Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine September 2016

IF
St. George’s is the business and cultural
hub of Grenada, then Grenville
is its more practical older brother.
Serving most country folk well away
from the tourist areas, its narrow streets and colonial
buildings are testament to its history as Grenada’s
second seaport. The well-protected east-facing harbour
was once the trading hub of the island, and after
air travel became popular, Pearls Airport was built just
north of the town center. Replaced by the larger
Maurice Bishop International Airport at Point Salines
in 1985, the old coastal airstrip is now occupied by
various livestock grazing among the few remaining
concrete buildings and Air Cuba prop planes.
Grenville lies on the island’s east coast, a good harbor
for skilled reef navigators who want a truly local
experience. It is a port of entry, though not too many
yachts are likely to clear here. Within Grenville most
basic services are easily found, grocery stores are well
stocked, and restaurants serve up hefty portions of
local fare.
Navigation
With the wind and sea pushing you in, it’s an
entrance where you can really get in trouble should
something go wrong. If you are coming from the north
you can pass inside or outside Telescope Rock.
Approach only in the morning with the sun behind
you. The entrance is a narrow passage between two
reefs that are shallow enough to get you in trouble, but
deep enough you cannot easily see them. If the buoys
are in place it is simple, but they are sometimes missing.
Leaving Grenville is best in the afternoon, with the
sun behind.
The alignment of the church over the buildings
below it can be helpful; the photo was taken at the
Grenville:
GRENADA’S
SECOND CITY
by Lexi Fisher
Caption
DESTINATIONS
SEPTEMBER 2016 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 30
CHRIS DOYLE
outer entrance, The channel is over 30 feet deep and
the reefs at the entrance are eight to 14 feet, breaking
in heavy weather; a shallow reef patch lies on the
north side, just inside.
Once in the channel, the shallow water is more visible
and you should be able to spot the rather nondescript
beacon well ahead that marks the beginning of
the Luffing Channel. The beacon is on the shoal, not
in deep water. Round it, turning to starboard. You
should be able to eyeball the shallows here, but with
luck the inner buoys will be in place. Both are red, but
one has a green top. Pass between them and anchor in
the basin, leaving plenty of room for any vessels using
the main docks.
Above: At the outer entrance, the church steeple lines up
with the road below it and the left edge of the right-hand
window on the big light-colored building — approximately!
Left: Buoys go missing from time to time, so use eyeball
navigation in good light
Boats used to sail in and out of this harbor, so it can
be done, but I don’t advise it till you know it well.
There is no dinghy dock and the fishing dock is busy,
though fine for a drop-off or quick stop. If you want to
lock up and leave your dinghy, beaching it north of the
fishing dock and locking it to whatever is convenient
would be a good option.
Ashore
For internet access, Computer Visioneers is air conditioned
and also offers printing, faxing, and scanning
services. Find them on the second story of the
Grenlec building, on the street north of the Spice
Market. The FedEx office is in Rhamdanny & Co, next
to Good Food. Most bars and restaurants provide free
WiFi for patrons.
As for provisioning, there are a few fair-sized grocery
stores in town. Kalico, at the north end just before the
main roads merge, carries a good selection of groceries,
toiletries, some hardware and appliances. They are
open from 0800 until 2000 Monday through Thursday,
until 2100 on Friday and Saturday, and 1300 on
Sunday. If you’re doing early-morning provisioning,
Andall’s at the opposite end of town carries similar
stock and opens at 0700 daily.
Besides at street-side vendors, fresh produce and
spices can be found in the main building of the Spice
& Craft Market in the middle of town. The Marketing
Board (MNIB) also sells produce, both local and
imported, liquor, and frozen meats and fish.
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