The caribbean sailing

Travel itinerary
This page gives you some useful indication on the sail to the Caribbean and, in particular, to the spectacular small Antilles, which we have explored in two different travel itineraries. The first, of about 250 miles between return, took us from Martinique to Union Island, in the Grenadines, and then return to the French island. The second, instead, has allowed us to sail between Guadeloupe and Antigua. (For the map and general journey information click here: Caribbean holidays , from where you can also access detailed information about the different islands).

Veleging and navigating to the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean?
For those used to the Mediterranean, sailing to the Caribbean is a unique experience. The main peculiarity is the Aliseo, the wind that constantly blows from the east (or north-east), particularly in the winter months (December-April is the high season for those who go by sailboat to the Caribbean). Its intensity is generally on 15-20 knots, with occasional reinforcements, which means that to do cross you there is no need for the engine. A sailing boat holiday in fuel saving.

The other fantastic consequence of the constant wind direction is the possibility of easily restored along the upwind coasts of the islands. Along the travel route from Martinique to the Grenadines the ports are practically absent, and a few more moorings are found in Guadeloupe and Antigua, but thanks to the comfortable and often beautiful natural redess you don't miss it. Virtually every island is a hundred hundreds of meters high :) really good moorings in case of hurricanes are obviously many less, so in some short period (August-September in particular) the lack of a port could also be heard ... But, in short, the important thing is to organize your holiday well.

Obviously, you could discuss for days if the islands of Sicily or the Caribbean are more beautiful, but Caribbean navigation has undoubted advantages even for those who were "used to" their white beaches with palm trees and coral reefs.
The Caribbean They also have ideal temperatures of the sea and the air, particularly in the dry season. The costs, on the other hand, are not so reduced: for example, for a dinner out I would definitely prefer the Egadi, as a quality/price ratio :) The fishiness of the Caribbean sea compensates for the quality of restaurants not etc., at least for an Italian palate. In short, sailing to the Caribbean you can not study an enogastronomic itinerary as in Italy, but you should eat by boat and you can often have fresh fish available.

ah, of course, at the end of the accounts, compared to a sailing cruise in Italy, savings is guaranteed by the fact that the Caribbean always moors at the anchor (and even the gavitelli, rather widespread They have low prices). In 13 days we equally divided anchors and boe, without ever entering the port.

Among the dangers of the Caribbean, the low backdrops and pirates are often included. For the first ones, obviously it takes care and an excellent cartographic plotter: it is not so easy, in fact, to see visible the depth of a coral reef.
As for pirates, instead, some bays of Saint Vincent have bad fame : In fact, it happens that someone rises on board to steal valuables. If someone is armed, they can be trouble. They are still very rare events. We, of pirates, did not meet, not even in Wallilabou (where the film "The Pirates of the Caribbean" was shot). And even we took rocks.
Antigua it turned out to be the most difficult island to navigate, because full of coral reefs, with fewer shelters from the wind (in the center-northern part, the island is very flat) and moorings a times a little traitors.

Another aspect to consider in the navigation to the Caribbean is the galley. Fill it. Bring the Parmigiano from home, buy to Guadeloupe/Martinique or in the main centers as much as you can serve you, because then the little shops on the smaller islands that meet for example to the Grenadines are loved and poorly provided. It is also true that it is more beautiful to give money to a local shop than to a large chain of supermarkets; certain things, like rum, beer and fruit, are found everywhere.

Sailboat Rental: catamaran or monohull
For Caribbean Navigation, the catamaran has large advantages. Its spaciousness, comfort during navigation and speed in carrying gaits make the holiday very comfortable. The persistence of the Aliseo along the sailing itinerary in the Windward Islands helps to avoid the bolins on which the catamaran struggles to tighten the corner.
Always moor the catamaran compared to a monohull are not a. Problem and, indeed, the reduced draft helps. On the other hand, traditional sailboat lovers will find great satisfaction in the rim under the gusts of the Aliseo. Just inside the boat is all in order and well bound!
For our first trip we rented at Le Marin (Martinique) a catamaran Privilege 495, comfortable and robust. In 7 people he was very comfortable, and the speeds were not at all to be thrown away: from the 8-9 knots of burglar (on the 55-60 degrees to the wind), up to 12 in Lasco with tips of 15 knots on the wave (with the typical Aliseo Around 20 knots, even if we also encountered gusts over 30). A catamaran of the genre must be provided with a desalinator (the water ends up when you never go into port, even if there are several points along the Martinica-Grenadine travel itinerary where you can refuel).
Between Guadeloupe and Antigua we used a Helia 44, smaller but still very comfortable (we have lived quietly in 9). Less performing than the Privilege, he was still a great travel companion.

In choosing the rental of course they have a fundamental importance price and reliability of the agency (having technical problems with the rented boat is in fact a real martyrdom). If you are lucky, with 100 euros per head a day you can rent something good, and out of season you can find much better occasions. Considering that the sailboat is both house and means of transport and a source of fun, the figure from acceptable can even become very convenient.
for several more photos, at higher resolution, on Tobago Cays, look at this photo gallery:

and for countless photos taken from our travel itinerary in the Caribbean islands, look here:

If you like wild trips or if you want to find more photos of this and other destinations, as well as advice and new itineraries, visit our FB page and put like: