We arrived at 7am to what looks like a flat, barren, industrial island. There are large petrochemical plants that have processed Venezuelan oil since the 1920's. We moored alongside a rusty old ferry in the working docks, to clear customs and immigration. Our agent Jerome, handled all of this and was very quick. We then moved to the marina in the capital of 'Oranjestad'. It is a cruise ship town and tourism is now the island's principle industry. We had a walk ...

We arrive at 'Harbour Town Marina', on the western lee side of this small island, next to the main town of 'Kralendik'. The island is flat and barren, only about 30 kms long and 7 wide. The population is about 17,000. It relies on scuba diving tourism for 90% of it's economy, with salt mining supplying the rest. The island is just north of Venezuela. There are coral beaches with very clear water. It is famous for off the beach scuba diving. We had quiet an ordea...

After 36 hours cruising with a gentle following sea from Tobago, we arrive at 8 AM to anchor at 'El Gran Roque', the only town of the 'Los Roques' archipelago. We understand there are about 50 small islands in the group. Most are unoccupied due to lack of water. On Gran Roque they make their own water by desalination and diesel power is generated. There is a permanent population of about 1300, with 70,000 visitors a year. It belongs to Venezuela. It has the sam...

At last we are on our way south. We intended to visit the Dutch ABC Islands which were about 400 Nautical miles SE, however, there was a hurricane forming in the Atlantic near Cape Verde Island. We had heard about the pirate history of Trinidad and Tobago, so we decide to go on the shorter journey of 90 miles south, to Tobago. We left Grenada at 4am with a moderate sea and light winds. We arrived at the beautiful large 'Man Of War Bay', anchoring in the north pa...

We fly from Barbados to Grenada to meet Blackpearl. Not without incident. At the airport an officious lady won't issue our boarding passes as we have no flight out of Grenada as we are leaving by boat. We explain to her we are meeting the boat but she won't accept this. After an hour waiting a the check in counter and supplying details of the boat and where it is docked, her supervisor allows us to go. We have booked into a trendy resort ' True Blue' where we rel...