Exody - Days 425-432: Circumnavigation, second place, new crew, fireworks.

The firework display from Calivigny Island was an unexpected bonus last night ,Saturday 19th March, seen over Hog Island from our anchorage on the west side in Mt Hartman Bay on the South Coast of Grenada. Breaking in our new crew Pete and Sally with some short hops exploring this delightful part of Grenada before heading north toward St Lucia.

We had arrived in the smart Port Louis marina at St George's following Makena in and sailing all the way to the finish line a week ago today on Sunday 13th. The last night of the leg from Brazil was a gentle sail with Makena in sight, my brother Martin seeing her orange chute passing St David's Harbour. He is there from Union Island hauling one of his several good ships, Satori. We took just over 10 days for the 1700 miles and, with an average of 1.25 knots current, we had 300 miles for free.

Exody was last in Port Louis in December 2014 so this completed our circumnavigation.

We were soon sorted with lunch at the Victory bar, laundry submitted, customs and immigration completed just before their 14.00 weekend closure. Here we met an Italian guy amazingly doing ocean passages on a jet ski, just in from Trinidad. Collecting Guinness Book of Records accolades and promoting good causes in remote places at the same time!

Monday 14th we hired a car for lunch rendezvous with Martin at the beach bar in St David's Harbour. We last saw Martin when he left us in Panama February 2015, so great to see him again, this time patching concrete hull repairs on Satori. St David's the easternmost of several large yards along this beautiful coast of multiple protected fjords.

At True Blue resort in the evening we met joining crew, Pete and Sally fresh in from UK for three nights on shore before boarding. Also amazingly bumped into a work colleague from Scotland, Martin Kerr with his wife - in Grenada indulging their hobby on a photographic/diving mission.

The week soon went by with a visit to the quaint town of St George's - highlights being the colourful fishing fleet, rotis at the Nutmeg restaurant and treats at the newly opened Chocolate House. A day of boat jobs for us next whilst Pete and Sally circumnavigated the island by car, followed by an evening reception with lobster dinner at the Yacht Club. The World ARC tour Thursday took us to the Concord waterfall for a swim, the Grand Etang lake and a historic spice production estate. At the Friday World ARC reception round the Port Louis pool and between rain showers we were pleased to win second place on the last leg and enjoyed a great local meal.

We left Saturday lunchtime beating upwind under reefed genny alone and against the current, laying the entrance to Mt Hartman Bay and the busy anchorage to the west of Hog Island - 60 boats I counted. Crew enjoying sea baths in the morning, we moved around to Saga Cove on the east side of Hog Island to find a snorkelling spot.

For Sunday night we anchored off the bijou Whisper Cove Marina meeting up with Scot - Matt on 'Superted V' - for welcoming drinks aboard. Last met in East London, he and his wife have just completed a 7 year circumnavigation. Nearby at the marina another Scottish boat 'Nae Hassle' and we saw a Stornoway based boat in Saga Cove- a small world!

Peter (Skipper)