The following blog was written by Lela Joannidis, who is a broker friend of mine. I think she sums up the St Vincent and the Grenadines quite well. Tomorrow I am going to tell you all about my spring and summer plans, but know these islands are in them and I will be offering charters whereever I am. If interested you should contact Lela and get more details. – Shane
The Caribbean Windward Islands are naturally a bit windier, hence the name.
Sailing around St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Petit Martinique
The Windward’s start from Martinique, over to St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, ending with Grenada and the twin islands Trinidad and Tobago.P
Escape the hectic and sail this lush and tropical garden region, experience the unforgettable nature, drop anchor in secluded bays and lagoons with turquoise seas and these incredible powdered white beaches.
Over thirty, mostly uninhabited smaller and bigger islands are awaiting you, idyllic anchorages, incredible dive sites, some of the most stunning beaches and the snorkeling is just as exciting as diving.
Sea Anemone in The Grenadines
Swim ashore to a beach bar or restaurant, enjoy fresh caught lobster off the BBQ, relax, explore, and enjoy all what the Windward’s of the Caribbean can offer.
At the Tobago keys; Grab your Snorkel equipment and awe yourself with sights of green turtles, aquarium alike colorful fish, all within the protected area of the lagoon. Best Scuba diving in the Marine Park will surprise you, start inside the Horseshoe Reef, to the deeper and for the advanced and experienced diver, go to the more dramatic sites outside the reef, or around Sail Rock.
Find a variety of colorful corals, fans and whips, sightings of nurse sharks and eagle rays are also common here.
The Mayreau Gardens, a shallow dive or snorkel site, offers a intact and very popular coral reef system, being one of the most extensive and well-developed coral reefs in the Windward’s.
Your sailing adventure starts typically in St Vincent, then over to Mustique, where the rich and famous dropped anchor back in the 70ies, but of course still today is one of the most posh places to be.
Visit Bequias Turtle Sanctuary and rescue station
Turtles are attracted to the unique formation and its a good place them to lay there eggs on the protected beach.
Why not stretch your legs and go on a small hike? Along the coastal site and northern of Canuan one can find uninterrupted views of the nearby islands.
Find white sandy beaches in secluded coves, hike the trails to the ruin of the small gun battery, enjoy fabulous views.
Canouan Market
Grenada, consisting of the three small islands, Carriacou and Petit Martinique, is known for its spices, beaches and famous waterfalls.
Being of volcanic origin, Grenada has a mountainous interior, with the tallest being Mount Saint Catherine, being over 2750 ft above sea level.
The national dish consists of all the organically grown and harvested fresh ingredients like dasheen, breadfruit and several root vegetables. Some add salted meat or seafood, all cooked in coconut milk, curry is a popular spice added to “Oil-Down”. Drink a refreshing sugar apple juice or a locally distilled rum punch.
Oil-Down- the national dish of Grenada
St Vincent and the Grenadines, Carriacou and Grenada, are Islands far from the crowds
Itinerary St Vincent – Grenada – St Vincent
1.DAY: Meet your charter yacht in St. Vincent Blue Lagoon by Young Island Cut. Set off for an afternoon sail to Bequia, home of the first sailing whaleboats in the world where wooden schooners are still built on the beaches. Spend the night in picturesque Admiralty Bay.
Local Market
2.DAY: Spend this day exploring the small island, a paradise complete with quiet lagoons, gorgeous reefs and long stretches of near-deserted beaches. Take a tour at the Moonhole, an incredible architectural wonder, built into the rocks, with concrete and whale bones. Great dive site just under the Moonhole. Sail south to Britannia Bay on Mustique.
The Pitons in St Lucia
3.DAY: Mustique, the home of Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Raquel Welch, Princess Margaret. Go see what all the fuss is about for yourself. Must have: Basil’s Bar famous Hurricane Drink!!!
Grenadas Seven Sister waterfalls
4.DAY: Sail to Canouan (canou-on) surrounded by wide shallows and coral reefs. If you are a golfer, you will want to try out the magnificent 18 hole Jim Fazio designed golf course. Or sail to the unspoiled island of Mayreau (may-roe) with only 40 to 60 inhabitants, who are mainly fishermen. Go hike over to a local dinner or just a stiff drink at Dennis Hideaway. Bring your own flashlight! Anchor overnight in beautiful Salt Whistle Bay.
5DAY: At Saline Bay, you can snorkel or dive the wreck of a World War 1 gunboat. After an .
Spice Island Grenada
half an hour sail you’ll be reveling in the Tobago Cays. Climb up the hill to enjoy a stunning view before another beautiful Caribbean sunset at the Tobago Cays of The Grenadines. Anchor and sleep in paradise waters surrounded by stunning and incredible small islands!
6.DAY: Spend the day in the paradise of Tobago Cays of The Grenadines. This national marine park is the highlight of the Grenadines. The uninhabited Cays are a rare tropical paradise that can only reached by your own charter yacht and if you are a nature lover – you will be in a natural heaven.
Nutmeg is on eof the biggest export goods of Grenada!
7.DAY: If you are on a ten day itinerary, you can enjoy some more islands. Carriacou is another stop for those on-board for more than a week. Have lunch and a swim at Sandy Cay – a sunning station for pelicans and seagulls and yourself. Catch the wind to Carriacou, the home of the Carriacou Trading Schooners. Even today, these unique island sail boats carry their trade back and forth under sail, as they have done for decades.
Visit the Chocolate Factory
8.DAY: The next day sail on towards Grenada, one of the largest islands in this area, known as the Spice Island, sometimes you can smell the nutmeg on the air while sailing down the coast and enter St George’s, one of the most beautiful anchorages in the Caribbean and a historically and culturally fascinating place with ancient battlements protecting her. Grenada is the perfect place to end a trip through the Grenadines. It has an international airport with direct connections to the USA and Europe.
Anne,
Not that I know of. Sorry.
Shane
Thank you for your blog. We are sailing from St Lucia down to Grenada in February. Can you tell me if it’s possible to buy an unlocked sim in St Lucia which will work in St Lucia, st Vincent and all islands down to Grenada please.
Hope you can help. Thank you