The Grenadines: Tips, tricks and suggested itineraries
Want to experience the ‘real’ Caribbean? Then go sailing in the Windward Islands, between Martinique and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Here you’ll find exactly what you’d expect from the Caribbean: turquoise waters, steady trade winds and small islands that are perfect for a sailing trip.
Ideally, set aside two weeks. You can start from Martinique or from Grenada. Grenada gets you to the famous cays more quickly, but is usually a bit more difficult to reach. From Martinique, you have better flight connections and can make your way to the area at a leisurely pace.
A tried-and-tested route with lovely stops looks like this:
Martinique – St Vincent – Mustique – Tobago Cays – Union Island – Bequia – St Lucia – Martinique.
If the crew and weather are on your side, you can also tackle a longer leg straight away and sail through the night to clear customs in Bequia at dawn and head straight for the Grenadines. This saves time and feels like proper offshore sailing. However, it’s more relaxed to break the journey down into shorter stages.
Between the islands, conditions often get rougher. More wind, bigger waves – exactly what you’re actually looking for. Have something to eat beforehand, otherwise your breakfast will quickly end up with the fish. In return, you’ll be rewarded with some fantastic sailing.
You should always keep an eye out for fishing buoys. Many are half-submerged and hard to spot. Equally ubiquitous are the so-called boatboys. Stay friendly but firm. Help can be handy, but you should agree on prices beforehand.
The sun in this area is no joke. Shade on board is often scarce, and sunburn sets in faster than you think. Applying sun cream regularly is simply a must here.
You won’t be disappointed when it comes to food. The beach BBQs in the Tobago Cays are particularly recommended. If your schedule allows, feel free to stay there a few days longer. It’s the highlight of the route and one of those places where you lose track of time.
Take plenty of cash with you, preferably East Caribbean dollars or US dollars. South of Martinique, cash in euros is of no use, and card payments are by no means accepted everywhere. Withdrawing cash is usually no problem in Bequia or at the Blue Lagoon on St Vincent, but is rather limited on Union Island.
Avoid cardboard boxes on board. They’re a classic attraction for uninvited guests like cockroaches.
A rather underestimated issue is fruit bats. Do not leave any blue lights on at night and keep hatches closed. They specifically target ripe fruit and leave traces all over the saloon. It is best to store fruit in airtight containers.
Around the Tobago Cays, the current plays an important role. It flows with the tide and can change direction significantly. You’ll notice this both when anchoring and when snorkelling. When swimming, it’s best to be cautious, ideally using fins or a line attached to the boat.
If you keep all this in mind, one of the most beautiful sailing areas of all awaits you.
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