the Annapolis Boat Show and beyond! We give you the pros and cons (in ...
TOP TEN IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR LEOPARD CATAMARAN THIS SUMMER.
When we got back from the Bahamas June, we told you about a long list of projects that we wanted to get accomplished this summer. Here's the info on the top 10 accomplished , plus there were many more smaller things we won't mention. Questions? Drop us...
Sailing with 30 dolphins by Kiawah and Seabrook Island with friends! October 18, 2025
While sailing Saturday, we caught this dolphin pod and watched them for an hour! National Geographic would have loved this video opportunity! Tail slapping again and again - herding fish! Such an amazing thing to watch
What are the best ports while sailing MA & RI?
With summer ending faster than we would have liked, we sailed on through Massachusetts. There were too many possible stops to do everything we would have liked, so we chose: Gloucester, Marblehead/Salem, Cape Cod Canal and Cuttyhunk. Then on to Rhode Is...
TRUE CRIME: MURDER ON ISLES OF SHOALS | 16 ISLANDS
Sailing from Maine to New Hampshire we stopped at Isles of Shoals, approximately 6 miles off the coast. Miles of Maine Island Hiking, Rock scrambling and Shoreline exploring. Isles of Shoals, consists of 16 islands, the largest being Appledore, Star, Smu...
HOW TO USE A DINGHY HAUL OUT LINE FOR TIDAL ANCHORAGES – FALMOUTH | PORTLAND | FORT GORGES
In this video, we will show you how we went ashore in 12 ft tidal anchorages without getting in the cold water! It's called a Dinghy Haul Out line and we learned it at the first Maine island we visited - Jewell. We can not simply drag our dingy ashore wi...
MONHEGAN HIKING, 142 FT FOILING MONOHULL, HARPSWELL LOBSTERING, & 199K FOR MANANA ISLAND!
Monhegan Island & Harpswell - 9 miles of hiking trails, the highest ocean cliffs on the Maine coastline, a quaint village with shops, activities and lodging, seals, and a local lobster fleet. What more could you want on an isolated Maine island? Monh...
MATINICUS ISLAND MAINE SAILING – MASSIVE 12 FT TIDES CHALLENGE GOING ASHORE IN THIS LOBSTER TOWN
About 22 miles off shore Rockland Maine lies Matinicus Isle Plantation - the furthest island out from the coast. It is 2 miles long by a mile wide - 9 square miles of Beauty, Isolation, Independence. You need to love being alone. The population was 53 at...
BEST ANCHORAGES IN PENOBSCOT BAY: Rockland, Hurricane, Vinalhaven, Pulpit, The Barreds
Penobscot Bay Maine best sailing anchorages exceeded our expectations! Maine boasts more than 4,600 islands, each with its own mystery, its own story. The question was which ones we’d have time to explore. With the help of the Cruising Club of America we...
SAILING JEWELL ISLAND MAINE | EXPLORING WORLD WAR BUNKERS & TOWERS | CARETAKER’S CABIN LOBSTERS
Jewell Island Maine was exactly that - a jewel of a sailing anchorage. We explored World War bunkers and towers, spent an evening cooking lobsters with the Jewell Island caretaker, hiked the Maine Island trails, found Buoy Beach, Smugglers Cove and Pass, ...
SEGUIN ISLAND MAINE LOBSTER BOAT WEDDING IN THE FOG
Seguin Island Maine was our next stop, where we took photos of a sunrise wedding on a lobster boat, hiked the trails and toured the lighthouse with a rare fresnel lens still in operation. Our journey to Seguin Island from Jewell Island was just a short ...
HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE A SNAGGED LOBSTER POT FROM YOUR RUDDER SAILING TO MAINE
Sail with us from Nantucket to Richmond Island - near Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Learn how to safely release a lobster pot from your rudder. And we reveal a top hike - the Richmond Island perimeter trail. When we left Nantucket, we kept saying we were goin...
HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE A SNAGGED LOBSTER POT FROM YOUR RUDDER (SAILING – NANTUCKET TO PORTLAND MAINE)
Sail with us from Nantucket to Richmond Island - near Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Learn how to safely release a lobster pot from your rudder. And we reveal a top hike - the Richmond Island perimeter trail. When we left Nantucket, we kept saying we were goin...
DANGEROUS WAVES IN ROCKY DUNDAS CAVES – EXUMAS BAHAMAS
Waves in Caves! Dangerous combination on our exploration of the Rocky Dundas Caves in Exuma Bahamas. We couldn’t leave our Compass Cay anchorage without exploring Rocky Dundas. Two caves, that you can only enter underneath a rock ledge await explora...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.