Our Boat Trip on Grenada, West Indies

Jo Sparkes

We were in Grenada West Indies, where my husband was studying Medicine, and one day a lecturer at St George's University took us out on his boat. It was gloriously hot as usual, until a tropical storm blew up. I went down to the cabin with my youngest daughter Penny who was 2 yrs old, and my oldest daughter Jenny, 5 stayed up on deck with my husband Alan, and our host Dr Ellison. I was feeling really sick, and utterly wretched, and my little daughter was crying and I tried to comfort her. The toilet was overflowing onto the floor and I had to keep pumping it out. When I ventured up to the deck again the waves were inky black and 20 feet high, and the wind was blowing a real gale. I was desperately frightened, but what amazed me then and afterwards, was that Jenny was thoroughly enjoying herself. I have never felt so utterly miserable, and seasick, and I thought we were all going to die. The storm was horrendous, and though my husband Alan didn't reveal this to me at the time, he too thought he might have to abandon the boat, and we would all have to take our chances in the sea. The reefs were all along the sea where we were, and we all so lucky we didn't capsize. Dr Ellison at the helm was like a man possessed, and I don't think it even occurred to him that we might not make it. But luckily we did make it, and I have never been so relieved to reach dry land again.

Mrs Ellison made us hot soup, and that has to have been the best meal I have ever had. Of course the boat trip made a jolly good story for my daughter to tell her friends. I'm just grateful we got home in one piece. The Caribbean is beautiful, but the seas can be treacherous at times.