Our boat was tucked snugly into our lovely slip in Grenada when the news hit: Hurricane Beryl was headed our way. Having just arrived in Grenada after a long trip back to the U.S., we were not quite up for an overnight passage, but we decided to err on the side of caution and make a run for Trinidad.
When we told locals we were heading south, they were a bit surprised and disapproving: “It will be fine! Just some winds. We’ve been through it before,” they scoffed.
As we were preparing to leave, we were advised to file a float plan and message a man in Trinidad by the name of Jesse James. I messaged him, and he connected me to a WhatsApp group of cruisers like us.
Then off into the night we went.
We left just after dusk and actively reminded ourselves of our nighttime protocols (we were a bit rusty since we had been off of the boat for a month and a half). Sadly, this passage was a difficult one. We never get seasick, but due to a number of factors, this time, Roy did. We had a lot busier time managing boat systems this time than in the past. And by the time we arrived 13 hours later, neither of us had slept much, and we were both exhausted.
After dropping anchor in Chagauramas, we headed straight to the office of MSATT, where volunteer operations were being organized. We were literally first in line and immediately began our customs and immigrations clear-in process. The volunteerism around us was impressive, to say the least, as people jumped in to help newly arriving cruisers navigate the required paperwork (and trust me—it was a lot). Over the next few days, boats continued to pour in—hundreds of them well into the night. Despite being overwhelmed with the influx of visiting boats, the government of Trinidad and Tobago made the decision to waive certain fees for cruisers and to allow “force majeure” leniencies. Well done, T&T!
Hurricane Beryl Approaches
With so many boats in the anchorage and particularly deep anchoring conditions, we were all nervous as the hurricane approached. Luckily, in the end, all we saw was some strong winds and rain, and nothing too dramatic.
We all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
After Beryl made landfall in Carriacou, us cruisers in Trinidad shifted our attention to the friends and hosts at the lovely places we had just visited (namely, Grenada, Carricaou, Union Island, and Mayreau). Those islands weren’t so lucky.
Cruisers Jump In to Help Hurricane Beryl Victims
A group of volunteers quickly emerged to arrange the transport of relief supplies to these islands via private cruising boats, and we enthusiastically joined in. Where we were located (Chagauramas, Trinindad), an Operations Center was established at a donated space within Power Boats Marina, and Roy and I started manning it.
Our small crew started working 12-hour days: accepting incoming donations, loading up delivery boats, and organizing relief supplies. It was exhausting but so rewarding!
Local Organizations Make Large Donations in Response to Hurricane Beryl
due to Jesse James’ strong connections within the Trinidad community.
Throughout this time, heroes emerged. First and foremost was Jesse James. A Trinidad businessman, Jesse has been supporting the cruiser community in Trinidad for years, mostly in a volunteer capacity. I quickly learned that this extraordinary man has a heart of gold. He reached deep into his contacts to secure donations, organize local points of contact, and assemble much-needed food and hardware kits. He worked tirelessly alongside us under the mantra: “failure is not an option.”
Then boat owners started signing up to become delivery boats, willingly allowing us to load their meticulously maintained boats down with supplies and volunteering to take them wherever needed. In most cases, this meant dramatically altering whatever plans they already had in place.
Delivery Boats Get Loaded
The clock was ticking, and we knew we needed to get supplies to the islands quickly, so boats started heading off as fast as we could load them.
These were just a few of the examples of cruisers who jumped in to help while in Trinidad. And through it all, they asked for nothing in return.
Hurricane Beryl Relief Supplies Reach Those Who Need Them
In the end, our small-but-determined crew loaded up 24 boats with many thousands of pounds of food, clothing, tools, water, and other essential supplies.
And although Beryl took an immense toll—ravaging islands, flattening homes, and even claiming lives—it also gave something. It gave me a strong appreciation for the good that lies within us and the people willing to step up selflessly in times of need.
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