| Mirabella V 247 |  |
We cleared out of Carriacou (which along with neighboring Petit
Martinique constitutes the Grenada Grenadines) and headed for our next stop,
Petit St. Vincent (PSV), the first of the St. Vincent Grenadines. We stayed at
anchor and lunched at PSV while the captain ran Mirabella’s tender, a snazzy 29-foot Hinckley
center-console picnic boat, over to Union Island to clear everyone through
customs.
Top photo: Views of the sleepy island of Carriacou, which
belongs to Grenada. Bottom photo: In the Tobago Cays, we got a bird’s-eye view atop the rigging of
Mirabella’s toys—a laser sailboat, Hinckley
Picnic Boat and the tender pulling the donut. (Click images to enlarge)
Lunch on board was a full-tilt barbecue on the top deck with fajita-spiced
prawns, local snapper, lamb chops, myriad side salads and a caramelized
Grenadian rum pineapple with homemade pineapple sorbet. Life aboard
Mirabella V offers so much luxury, comfort and creativity that sometimes it seems
unnecessary to go ashore. But if there is a place to do so, it is
simple-yet-swanky Petit St. Vincent. The Petit St. Vincent Resort was one of the first whole-island
resorts in the Caribbean. Every room is an individual cottage, some with their
own private beach. Raise a yellow flag on your mailbox if you want room service;
an attendant in a Jeep will stop by. If you’re interested, you can borrow one of
owner Haze Richardson’s yellow labs during your stay.
Top photo: The hydraulic lift goes 150 feet up the mast, a great
vantage point. Bottom photo: A daring dive and back flip off the bow. (Click images to enlarge)
But we had kids aboard who wanted to take advantage of the wide
assortment of water toys in Mirabella V’s vast
garage. Bring on the laser sailboat, banana boat, donuts, kayaks, Jet Skis and
snorkeling gear! The aft swim platform provided easy access to the water. After
fun and games, the girls lolled about on the 21-foot foredeck swimming pool.
Those seeking less active pursuits can poach themselves in the large Jacuzzi or
try the hydraulic crow’s nest elevator that goes halfway up the mast—it’s a
great vantage point. In the evening, the crew rolls out the projector on the top
deck and a big screen offers you drive-in–style movie viewing under the
stars. Luciana Vittoria
designed Mirabella’s interior, with loose furniture, antiques and
oriental carpets to make her feel like a house rather than a boat. The vast main
salon is organized with convivial groupings of settees, armchairs and sofas. The
space includes a gaming table designed by Viscount David Linley, a bar and
formal dining for 20.
The immense owner’s suite, which includes a king-size bedroom,
study and lounge area, occupies the forward main-deck level. Six other guest
suites, each named after a gem, are on the lower level. Somewhat sadly, as we
were in the Caribbean, our group hardly used the interior space. All our repasts
were served alfresco. Breakfast was presented aft on the main deck. Like all the
meals, it was a visual treat: champagne glasses filled with perfect little
squares of mango and papaya, pineapple and kiwi; yogurt and homemade muesli; and
arrays of fresh-baked breads and croissants. Go healthy or hearty, with a
talented chef aboard you can have what you want, when you want.
Top left photo: One of the fabulous villas available for rent in Mustique.
Top right photo: The
crew patiently taught the teenagers how to drive the tender.
Bottom left photo: It is not often
that a sailing yacht has a swimming pool on deck!
Bottom right photo: Who needs a villa on Mustique?
A small gingerbread shop near the boat dock.
(Click images to enlarge) | |  |  |
From the Tobago Cays we sailed up to Mustique, a celebrity enclave surrounded
by reefs bathed in spectacular shades of turquoise, azure and cerulean blue.
Jeannette Cadeau, manager of villa rentals on Mustique, is an old friend, so she
gave us a tour of the fabulous villas in architectural styles from gingerbread
to Mexican palapa to minimalist to Moorish. These homes come equipped with staff,
swimming pools and exquisite views—but they can’t move. Back on Mirabella V we set sail for Bequia.
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