Caribbean, Grenadines
Grenada is the southern gateway to the Grenadines: below the hurricane belt, year-round charter, and Carriacou, Union Island and the Tobago Cays within two days. The sailing north is upwind, which is why many crews book a one-way from St Vincent and finish here.
YACHT TYPES
Catamarans 40 to 50 ft; sailing yachts 40 to 48 ft; crewed yachts for the two-week Grenadines cruise.
A typical week from Grenada
The week goes north to the Grenadines and back; the return is downwind, which is the reward for the first two days.
Day 1, St George's to Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou (33 NM). A long beat or motor-sail up the west coast of Grenada; leave early. Tyrrel Bay is a wide, easy anchorage with a marina.
Day 2, to Clifton, Union Island (8 NM). Clear into St Vincent and the Grenadines at Clifton; the reef anchorage and the kite beach.
Day 3, to the Tobago Cays (5 NM). The marine park behind Horseshoe Reef: turtles, park buoys, beach barbecues on Petit Bateau.
Day 4, to Mayreau or Petit St Vincent (5 to 10 NM). Saltwhistle Bay on Mayreau, or the private-island calm of PSV.
Day 5, to Carriacou (15 NM). Clear out of St Vincent at Clifton, then Sandy Island or Hillsborough on Carriacou.
Day 6, to St George's (33 NM). Downwind home with a stop at Ronde Island or Halifax Harbour.
Two weeks continue to Canouan, Mustique and Bequia; see our Caribbean itineraries.
Practical points for a Grenada charter
Licences and formalities
A recognised licence or a sailing CV for bareboat; operators here look for trade-wind experience. The Grenadines are a different country: clear out of Grenada at Carriacou and into St Vincent at Union, and back again, each a fee and an hour.
Wind and sea
Trade winds from the east-northeast at 15 to 25 knots; the leg to Carriacou is upwind and can be lumpy, the rest of the week is sheltered by the reefs. Below 12° north the hurricane risk is low, which is why Grenada charters and insures in summer when Martinique and St Martin do not.
Fees and moorings
Tobago Cays park fees per person per day, buoys in the Cays and Union, anchoring elsewhere. Provisioning in St George's is good; on the islands it is basic beyond Carriacou and Union. One-way charters from St Vincent's Blue Lagoon to Grenada turn the beat into a downwind cruise for a fee.
Getting there
Grenada's Maurice Bishop airport has direct flights from Miami, New York, Toronto and London; Port Louis is 15 minutes away.
Should we start in Grenada or in St Vincent?
St Vincent to Grenada one-way is downwind all week. Grenada return works for crews who accept one hard day north.
Is summer charter safe in Grenada?
Safer than the northern islands; operators run all year and insurers accept it, with the forecast watched daily in August and September.
How many days in the Tobago Cays?
Two nights is the usual answer; one if the week is short.
What does Seeksail need to advise us?
Dates, cabins, trade-wind experience, skipper or not, one-way or return. We answer with three yachts from Port Louis or Blue Lagoon and the route we would sail.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
More destination-specific guides are being prepared.
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