May 2009 - Caribbean Compass

— Continued from previous page
We anchored in the harbor and were initially not
very impressed. Compared to many of the other ports
we had recently visited, it was not terribly scenic and
the shoreline was littered with big marinas and commercial
docks.
We took the dinghy to Sun Bay Marina and found a
place to dock it. As we were tying it up, a woman from
the nearby office called us over and introduced herself
as Olga. We assumed she was going to tell us we
couldn’t leave the dinghy there. Actually she wanted to
let us know that we could leave the dinghy there if we
A warm welcome awaits you and your yacht at Port Louis
Port Louis, Grenada
Nowhere extends a warmer welcome than Port Louis, Grenada. Visitors can expect
powder-white beaches, rainforests, spice plantations and a calendar packed with
regattas and festivals. Grenada is also the gateway to the Grenadines, one of the
world’s most beautiful and unspoilt cruising areas.
Now there’s another good reason to visit. There are 50 new fully serviced slips for yachts
of all sizes up to 90m available right now for sale or rental.
Sitting alongside the marina, the forthcoming Port Louis Maritime Village will include luxury
hotels, villas, restaurants and bars, plus some of the finest boutiques and shops in the region.
ITALY | MALTA | TURKEY | WEST INDIES
wanted to, but we could also go to a nearby lower dock
within the marina so we wouldn’t have to climb over
the high seawall. Even though we were not customers
at the marina, Olga was more than happy to help with
our many questions about where to go for provisioning,
marine stores, and all the other cruising essentials.
As we walked out of the office, she told us that
she would make sure the marina’s security guards
watched the dinghy while we were gone.
Once back at the boat we couldn’t resist moving into
Sun Bay Marina, something we very rarely do, since
the rates were so low and Olga so helpful.
While onboard the boat at the dock the next day, we
were approached by a man named Michael who runs
Caribbean Sailing School out of the same marina. He
had noticed us sail into the harbor a few days before
and was curious about the Beneteau 57, so we invited
him aboard. He was impressed with the boat and
asked if he could come back later with his wife. Around
cocktail hour he came back with his wife, along with
two friends. It was time for a party! The six of us had a
great time and by the end of the evening, a whole new
social circle had adopted Splendido’s owner and me.
During the next few days, we visited our new friends
almost every day. We went out to dinner with them and
even were invited several times to their beautiful home
on Isleta Marina, an island within Fajardo’s harbor. We
felt like we had instantly become part of their family,
although we had only met these people days before.
Left: Michael (at right) and I at the gate to Villa Pesquera —
our new friends there made us a copy of the key
Below: Partying with more new Puerto Rican friends at
Fajardo. We’ll be back!
Despite my initial concerns, Puerto Rico’s locals are
friendlier than those on almost any other island I have
visited. This island should be viewed as a gem of the
Caribbean. In both San Juan and Fajardo, our initial
impression of the area was poor but we were quickly
proven wrong once we met the wonderful residents. The
Puerto Ricans impressed us over and over again and I
would recommend to anybody that they visit this fantastic
island. Remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Limited availability
Slips are available for sale or rental. For a private consultation to discuss
the advantages of slip ownership, please contact our International Sales Manager,
Anna Tabone, on +356 2248 0000 or email anna.tabone@cnmarinas.com
To fully appreciate this rare opportunity, we highly recommend a visit. To arrange an
on-site meeting please contact our Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator, Danny Donelan
on +1(473) 435 7432 or email danny.donelan@cnportlouismarina.com
MAY 2009 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 21