My second major Caribbean regatta was the Grenada Sailing Week. The week is actually split into two parts - that's because Grenada isn't a single island, but also includes half of the world famous (to sailors at any rate) Grenadines - a series of small islands, some inhabited, some not, spreading north towards St Vincent.

Of these Carriacou is the largest and has a fantastic anchorage in Tyrell Bay, with room for maybe 100 boats at anchor, including a few sad reminders of hurricane Beryl. Luckily for visitors, we didn't race until we had been given a tour of the island, followed by a great lunch, all courtesy of the event sponsors, including the Pure Grenada Sailing Week and interCaribbean airline.

The first race was a passage race round Carriacou, multihulls started first, the raciest monohulls last, 15 minutes later. Ben and partner Stephanie had joined us for the week, and it was great to have some youthful energy on board!

The outlying reefs meant the ocean swells were non existent, so we had just a 25 knot, wind blown chop; once again Robbie's local knowledge helped, and we tacked in behind some small islands to get out of the west setting current and into smoother water.

Apart from a few modern black-sailed race boats, the beautifully maintained 95year old 65ft Blue Peter and, even older, the 1899 built 70ft Galetea, gave us great competition as we beat to windward to the northern corner. Bearing off onto a broad reach, we were pleased to keep up with the spinnaker powered 46ft Panacea and 43ft Jaguar.

Then, as expected, at the next corner the reach became a run and sadly more boats overtook. Maybe it was time for more bread making, this time with an attentive pupil!

As we beat back to the finish line we saw the unmistakable Black Pearl sailing down towards us. At 350ft long, it's the world's second largest sailing yacht. And one you can charter for a mere USD1.2 million a week.

Next day was a 40 mile passage race. Slow boats headed straight for Grenada, while the faster boats (including the multihulls) first had a beat to a turning mark (actually a small cay) followed by a run back to the start and then a close reach to Grenada.

Mid way between Carriacou and Grenada the race was enlivened by a big squall, winds up over 30 and a lot of rain. The 79ft Kialoa was down to lee and just couldn't pull past us - a boat I had last raced against during it's IOR heyday, back in 1979. Despite their weight and stability they had to "rag" their sails to stay upright.

As before the race turned into a light wind run for the last 10 miles, and that was the only time in 2 weeks racing that we really, really, missed a spinnaker.

The regatta finished with two days of short round-the-cans races off the southern shore of Grenada. Jetti joined us for the first couple, held in far more wind than forecast. Which was a real challenge for race committee and competitors alike.

Especially after one of the turning marks started dragging and was 2 miles out of position before the fleet tried to round it. Much confusion and long delays/protests while a replacement mark boat was despatched.

The final race finished on a very short, heavily port biased line in front of the main beach hotels. Lots of shouting as a group of us tried to cross the line on starboard - few making it. Not sure that the swimmers knew what was going on, but they would have heard us!

And finally back into St Georges harbour, which I'd left nearly 3 weeks earlier, and possibly the best natural harbour in the southern West Indies.

As I write this there have been three events in this year's Windies Multihull Trophy series, and Robbie is currently leading on points.