Where should you go when the volcano blows?

Montserrat, Leeward Islands

Despite all the warnings of ash, sulfur smells and a pending eruption, we headed off to Montserrat. As has come to be the norm, the wind was stronger than forecast and we were sailing to weather again. The consensus is that this year has been a windier and cooler winter in the Caribbean. We are not complaining, although we would like to have some easier passages.

After anchoring in Little Bay, Montserrat and clearing customs, we hailed Joe Avalon who took us on a great tour of the island. Montserrat was devastated by the unexpected eruption of the volcano in 1995 and again when the dome collapsed in 2003. The capital in Plymouth and most of the South portion of the island is now off-limits and is covered in ash. If you look closely in the picture below you can see the church steeple sticking up through the ash.

The population is down from approximately to around 3,000 people, as many people left as part of a program to relocate to the UK. Despite the devastation, the people who remained are very proud of their island and are rebuilding there life in the North part of the island away from the volcano. As the ash, and sand wash down to the ocean, the island is growing. The beach and docks at Old Bay are now � mile inland and Montserrat has new land being created naturally.

As it turns out, the reports about Montserrat where far from accurate. We found the island to be beautiful and interesting. There was no ash raining down, the volcano has not erupted in quite awhile and the expectation is that it may be dormant again.