Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - December 2021

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LOOK OUT FOR…The Mighty Moringaby Lynn KaakEvery month in the Caribbean there’s something special to look out for.Moringa oleifera, or plain Moringa in most places, is also known as the Drumstickor Horse Radish Tree in some parts of the world. It has spread out from its nativeIndia over the years.It is a toss-up whether the seed-bearing pods or the flowers are the mostrecognizable part of the tree. Since they often coexist on the tree during the year,maybe it is the combination that stands out.DECEMBER 2021 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 32The delicate white flowers grow in a long drooping stalkthat can be from ten to 25 centimetres in length. The flowersdon’t present as a symmetrical bloom, but rather the fiveyellowish-white petals tend to curl and let gravity pull themdown. They are extremely fragrant, which attracts pollinatorsand humans. In areas with a cooler season, the trees maypresent flowers once a year, but here in the Caribbean wecan see them twice a year, if not all year around.The pods, or fruit, are long and narrow. With a diameter ofone centimetre and a length from 20 to 45 centimetres, itisn’t hard to figure out where the name “Drumstick Tree”comes from. The pods are full of small seeds, each seed having three papery little wingsto aid in wind assisted dissipation. The pods start out as green, but mature and dry tobrown. They act as one of Mother Nature’s wind chimes.The tree itself will grow to a height of ten to 12 metres, but trees are often cut backfor commercial purposes or purely for esthetics if they are part of a garden. The barkis a light grey colour, except on the new shoots where it can be purplish or greenish.The tree branches out to a decent crown, but the branches are not very strong andprone to drooping and breaking. With a trunk that is about 45 centimetres indiameter, it stands to reason that the branches are not going to be massive, either.The leaves lend a frilly, light look to the landscape, as they are small. They tend tofan out much like a fern does. The tree loves the full sun, and its plentiful leavesmake it a pretty good place to hide out from the heat.Please don’t think that this is just a pretty face, though. The roots, leaves,immature pods and flowers are all edible. The seeds are a rich source of oil. Thesetrees are commercially grown for a number of purposes. The name Horse RadishTree alludes to the similar taste that one gets from the roots.The leaves are a rich source of many nutrients, and can be cooked and used muchlike spinach. The green pods are often used in curries in Asia. The roots, asmentioned, are also quite edible. There are plans to use the Moringa tree to fightmalnutrition in some places. It isn’t yet part of the culinary repertoire in theCaribbean, but it easily could be.Moringa is used in some parts of the Caribbean for traditional medicinal purposes.It is supposed to be good for helping control diabetes, and studies are being done forother uses. It is a common ingredient in bush tea.An interesting use for Moringa seeds is for water purification. After the seeds arepressed for their oil, the seed cakes can be placed in water to help draw outimpurities and toxins. This is reportedly a natural way to create safe drinking water.You will find Moringa trees in yards and gardens throughout the Caribbean,particularly in the more arid regions.
Letter ofthe MonthHELP US FIND QUINN!Dear Compass readers,We are family of four from Poland — Ania (age 5), Stasiu (8), Gosia and Krisu — sailing around the Caribbeanon our Leopard 45, S/Y Rybka. A couple of years ago we decided to sell everything and we bought a boat, wherewe have lived for two years non-stop so far. We sail, we explore places, we do home-schooling and enjoy our familytime on the boat.Last year Stasiu found a real letter in a bottle floating near where we were anchored close to Cockburn Town,San Salvador Island, Bahamas.It was written by a young boy named Quinn and sent from Rancocas Friends School, New Jersey, USA.Headmistress Nora Dunfee had the idea for the kids to send messages in bottles to learn about winds and currents.We found an article about the school’s message-in-a-bottle project in Echoes of LBI magazine: https://echoesoflbi.com/annual-trip-to-barnegat-lightThe bottle Stasiu found had been in the water for four years! From New Jersey to San Salvador in theBahamas there is no way to float straight — there are the Gulfstream and other currents — so we think thebottle might have drifted far away to the Azores or even close to Canary Islands and then came to the Bahamaswith the tradewinds.Stasiu and Ania were and still are so excited about this message in a bottle. We have tried to find out more sowe could contact the boy who sent it. I wrote to Echoes of LBI and they put our story in the magazine, but it didn’tresult in contact with Quinn or his parents. We also were so sorry to find out that Nora Dunfee passed away andthe school is not running any more. It’s very difficult to find Quinn now.It would be great to find Quinn or to have any news from you if you can help. Maybe we will find him!Best regards,Gosia and familysyrybka@gmail.comwww.facebook.com/syRybkawww.syrybka.plwww.youtube.com/c/syRybkaLeopard45The NightBefore Christmas’Twas the night before Christmas, I swung on the hookFlaked out on the settee, asleep with my bookWhen up on the deck I heard footsteps and stuff“I’ve been boarded!” I thought, and I tried to be tough.Then down the companionway hatch came a dude;He was dressed like a nut and I thought, “I’m so screwed.”But he laughed and he hummed as he surveyed my junkSo I figured he must be the resident drunk.His eyes were lit up like a junkie on speedBut he gave me a whole bunch of stuff that I need,Like rum and cigars and new charts and a dinghyAnd some kind of fancy electrical thingy.I thought it was stolen but I wasn’t telling,I hoped he was giving and wasn’t just sellingAnd I poured him a grog, which he downed with a winkThen I poured one for me (I sure needed a drink!).Then he staggered above to the dark tropic night.As I peeked I beheld an incredible sight —Eight tiny dolphins and a beautiful sleighAnd the dude hopped aboard and prepared to make way.IslandPoetsStock Upon the widest selection and thebest prices in Grenada at our twoconveniently located supermarkets.Whether it’s canned goods, dairyproducts, meat, fresh vegetablesor fruits, toiletries, household goods,or a fine selection of liquor and wine,The Food Fair has it all and a lot more.Hubbard’sJONAS BROWNE & HUBBARD (G’da.) Ltd.The Carenage:Monday - Thursday8 am to 5:30 pmFriday until 8:45 pmSaturday until1:00 pmTel: (473) 440-2588Grand Anse:Monday - Thursday9 am to 5:30 pmFriday & Saturdayuntil 7:00 pmTel: (473) 444-4573Click here to read a sample or to order:https://amzn.to/2ZaLfzwDECEMBER 2021 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 33The dolphins were ready to power the sledBut the guy raised a genny and mains’l instead.With a burp and a chuckle he gathered the breezeAnd called to the dolphins, now swimming with ease:“On Fatty and Foxy and Old Barracuda!On Teva and Mountgay, Antigua, Barbuda!Or whatever your names are, you cute little fishes,Here’s to every last sailor, my best Christmas wishes!”As he sailed away leaving a wobbly wakeI hoped he had not many stops left to make.He got close to shore and he soon was agroundBut the dolphins proceeded to pull him aroundAnd I heard him exclaim as he sailed out of sight“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!”— Cruiser ClausEditor’s note: We don’t know who originally wrote this poem that’s been doing the rounds anonymouslyfor a while, but we’ve published it regularly in our December issue by popular demand and it’s becomea tradition!Read inNext Month’sCompass:2022 Annual Calendarof Caribbean EventsUp-to-Date Online Weather SourcesThe ARC+ Arrives in Grenada… and much, much more.Pick up a print copy or read it online atwww.caribbeancompass.com
Page 1 and 2: C A R I B B E A NOn-lineC MPASSDECE
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Page 5 and 6: Info & UpdatesNew Moorings at Molin
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Page 15 and 16: CRUISES WITHIN BORDERSLet’s Dothe
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Page 35 and 36: CALENDARDECEMBER 20214 - 5 La Cours
Page 37 and 38: Caribbean Compass Market PlaceTrini
Page 39 and 40: A World of Calm AwaitsGREAT DEALS A

Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - December 2021

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