Looking for opinions on sailing in Grenada for those that have sailed there and the BVI for comparison. We have been in the BVI for 7 years and are considering moving to Grenada to get away from the crowds. Is the open sailing weather uncomfortable? We will be on a new Lagoon 42.

Grenada itself is totally different from the BVI. Very big liveaboard community that rarely sails anywhere around Grenada. A few bays and beach bars on the south coast but very little anywhere else. Grenada is brilliant as a base for a boat as you can get anything done there at reasonable prices.

Once you leave Grenada itself and head north into the Grenadines, you will have to do a bit open water sailing but the only real stretch of open water is going between the north of Grenada and Carriacou or Union. After that you have mostly got an island to windward that keeps the waves down with the wonderful Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Bequia and Mustique plus many more, all of which have good, sheltered anchorages with bars and restaurants.

It is not the same as the BVIs. To be honest, nowhere in the World is like the BVIs for its easy sailing, short distance between beach bars and easy sailing with almost guaranteed wind.

In conclusion, if what you want is the BVI experience of get up, sail for a couple of hours, stop for lunch and a swim, then sail/motor for another short while then pick up a mooring ball and hit the beach bars, then stay in the BVI because you won't find anything quite like that elsewhere. If want a bit more variety and are willing to sail a bit more to get that then the combination of Grenada and the Grenadines are close to perfect.

If you're looking to just sail Grenada (and not go to the Grenadines), it's a lot less comfortable than the BVI. The anchorages are mostly on the south side, and they are quite deep (with the exception of Prickly Bay -- which is full of cruising boats, and our first attempt at anchoring there dragged up an abandoned anchor). There are few moorings, so you will be anchoring.

Also, you will find that the seas -- which are generated from the trades and have a lot of fetch -- will curl into the anchorages, so that nights at anchor will be rather roll-y.

On the plus side, Grenada has a wild, rugged beauty; minimal cruise ship traffic; rich and varied local cuisine; beautiful beaches; and some of the friendliest people in the Caribbean.

And, of course, it is a good jumping-off point to go to the Grenadines, though the run from Grenada to Carriacou is a longer one and can be very uncomfortable (with beam seas).

See my long-ago trip report here: Sailing Grenada

Thank you both so much for the information and experiences. We have sailed in the BVI 28 times and although it is set up to be the perfect vacation, the idea of less crowded places and friendly people is of great interest to us. Eva, interesting that you used Horizon in Grenada. We recently stayed at True Blue and are in the process of bringing our boat to Horizon. They seem to be very nice people and really promote the Grenada culture.

Oscar, if you are looking for escape from the crowds, consider the Spanish Virgins or the Abacos. More gentle sea conditions than Grenada/Grenadines, and NO cruise ship activity.