TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Southern Caribbean WIndwards 2016 Bareboat - Request Suggestions

Heading to the Windwards after many BVI and Leewards. I see getting there is tricky in terms of flights. Humbly request suggestions - Charter off St. Lucia or Grenada?

One way. St. Lucia to Grenada

Also looking to charter in the Windwards in 2016. 3-4 weeks. Would love broker/where to take off from suggestions.

Generally the wind direction almost always makes the one-way going south an easier sail then going north.

Im am also planning a windward trip.

If they are still around try bateau mygo. They were great for us. Super nice cats out of Margot Bay in St. Lucia.

This coming spring will be our 10th holiday in the Windwards. We have always used Barefoot Yacht Charters out of Blue Lagoon, St. Vincent. It is a great family run 'boutique' charter company with good amenities. This puts you right on the doorstep of the Grenadines, which is where you want to hang. Bequia is only 10 miles and then it's a short hop (25 miles) to Mayreau, Tobago Cays, and Union Island....Carriacou is then only a short trip away. Sailing out of SVG just saves a lot of time vs. chartering out of St. Lucia or Grenada. At the end of the charter, we have dropped the boat off in Bequia and then spend a couple of days on that island before taking the ferry back to St. Vincent to catch out flight.

We fly into Barbados and then to SVG on Liat (with minimal problems). We actually plan an overnight in Barbados as part of our trip as the Oistens Fish Market can't be missed - incredible Bajan cooking.

A few years ago we also did Barefoot from St. Vincent down to the PSV area and return, in May.
We were close hauled both ways... such is the fickle nature of the wind.

Last trip to Windwards 20+ years ago. Monohull and we were very good with anchor. Now into power cats, overnight on mooring, no anchor. Wife does not sleep if on anchor. Wanting to switch from BVI to St. Vincent - Grenada trip. Do any of the harbors in Windwards have mooring balls now or must one still drop anchor in most harbors? Thanks

Curtis
We did it a few years ago. All anchor, no moorings.

There are moorings in -

Blue Lagoon, St Vincent
Admiralty Bay, Bequia
Britannia Bay, Mustique
Charlestown Bay, Canouan
Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau
The Tobago Cays
Clifton Harbour / Chatham Bay, Union Island

If picking up a mooring anywhere south of mainland St Vincent, you should snorkel over the mooring to ensure it's properly laid and that the fittings and lines are OK. There have been many instances of moorings, with attached yachts, heading out towards Guatemala in the middle of the night or of lines parting.

Let your good lady know that she should sleep soundly if the vessel is correctly anchored but that she should have one eye open if on a mooring! The anchoring in these parts is straightforward, generally in an all-sand bottom, in anything from from 6 to 20 feet, and with excellent holding.

We did a one way from Grenada to St. Lucia over 2 weeks. A lot of beating but enjoyed the trip. St. Lucia to Grenada should be downwind (depending on time of year)

Very different from BVIs. We are hoping to charter down there again perhaps in 2017 however we will most likely charter in Grenada sail as far as Bequia and back to Grenada. We didn't care for St. Vincent or St. Lucia.

I posted a trip report on this trip 2/10/13

Be careful of those moorings. Many are not maintained and the locals just collect the fee and take off. Last week a boat took a mooring in front of us (we were anchored). I heard them pay $60EC for the night. At 9 pm Paul heard an anchor being dropped. The mooring line had broken and the ball, line and boat attached floated past us. How they didn't hit us we still can't figure out. It looked like the best mooring in the bay. Obviously not. Holding in most places is really great in the Tobago Cays and islands surrounding. We would never ever consider a mooring down here. We live aboard and spend months in these islands. If you take a mooring, definately back down on it. If it breaks, it was not meant to be used. If it hold, be careful if a big swell comes in and overly strains the mooring. That is what happened that nite. And BTW we are on a 43 Lagoon Powercat. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />