Yacht Charter In St Vincent & The Grenadines

The choice of yacht charter in St Vincent and the				can become choppy. Lagoon Bay, a golden sand
Grenadines is wide including both sail and motor yacht				beach, lined with palm trees and picnic tables with
charter, bareboat yacht charter, skippered yacht				wood umbrellas, is a 25 minute walk from the village
charter, luxury crewed yacht charter and both				in Britannia Bay. A great spot for a romantic picnic as
monohull and catamaran charter.				there is virtually no one else in sight.
Carib Indians aggressively prevented European				Macaroni Bay on the east side of the island is the
settlement on St Vincent until the 18th century.				best swimming beach on Mustique. A half a mile of
African slaves, either shipwrecked or having escaped				fine white sand, with turquoise waves rolling in from
from one of the neighbouring islands and seeking				the Atlantic offers safe swimming, a picnic area, and
refuge in St Vincent, intermarried with the Caribs and				even a few hammocks slung in the palms on the
became known as Garifuna or Black Caribs. In 1719,				southern end of the beach. It is too far to walk from
French settlers cultivated coffee, tobacco, indigo,				the yacht anchorage, so for fun people rent a
cotton, and sugar on plantations worked by enslaved				xmulex, a gas powered mini golf cart.
Africans. In 1763 St Vincent was ceded to Britain. It				Gelliceaux Bay is marine conservation park where the
was restored to French rule in 1779 but regained by				diving and snorkelling are magnificent. It is illegal to
the British under the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Conflict				fish or remove anything from the waters surrounding
between the British and the Black Caribs lasted until				the island.
1796, when General Sir Ralph Abercromby crushed a				The Tobago Cays are a cluster of small deserted
revolt fomented by the French radical Victor Hugues.				islands sheltered from the ocean by Horseshoe Reef.
More than 5,000 Black Caribs were deported to				The reefs offer fish and coral in a dazzling array of
RoatÃ¡n, an island off the coast of Honduras.				colours. There are small sand beaches and clear
After slavery was abolished in 1834, labour shortages				water almost everywhere you look. The Tobago
on the plantations resulted in the immigration of				Cays offers some of the finest diving in the world.
indentured servants. Portuguese came from the				This is the perfect place to anchor your charter
Atlantic island of Madeira and shiploads of East Indian				yacht for a few days to soak up the sun, sand and
labourers arrived between 1861-1880. Conditions				sea. Anchoring your yacht is permitted behind
remained harsh for both former slaves and immigrant				Horseshoe Reef and around the islands in sand only.
agricultural workers, as depressed world sugar prices				The sand provides excellent holding reducing the risk
kept the economy stagnant until the turn of the				of damage to the coral from a dragging anchor.
century.				Anchoring is not permitted within 60 feet of coral or
St Vincent was granted associate statehood status				sea grass. Also yachts must anchor in water deeper
on October 27th, 1969, giving it complete control				then 1.5 meters. Sailors should note the presence of
over its internal affairs. Following a referendum in				sea grass around the Island of Baradal, and the
1979, under Milton Cato St Vincent and the				patches of reef just beyond the beaches of
Grenadines became the last of the Windward Islands				Jamesby and Petit Bateau.
to gain independence on the 10th anniversary of its				Local boat vendors spend time in the Cays selling
associate statehood status, October 27th, 1979.				everything from ice, bread, and lobsters to jewellery.
Year round winds in St Vincent and the Grenadines				They are a friendly group of locals and are very
make for the perfect yacht charter holiday. During				accommodating if you need them to bring you ice or
the summer months a prevailing 10 ? 20 knot wind				bread the next day. If you want to be left alone,
from the southeast blows. The winter months will				they will oblige your request. It is best to avoid
see more challenging winds of 20 ? 25 knots				vendors offering barbecue fish lunches as they may
generally from the northeast. Although St Vincent is				have taken fish from the reef. A recent problem to
below the hurricane belt there is always a possibility				be on the look out for is youths offering to dump
during the months of July to October. Check this				garbage for a fee from the charter boats at anchor.
with your yacht charter company. Average high				Do not give in to their request; they have been
temperatures range from 25Â°C to 30Â°C				dumping the trash illegally off the windward side of
with the highest in July through October.				Baradel Island. One will pay a premium for anything
The major airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines is				you purchase at the Cays since the vendors need to
Joshua Airport on St Vincent. There are flights from				cover their fuel costs and earn a few dollars.
Barbados, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Martinique and				Canouan is a crescent shaped island surrounded by
Grenada. Both US Dollars and x Euro are used. Major				wide shallow waters and coral and is a scuba diver's
credit cards may be accepted in hotels, restaurants				dream. Canouan is an island in transition. Just ten
and some shops. There are many places throughout				years ago it was a sleepy island that time forgot. A
the yacht charter area to change money. English is				new era of development began when Italian
spoken throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines				contractors purchased the northern part of the island.
Many yacht charters start at the Lagoon Hotel and				The considerable addition of new money has rapidly
Marina on the southern tip of St Vincent. There is a				transformed the island, with many fancy new homes
swimming pool for a refreshing dip on shore before				built by locals. The new development is a gated one,
or after your yacht charter and good supermarket				with guards at the entry points. The spacious,
for provisioning. This is a well protected yacht				elegant new hotel and golf course opened again, with
anchorage nicely positioned to sail south to the				Trump running the casino, luxury apartments and
Grenadines and for land trips around the island of St				Raffles running the resort end. From the visitorxs
Vincent. Take a day ashore and follow the foot trail				point of view there are spectacular beaches, great
along the windward coast, through banana and				views, and lovely walks almost anywhere.
coconut plantations to La SoufriÃ©re volcano. On				Union Island is about 40 nautical miles from St
the leeward side Trinity Falls can be reached by				Vincent. The island boasts a dramatic outline of ridges
following the trail from Richmond.				and peaks, the highest being Mount Parnassus some
Bequia lies just nine miles south of St Vincent and it				900 feet above sea level. Clifton, the main harbour, is
the gateway to some of the best sailing in the				protected by a coral reef that reveals brilliant colours
Caribbean. The history of Bequia Island runs deep				and patterns as you sail in. The town is clean and
with age-old seafaring traditions of boat building,				picturesque with several new, locally run stores
fishing and whaling. The main port of entry is Port				catering to visitors. A couple of bars provide perfect
Elizabeth in Admiralty Bay. The quaint waterfront of				street-side viewing points for watching the world go
Port Elizabeth is lined with bars, restaurants and				by. The market, with many colourful stalls, has been
shops selling local crafts. This yacht anchorage is				rearranged round a pleasant green square. There are
extremely popular with mariners from all over the				many good restaurants and the provisioning is
world because of its ample and clear waters that				excellent with a really wide choice of fresh produce.
allow deep-keeled boats to arrive for repairs and				Basic services like docking, water, laundry and
services. Bequia has an excellent selection of marine				Internet connections are readily available. Located in
services with amenities that include showers, laundry				the northwest corner of the harbour you will find
services and internet access. Bequia offers great				Bougainvilla Marina and The Anchorage Yacht Club.
beaches, spectacular snorkelling and diving and great				Give them a call on the VHF (Channel 68) to let them
food. Princess Margaret Beach is the best yacht				know that you'll be coming in. You can get fuel, ice
anchorage in all of Bequia. It boasts calm clear waters				and water at either of these places. There have
and a beautiful golden sand beach. The beach has no				been occasional reports of visitors being hassled by
road access and as a consequence is virtually				kids in boats. These xtown hustlersx try to sell
deserted. A short dinghy ride around the bayxs				anything to make a buck. If they tell you that the
northern headland and you will come find Frangipani				Yacht Club is closed or that therexs no diesel or
bar, a popular meeting place for a cruisers xHappy				water available donxt believe them. What theyxre
Hourx.				trying to do is to sell you their own moorings or
Mayreau lies west of the Tobago Cays and is				someone elsexs fuel and water at inflated prices.
perfect for those seeking privacy and a romantic				Petit St Vincent is about 5 nautical miles from Union.
Caribbean hideaway. With no roads, cars, electricity				This 113-acre island resort is privately owned and
or many of the familiar sounds of civilization, it is a				offers private cottage-type accommodation and a
last frontier in an unspoiled tropical paradise. There				wide range of sporting and marine activities. It is
are hiking trails that will lead you to some of the				almost entirely surrounded by white sand beaches
most spectacular panoramic views of the Grenadines.				and has excellent anchorages for yachts. A walk up
Salt Whistle Bay is one of the most exquisite yacht				the hillside will find a bar in which the ambience is
anchorages in the Caribbean and only reachable by				extraordinary. Hummingbirds fly through the tropical
boat. Sweeping white sand beaches rim the entire				vegetation and the best fresh tropical frozen fruit
island and are perfect for snorkelling and sailing. The				daiquiris in the Grenadines are served here.
bay is a hot spot for sailors so yacht moorings are in				From the anchorage, you can swim directly towards
short supply. Enter Salt Whistle Bay through the main				Mopion Sandbank but will come up to a reef. Follow
channel, as there are reefs on either side in shallow				the reef round until you come to a wide opening. You
waters, the southern one being particularly dangerous.				can swim or dinghy through, straight up on to the
Anchor at the head of the bay in 8 to 10 feet of				sand bank. This is the ultimate desert island and if
clear water. It's a sand bottom and offers reasonably				you stand on the south-west corner, you can get a
good holding. Be especially careful about anchoring				photo with the sea on the left, on the right the
too close to the reef on the southern shores.				hump of sand with the triangular thatched shelter in
Mustique has a wonderful ambience and a calm				the middle and nothing in the background except for
atmosphere, great beaches and a couple of excellent				the ocean. The snorkelling around the reef is very
restaurants. Mustique is a privately owned island that				good and you may see rays, large parrotfish and
has been developed as an area of holiday homes for				even groupers. This is a terrific lunch stop but not an
the wealthy. Mansions with tennis courts and				overnight anchorage as the holding is poor.
swimming pools sit on rolling grassy hills and long				Chatham Bay is a very secluded yacht anchorage. It
lawns that stretch to sandy beaches. There is no				is rare to find more than 5 yachts anchored here
place to get water or diesel fuel in Mustique.				even in high season and in the low season you could
Britannia Bay is the commercial heart of Mustique.				well be the only yacht. At Chatham Bay there are no
There is a small general store, grocery and bakery.				bars, no restaurants, no buildings, no roads, and no
Provisioning on Mustique is very expensive and so are				people.
the boutiques. Donxt miss the Wednesday night				One way yacht charter options are available from St
barbecue buffet and the xJump Upx party at the				Vincent to Union, Saint Lucia, Grenada and Martinique.
famous Basilxs Bar and Restaurant. Although the				Consult with the yacht charter company for more
food and service leave something to be desired,				details.
Basilxs promises a great deal of fun with wonderful				Diving: St Vincent and the Grenadines have a large
ambiance and spectacular surroundings. When arriving				number of recognized and enthusiastic diving schools
in Britannia Bay it is mandatory for yachts to pick up				on St Vincent, Bequia, Mustique and of course the
a mooring buoy rather than anchor. There are plenty				Tobago Cays. Spectacular underwater seascapes
available on a first come first serve basis. During the				include the wreck of Jonas on the eastern side of
early part of the evening harbour personnel will come				the Montezuma shoal near Mustique and there are
up to your boat by launch and collect the overnight				many drift dives offering a changing panorama of
fee. The most comfortable spot to get a mooring is				soft corals, turtles, Creole wrasses and the occasional
just south of a small cargo dock. When the wind				sighting of an eagle ray.
blows out of the northeast, the waters in the bay

Shea Dypines

Yacht Charter In St Vincent & The Grenadines