Seriously tempted

[mike_bryon]

My wife has been offered a job on a small island in the south of the Grenadines which comes with a visa and school places. We would live aboard all year.

The offer means that we could quit the euro zone (we are also looking at Turkey). We would leave July to take up employment mid December and be there two or three years. Although it is below the usual hurricane route we would have to keep a weatherly eye and if possible move if another Ivan is forecast. We do not expect to be able to arrange anything beyond third party insurance.

Is this a viable plan or are we mad to think of remaining in the south of the Grenadines for the next few hurricane seasons.

All sober advice is very welcome

 

[TigaWave]

Many people do (or did when I was last there) and just make a dash for Trinidad if the storms look like they'll be heading your way, it's only a days sail to Chaguaramas.

I'd love to live there for a few years, that was my plan on the last trip but for one reason or another I ended up coming back to Plymouth

 

[bob234]

Hi,

I took up a job in Barbados for one year which became two in 2002-2004. Returned to UK and moved on board. We learnt from our time in Barbados that English/European winters are not compulsory and after a couple of cold winters on board (which we still enjoyed though) we sold our house in the UK and bought a small 2 bedroom place in Barbados. We currently cruise the Med in summer and spend the winters in Barbados.

Yo will find you will get 'island fever' after a while and need to get away, either by plane or by boat - but you would be ideally placed for that as a liveaboard.

I made some insurance enquiries a few years ago whilst in St Lucia on a trip and all year round insurance was available at that time - I'm afraid I don't know if it is currently.

The Moorings have a base in Canouan in the Grenadines and if they move their boats because of a hurricane threat it would be time to move yours! The information flow and arrangements would be easy to access. In any case I understand that hurricane arrangements in the south of Grenada are much improved since Ivan in late 2004 after a lot of input from insurance companies.

Some adjustment is needed to living, as opposed to holidaying, in the Caribbean. The laid back atmosphere and attitude which is charming on holiday can be somewhat frustrating when you live and work there but you learn how to get things done. Forget timetables though - they can only be regarded as a hint. It was explained to me that 'a 10 o'clock meeting' means 'it will not be starting before 10' after I was the only one there and the meeting started about half an hour later. It might be different where you are planning to be.

Whilst the job I went to wasn't satisfying we don't regret the experience at all. The whole thing about working in a place you normally associate with holidays is fascinating and the cultural experience is wonderful. I would find out what you can about the schooling first though.

In short I don't think you are mad to contemplate living throughout the year during and outside the hurricane seasons. It would be a tremendous experience for you and your children if you are happy to absorb the culture - the hurricane threat to your 'home' is manageable.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Bajansailor]

I am guessing that this job is perhaps on Petit Martinique or Carriacou?
Both nice wee islands, but you will want to escape occasionally - but you have sails, can travel, no worries there!
There is a regular ferry service to Grenada, and a lot of school kids go on it every day to school in St Georges.

Re boat insurance, you should easily be able to get full insurance, not just 3rd party. Although it will probably cost a bit more than say if the boat was in Europe, as hurricanes like Ivan seem to have put the combined fear of Neptune and Aeolus into the insurance companies - the premium on our boat with a deductible and 'named skippers' is about 2.5% with United Insurance here.

Generally the hurricane tracking and predictions are very good - although they did get it a bit wrong with Ivan, confidently predicting that he would go over Barbados and St Vincent - instead, he stayed south, and clobbered Grenada.
But saying that, Ivan was the first hurricane that Grenada has had since 1955, and altho we have had the odd tail end of hurricanes here over the years, they have not usually been any worse than a winter gale in England.

 

[bob234]

Hi Martin,

I know it's thread drift, but I really must come over and try to find you sometime!

Cheers,

Bob

 

[mike_bryon]

Thanks so much guys for such helpful and considered relies. After two interviews my wife is to spend a week in the job in April. Then it’s decision time. Your replies have helped us resolve some issues that would be difficult to answer on the visit.

It’s a long way to go for work! But the visa will mean we can have our cake and eat it. We are trying to achieve both the cruising life and a reasonably stable education for the children. So many countries (understandably) restrict a visit to just six or even three months.

If we decide to go and (they still want us) with your permission we may send some PM’s asking further questions. We will have a lot to sort out and prepare.

It’s all very exciting.

 

[bob234]

Mike,

Sent you a brief PM

Bob