A fruity rum drink is calling your name from the deck of a crewed charter yacht. Consider this your step-by-step, island-by-island Caribbean guide to fun on the high seas.
Warm waters, sheltered coves, consistent winds, and a seemingly endless array of islands-the Caribbean was made to be sailed. But that doesn’t mean all parts were created equal, which is why sailors tend to gravitate to five regions: the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.
Each has its draws. The Virgins Islands, for example, have the best sailing infrastructure (most charters, well-defined routes and moorings), but that means the islands can be over-crowded in high season (December to mid April). On the flip side,
Grenada and St. Lucia are less crowded, but the sailing often involves longer passages over open water, which can make landlubbers a bit squeamish.
St. Martin and Antigua are great bets for pristine beaches, but power boaters have figured that out as well, so you’ll have (loud) company.
That leaves St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Sparely visited and with occasionally choppy seas, this country’s collection of tiny, uninhabited cays and lush green islands feels like the Caribbean 30 years ago-all charming ports, undeveloped bays, and untracked beaches.
Casting Off
To hoist your own sail, you’ve basically got two options. You could captain a private charter boat, otherwise known as bareboating. Or you could skip the sailing courses, the charts, and the nail-biting passages around unfamiliar reefs, and charter a fully crewed private yacht. (Can you tell which way we’re leaning?)
When it comes to the actual selection of your boat, there are more than enough charter operations to help you along. The default bareboat operators are The Moorings and Sunsail; the two chains have new boats, branches in most sailing centers, and prices that reflect the premium service (a week with a skipper will cost you about $210 per person per day, not including food).
If you’d prefer lower prices, go with a smaller, local company, such as BVI Yacht Charters, Barefoot Yacht Charters, TMM Yacht Charters or Horizon Yacht Charters; they offer more laid-back service standards (island time, mon).
If all this sounds baffling, you may want to start your search with a charter broker like Charter the Caribbean. Brokers help answer pressing questions about the best type of boat (a catamaran, because it’s more stable) or the ideal season (late April through June for the best combination of deals and weather). Then they’ll pair you with a private owner, captain, and chef to match your budget.
Packing & Provisioning
A key rule of the sea: If you feel like you’ve packed too little, you’ve still probably overdone it. Space is tight on a boat, so bring only the absolute basics and stuff them into a soft duffel (preferable to a wheelie bag for easy storage).
Most sailors like to bring a guidebook-but not of the Lonely Planet variety. The Sailors Guide to the Windward Islands ($30) is the true boater’s companion for these parts. It covers all you need to know about anchorages, restaurants, and water-sports outfitters.
On the topic of food, sailors have three options: Hire a cook (from about $110 a day); buy a provisioning package from your rental outfit so you arrive to a fully stocked boat (about $40 per person a day); or simply do the stocking yourself. So forget all that—why not just book a fully crewed yacht through Charter the Caribbean? The decision is yours.
Just remember, this is a vacation, after all.
A Sample Itinerary for Cruising the Grenadines
Day 1
St. Vincent to Mustique
The private island of Mustique, about three hours from St. Vincent, is the most upscale in the Grenadines; Mick Jagger and Elton John both vacation here. What better place to begin your yacht trip? Moor near the famed Basil’s Bar and head up the hill to Firefly for a sunset cocktail and an incredible view of your boat anchored in the harbor below.
Day 2
Mustique to Mayreau
Thanks to the perfect crescent of white sand and the beachside bar at Salt Whistle Bay, about four hours from Mustique, most travelers don’t venture to the village atop Mayreau, the smallest inhabited island in the Grenadines. But those who make the 20-minute climb are rewarded with a picturesque stone Catholic church and a stunning 360-degree view of the Caribbean.
Day 3
Mayreau to Tobago Cays
The setting for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the uninhabited Tobago Cays are about as idyllic as the Grenadines get. Longtime skipper and Sunsail manager Simon Carey recommends a picnic on Baradal Island’s U-shaped beach, then swimming with the green turtles often seen at the nearby reserve.
Day 4
Tobago Cays to Mopion to Petit St. Vincent
A solitary thatched umbrella stands at one end of the 50-foot-long curve of sand that is Mopion Island. Stop for a snorkel then move on to Petit St. Vincent. There isn’t much here—besides miles of palm-fringed beaches—so guidebook author Chris Doyle suggests radioing the nearby Palm Beach Restaurant & Bar; the staff will shuttle you from your yacht to a table on the beach.
Day 5
Petit St. Vincent to Union Island
On your way into the harbor at Union, about two hours from PSV, stop for a rum punch at Happy Island, an artificial landmass created by one man—Janti—from a mountain of conch shells. Then continue on to Union. For dinner, Doyle recommends the fresh conch and French-Creole fusion fare at West Indies Restaurant.
Day 6
Union Island to Petit Nevis to Bequia
According to Carey, the waters off Petit Nevis, about five hours from Union Island, are one of the area’s best-kept secret snorkeling destinations, rivaling even the Tobago Cays. Following a swim, sail north to Bequia, famous for its boat building, to sample a conch roti at a picnic table at the Green Boley Restaurant & Bar. Top it off with a cocktail at Jack’s Bar, a tented open-air establishment on Princess Margaret Beach.
Day 7
Return to St. Vincent
Most charters are due in port by noon—just in time to take in St. Vincent. If you can’t make the trip up the island’s still-active volcano, La Soufrière (about five hours round trip and worth it), then head over to Montreal Gardens, which are surrounded by banana plantations and rain forest, all cut with walkways and shaded by tree ferns.
Five Don’ts for Sailing In The Caribbean
- Don’t stiff the captain or crew. Like waitresses, they get a large portion of their income from tips; leave 15 to 20 percent of the charter fee with the captain, who will divvy it up among any crew members.
- Don’t rush. Operate on island time-have a chat, ask the bartenders how they are before ordering-and you’ll get better service.
- Don’t wear boat shoes. You’ll look like a dork, because everyone in the Caribbean goes barefoot on the boat. Stick to the uniform of shorts, T-shirt, and Rainbow flip-flops and you’ll fit in everywhere on land.
- Don’t leave the bathroom’s holding-tank valve open, or you risk dumping on friends and family while they’re swimming. Apparently this happens a lot.
- Don’t order anything but a Hairoun if you’re drinking beer. It’s the pride of the islands.
Article written by Melinda Page, from the March 2011 issue of BUDGET TRAVEL Magazine
For more information, contact Dennis at Charter the Caribbean at 317-745-1990 or email: charter@charterthecaribbean.com
