WINDWARD ISLANDS SAIL BOAT CHARTER ITINERARY
The Windward Islands begin at Dominica and continue south through Martinique and St Lucia. They are less developed than the Leeward Islands, with fewer highrise hotels and longer stretches of open water between the islands. Some Windward locales, such as Tobago Cays, are preserved just as nature created them with aquamarine waters, white sandy beaches, colourful reefs and the chance to swim with sea turtles. This is a true Blue Water cruise, allowing you to experience the joy of ocean voyaging in a safe and comfortable yacht.
Your journey from the airport to Rodney Bay marina, will take you through some majestic scenery and the remains of many sugar plantations which were the backbone of the countries economy and history for many years. Once you have settled in, we set sail south to our first night time spot – St Lucia’s famous Pitons, two volcanic plugs that rise vertically up out of the sea like the backs of sleeping beasts. The snorkeling in this marine conservation area is outstanding. Swim as long as you like with these gorgeous sea creatures and then relax on the aft deck with hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail – and the majestic Pitons towering over you.
This is a true BLUE WATER passage; we will be sailing is all that the Atlantic Ocean has to offer, as we make our passage from St Lucia to St Vincent. Most of the passage will be spend with 20ish knots on the beam, with the associated swell, but this all changes as we approach St Vincent; both the wind and seas are refracted around the top of the island. This means that as we get closer, the wind starts to shift aft of the beam, as do the swells. They also both increase. The 18-20 knot winds and 6-8 foot seas we had on the beam on the way across from St. Lucia build to 20-25 knots and 10 foot+, coming on our aft quarter. SURFING!! We are heading for Chateaubelair in St.Vincent, which is a truly magical place located at the base of St.Vincent’s volcano. There are beaches, reefs for snorkeling and a superb dive location.
A we leave the southern end of St. Vincent, just like St. Lucia, the wind fills in and we switch off the engine for another blast of a beam reach sail for 10 miles across the channel to the island of Bequia. We round Point Peter and the bustling little provincial town of Port Elizabeth opens up. We drop anchor off picturesque Princess Margaret Beach. Once famed as a whaling station, Bequia is a small island, only 7 square miles and a population of just over 4000 souls. Indeed, limited whaling is still allowed here
We leave Bequia and head for a lunchtime stop, the former whale rendering island of Petit Nevis. There is some great snorkeling here, as well as a little history in the abandoned infrastructure where the last whale was hauled ashore not so long ago. After lunch, it is just a brisk one-hour sail across to Mustique, the Beverly Hills of the Caribbean - where you have a very good chance of bumping into Mick Jagger or Hugh Grant should you venture into Basil’s Bar.
The most famous of the Caribbean islands, St. Barth’s is the St. Tropez of the tropics, and a little bit of France in the sun. At this time of year, you will find a lot of the world’s rich and famous holidaying there, and the little port of Gustavia can be very full of superyachts. Famous for its highend shopping and dining, there are also more out of the way places around the island, such as Anse Gouverneur in the south, a great place for watersports and with good snorkelling along the cliffs.
Barbuda is part of a three-island state with Antigua and Redond, and is an island that is unspoilt by tourism, and renowned for its unspoily long pink beaches. The beauty of Barbuda is in its natural and peaceful way of life. The population of just 1500 live in the village of Codrington, which has been virtually unaffected by tourism. Barbuda is 15 miles long and 8 miles wide, and is very rocky and flat. Much of the island is covered in impenetrable bush, which hides wildlife including deer, wild boar, land turtles and guinea fowl.
Sail from Barbuda to the back to the east coast of Antigua; Nonsuch Bay and Green Island. Green Island is a beautiful island, completely uninhabited and perfect for that getaway anchorage. Nonsuch Bay is home to Harmony Hall; an art gallery, hotel and Italian restaurant set high overlooking the bay. The converted sugar mill is the home to the newly created Harmony Hall Yacht Club, with its fleet of Dragon Keelboats. Nonsuch Bay is also home to Nonsuch Bay Resort, an excellent location to enjoy your last sunset cocktail, overlooking your yacht at anchor in the bay.
Sail around to English Harbour for your departure.
