Few things conjure up idyllic visions as clearly as the thought of a Caribbean sailing charter in the Grenadines. Isolated beaches, romantic moonlit evenings, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, walks, hikes, island explorations and island nightlife are but a handful of the possibilities available when you choose a sailing vacation to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Visit many islands or anchor by one; sit back and relax or take to the helm- the choice is yours.

The main island of St. Vincent, with its strong British heritage, is lush and volcanic with steep mountain ridges, valleys and waterfalls. Its eastern coastline is rugged and precipitous, while the west coast dips to black and gold beaches. The capital, Kingston, with its beautiful cathedral, oldest botanical gardens in the western hemisphere, and ruins of Fort Charlotte, serves the chain of islands. Its market is boisterous, colorful and not to be missed. Young Island is only 200 yards off St. Vincent, but the holiday cottage development there is said to be the nearest thing to paradise you can find. Bequia (Bek-way), 9 miles south, is a yachtsman’s haven.

Bequia retains many of the older traditions of boat building, hand harpoon whaling, and fishing. Admiralty Bay by Port Elizabeth provides ideal anchorages. The privately owned island of Mustique has long attracted the famous of the world including British Royalty and Mick Jagger. The island is surrounded by white sand beaches and coral reefs. The wreck of the French liner, Antilles, grounded in 1971, can be seen off the north shore. Canouan, largely undeveloped, claims some of the best powder white beaches in the Caribbean, and has excellent shallows for snorkeling. The only way to reach the tropical wonderland of Tobago Cays is by chartered yacht. Among the islets and coves are some of the most spectacular coral formations in the world where explorers can sail, snorkel and beach comb in complete seclusion. The privately owned island of Mayreau is rimmed by magnificent, undeveloped beaches, including the mile-long white sandy beach of Saline Bay. Salt Whistle Bay is a favorite of many sailors for its calmness. Mountainous Union Island is fringed by superb beaches. With some of the best sailing and diving waters in the western hemisphere, it is a popular stopover for yachtsmen visiting the other Grenadines. Flat, luxuriant Palm Island is not only a resort, but an entire island at your disposal. A 135-acre tropical paradise, it boasts 5 white sand beaches, graceful palm groves, and panoramic nature trails. The southernmost Grenadine governed by St. Vincent is Petit St. Vincent (PSV). Surrounded by white sandy beaches, this privately owned island offers the ultimate in luxury and seclusion.

Once you discover the alluring world of the breathtaking seascapes that make up St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and experience the flavor and color of local life, you will want to return again and again!

There is nothing quite like summer cruising on a crewed yacht in the beautiful location of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the Windward Islands. The islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines offer unparalleled beauty and many different options for your cruising pleasure. The snorkeling, diving and marine life paired with wonderful sailing in pristine blue water and un-crowded anchorages is truly a must see.

If you are planning a 7-night/8day charter, I recommend that you start your charter on the island of St. Vincent and end your charter in either Canouan or Union Island. This will enable you to see more islands without having to back track. Flights are readily available from St. Lucia and Barbados to St. Vincent. If you are able to do a 10-night/11 day charter, a great itinerary is to start in St. Vincent and end your charter in Grenada. On your sail from Carriacou to Grenada, you may sail past an underwater volcano named, Kick ‘Em Jenny. It is an incredible experience!

Saga Boy Too is a 57 foot catamaran that has been based in the Grenadines since it was built in 2005. With 3 queen cabins and a fourth cabin that has two twin beds, all with ensuite heads, it is a perfect yacht to explore the Grenadines on. Steve and Summer, your dedicated crew, consider the cruising grounds of the Grenadines their backyard. Whether you want a totally secluded anchorage or you want to explore the beautiful islands of Mustique or Bequia, they will be able to give you expert advice on the things that are a must see. You can see Saga Boy Too by: Clicking Here.

Another great yacht to explore the Grenadines on is an absolutely gorgeous 85 foot monohull named, Shaitan of Tortola. Do not let her name fool you. She is based year round out of the Grenadines, and your crew, Henri and Iris, call the Grenadines their home. They are very experienced in this cruising area. Shaitan is a beautiful yacht that was built as a luxury cruiser, and Henri takes great pride in her. Iris’s culinary skills are outstanding. Using only the freshest ingredients and local spices, she will excite your palate with an island flair menu designed around your likes and dislikes. Shaitan can take up to 10 guests with four roomy queen cabins and plenty of open deck space. To find out more about Shaitan of Tortola: Click Here.

If you have a smaller group, I have many other top-notch yachts that I can recommend that can accommodate as few as 2 guests on up to 12 guests. Whether you are heading to St. Vincent and the Grenadines or any other wonderful location in the Caribbean, I look forward to helping you plan your next sailing adventure.

Till next time, Smooth Sailing and Fair Winds!
Gail Hartman, Crewed Yacht Charter Specialist

The Grenadines is a large cruising area encompassing approximately 120 miles of the Windward islands, starting from the north, at St. Lucia, and ending in the south at Grenada. We consider this one gigantic playground for bareboats! Charters in the Grenadines can start from one of four islands: St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Canouan or Grenada. And, for an extended charter, you can even start in Martinique and sail south into the Grenadines. Though this area is not as popular as the well-known Virgin Islands, it is definitely just as lovely. Actually, one of the attractions to the Grenadines is that it is less visited. The sailing in the Grenadines can be slightly more challenging than sailing in the British Virgin Islands with a variety of open-water and shorter line-of-sight sails. Depending on your skill level, we can design a personal itinerary just for you. The Grenadines offer all the great qualities of an unforgettable charter: excellent snorkeling and diving, many picturesque palm-fringed beaches, delightful dining options and endless exploring opportunities. If you are looking for a new charter location, then the Grenadines is your spot!

FOXY’S Music Festival –BVI: March
It is always a party at Foxy’s, but it reaches a fever pitch each March with tons of Caribbean talent from local bands to established island performers. Of course, revelers can also enjoy a mouthwatering Caribbean BBQ, dancing and drink. The fun begins Friday afternoons and continues until dawn each night of the festival.

Curacao International Kite Season: March-April
The Curacao International Kite Season begins on March 4th, kicking off with workshops and small kite flying competitions in preparation for the first big contest on March 11th.

28th Annual Heineken Regatta-St. Maarten: March 6-9
With over 255 yachts participating, family cruisers mix with canting heeled maxis interspersed with sport boats. You can expect legendary entertainment in the form of outstanding musical shows.

St. Vincent Blues & Rhythm Festival: March 7-9
This annual festival sends out soulful and mellow tunes from the lush Emerald Valley Resort.

St. Kitts and Nevis Carino Health Spa Triathlon: March 16
This is an international triathlon. Athletes from all over the world come to Nevis to participate in the Olympic Distance or Sprint triathlon.

Grenada St. Patrick’s Day Festival: March 17
Each year, Grenada’s northern parish of St. Patrick celebrates the feast of St. Patrick with a week of activities. Events include art and craft exhibits, food, drink and cultural extravaganzas.

Bequia’s 27th Annual Easter Regatta: March 20-24
Bequia’s Regatta is rightly famous for its unique blend of local boat racing, yacht racing, and Bequian hospitality. A fleet of more than 30 traditional local boats (some no more than 12 feet long, others 28 feet in length) compete out on the sparkling waters of Bequia. At the same time, another 30 or more yachts race. It is a fabulous, colorful weekend full of fun, skill and tradition. Includes beach games, a crazy craft race, a sandcastle competition, model boat races, BBQs, music and revelry.

Grenada Annual Round the Island Easter Regatta: March 20-25
This regatta is establishing itself as a highlight on the Caribbean sailing calendar. Combining elements of traditional yachting and classic sailing with strong Easter breezes to provide 5 days of adventure at sea.

Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim: March 23
The 2.5 mile swim is across the channel between Nevis and St. Kitts. The start is at Oualie Beach on Nevis and the finish is at Cockleshell Bay on St. Kitts.

BVI Spring Regatta: March 31-April 6
Presented by Nanny Cay, the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival starts with a welcome party at Nanny Cay Marina. Three days of destination cruising and racing follow, leading up to the main 3-day regatta. It is an exciting format that allows participants to experience locations throughout the BVI.

St. Vincent Gospel Fest Month: April
Zonal showcase in music, song, dance, poetry and comedy. Also includes weekend concerts featuring international artists.

Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta: April 17-22
Hosting between 50-60 yachts, it is a wonderful variety of competitors, including traditional craft from the islands, sloops, schooners, yawls, J class yachts and tall ships. All of which makes for a wonderful spectacle of sails. The sailing is combined with plenty of rum, sunshine and great camaraderie in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere that places this regatta in a class by itself.

Antigua Sailing Week: April 27-May 3
Now one of the premier sailing regattas in the world, the Stanford Antigua Sailing week welcomes participants from all corners of the globe each year competing for the chance to win this prestigious race. Five challenging days of racing in some of the best sailing conditions in the world, combined with the famous Antiguan hospitality, make this a regatta not to be missed.

With its usually calm warm waters, steady trade winds and numerous sister islands within a line of sight, the Caribbean has long been a favorite spot for sailors. So, it is only fitting that there are a number of sailing regattas in the Caribbean, especially in the Spring. The diversity of organized sailboat regattas in the Caribbean is one thing that makes sailing in the islands so unique. Regattas of all types range from a “whatever floats race” (where crews bring their “boats” to the regattas, assemble them and set off sailing) to high level international match racing regattas and everything in between. Caribbean regattas attract some of the world’s best sailboat racers from the top-tier America’s Cup teams along with amateur sailors that are given a chance to sail with and against these well-known sailing personalities.

It is not uncommon for the various regattas to attract upwards of 250 yachts annually for each event. All types of racing classes are spread out on various racing courses from catamarans to 85 foot maxi racers. The charter boat fleets are also well represented, giving those that do not have their own yachts the opportunity to compete in these fabulous venues. Even wooden boats and vintage fiberglass yachts have a chance to test their skills against each other.

Aside from racing, there is a vibrant social scene that is part of a Caribbean regatta. There is plenty to do day and night, with great parties, live music, dancing, cultural displays and a variety of food and drink to choose from. If you are one that likes sailboat racing, whether watching from a spectator boat or actually joining in with a crew, the Caribbean is truly one of the finest places in the world to participate in a sailing regatta. For more information on regattas in the Caribbean, contact your Charter Broker at www.visailing.com.

I did a lot of fun things when I went on our family Caribbean sailing vacation, like learning to drive the dinghy myself and getting my hair braided. The thing that I liked the most was swimming every day. It was so much fun jumping off the boat into the nice warm water. Sometimes, my brother and I would even swim under our Catamaran between the pontoons.

But, my favorite thing to do in the water was to go snorkeling. I had so much fun swimming all around and seeing all of the different kinds of fish. Each snorkeling adventure was different from the previous trip. One of the coolest things I did while snorkeling was swimming along side a huge sea turtle. I almost touched it! It was such a great experience.

Another fun time I had on my Caribbean sailing vacation was going to a restaurant called Sydney’s Peace and Love on Jost Van Dyke. My whole family got to go behind the bar and make our own drinks. I made a wacky kiddy cocktail. It was the best one I’ve ever had.

One of the most memorable parts of my Caribbean sailing vacation was when we went to the Baths. It is on one end of the island called Virgin Gorda. It is full of huge rocks that you can climb on. There is a bunch of ropes to hang onto, tunnels to go through and steps to climb while wadding through a bunch of tidal pools and streams. Then, once you get through all of the rocks, there is a beautiful bay where you can swim and jump off the rocks. Going through the Baths is like creating your own scavenger hunt. If I could only visit one place in the British Virgin Islands, it would be the Baths. It is a place you do not want to miss.

I have been very lucky to travel to the BVI twice now, and both times it was an amazing experience. The Caribbean is so much fun; I could spend a lifetime there!

--Tori Mackman, age 11