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Virtually every large scale hotel in the
Caribbean provides small sailboats (most
often Sunfish, Sailfish, and small, one
masted catamarans) for its guests.
If you're looking for larger craft, the
almost ideal sailing conditions in the
Virgin Islands and The Grenadines come
instantly to mind.
These two regions offer many options for
dropping anchor at secluded coves surrounded
by relatively calm waters. Both areas
are spectacular, but whereas the Virgin
Islands offer more dramatic, mountainous
terrain, The Grenadines offer insights
into island cultures little touched by
the modern world.
Other
places to sail in the Caribbean include
Antigua, Barbados, St. Martin, and the
French-speaking islands. But if you plan
on doing a lot of sailing, know in advance
that the strongest currents and biggest
waves are usually on the northern and
eastern sides of most islands, the Atlantic
(as opposed to the Caribbean) side.
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The
Grenadines: Boating is a way of
life in The Grenadines, partly because access
to many of the tiny remote islands is difficult
or impossible by airplane. One of the most prominent
local charter agents is Nicholson Yacht Charters,
headquartered in nearby St. Vincent. On Bequia,
Mustique, Petit St. Vincent, and Union Island,
all the hotels can put you in touch with local
entrepreneurs who rent sailing craft.
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Book
your hotel in Saint Vincent and Grenadines at
Hotels.com  >>
- Saint
Vincent and Grenadines >>
The
Virgin Islands: Perhaps because
of their well-developed marina facilities (and
those of the nearby United States), the Virgin
Islands receive the lion's share of devoted
yachties. The reigning capital for sailing is
Tortola, the largest island of the British Virgins.
On-site are about 300 well-maintained sailing
craft available for bareboat rentals and perhaps
100 charter yachts.
The
largest of the Caribbean's yacht chartering
services is The Moorings . If you'd like sailing
lessons, consider Tortola's Treasure Isle Hotel,
which offers courses in seamanship year-round.
(One of Treasure Isle's programs is exclusively
on how to sail catamarans.) On the island of
Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands,
the best bet for both boat rentals and accommodations,
as well as for a range of instruction, is the
Bitter End Yacht Club.
Some
of the biggest charter business in the Caribbean
is conducted on St. Thomas, especially at American
Yacht Harbor, Red Hook , which offers bareboat
and fully crewed charters. Other reliable rental
agents include Charteryacht League, at Flagship.
On
St. Croix, boating is less essential to the
local economy than it is on St. Thomas or in
the British Virgins, so if you're taking a Virgin
Islands sailing trip, plan accordingly.
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Book
your hotel in the Virgin Islands at Hotels.com
>>
- Virgin
Islands >>
Links
& Sources:
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