Saturday, August 4th, Tobago

Early this week, the models indicated that the next tropical depression/storm/hurricane might pass right through Grenada.

For a start, this cancelled Pete’s races at the Carriacou Regatta (which was a disappointment but certainly a prudent decision by Dieter, the race skipper).

This news also prompted much discussion both on On Delay and across the cruisers’ net in Grenada. We watched the updates from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and took heart as each update indicated more strongly that the storm would pass to the north.

An example NOAA plot. This is Ernesto on Saturday morning.

On Delay decided to make a run for Tobago. The weather files indicated that winds and rain would be stronger in Grenada than in Tobago and that leaving Thursday night would give us time to arrive in Tobago before Ernesto’s rain and winds passed by.

This plan worked. We left Grenada at 5 pm and sailed most of the night (motoring for the last few hours) to drop anchor in Store Bay, Tobago in daylight. When the heavy rains from Ernesto began, Pete, Tony and Andy were already on their way to check-in in the capital, Scarborough, about 40 minutes drive away. Jane, still on the boat, closed the hatches and put out buckets to capture the rain water. Pete had done an excellent job choosing our anchorage — it was well protected from the storm — we saw rain but little wind.

Happily, the rain subsided when Pete came back in the dinghy to collect Jane and Gayle. The immigration officials needed to see us all! In the end, it took most of the day to check in, much bureaucracy and a good deal of carbon paper.

This is my only picture of day, taken waiting in the rain outside the customs office while the skipper was inside filling out forms.