Grenada here we come...

The 2026 Rumaway Southern Caribbean trip got underway on January 6 with a morning departure for Carriacou. I was joined by two great friends from Canada, Juan Carlos and Fred. We spent January 5 working nonstop to get the boat ready. There are always countless things to organize before a passage like this: equipment checks, safety gear, provisioning, loading personal gear, tools, spare parts, and on and on.

The forecast called for light winds and lots of motoring for our roughly 400-mile, three-day trip south. That turned out to be spot on. We motor-sailed for most of the first two days with a highlight being two pods of dolphins who joined during our sail. On day two the wind dropped to nothing, so we decided to do something you don’t get to do very often: we stopped in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and went for a deep-water swim.

By day three, the wind filled in just as forecast and we enjoyed an incredible sail for the final 24 hours. We arrived in Carriacou early in the morning, right on schedule. Immigration went smoothly until the key snapped off in the lock I use to secure the dinghy at the dock. I ended up stranded and had to hitch a ride with a fellow boater to track down a grinder and cut the lock off. Just another reminder that cruising always comes with a little adventure.

Once checked in, we headed around the corner to Sandy Island, where we enjoyed an amazing beach, great snorkeling, and beautiful views. That evening we went to Paradise Beach Club, widely known as one of the best restaurants in the area, and it absolutely lived up to its reputation. Allison, the owner, spent a lot of time with us sharing stories about her life on the island, which made the night even more special.

On January 10, we continued on to Grenada, where the delivery crew would depart and Sue, along with a couple from home, would join us on January 12. Before the crew left, we made sure to give them a proper tour of the island. Grenada may just be my favorite island in the Caribbean. The people are incredibly friendly, it feels very safe, the scenery is stunning, and it truly loves boaters. In just a three-hour tour we managed to visit a waterfall, see the rainforest, stop at a spice shop, and of course do some rum sampling.

Sue and crew arrive on January 12, and we have another island tour planned the following day before we begin our journey back up the islands. I hope you’ll join us as we explore nine countries and countless islands over the next three months.