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Sail Grenadines / St Vincent #213752
01/12/2020 10:12 PM
01/12/2020 10:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 28
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finnman Offline OP
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finnman  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 28
After 3 BVI charters, our group of three couples is considering the Grenadines. Any advice between a January or April trip - are Christmas winds a factor here as they can be in the BVI? Leaning toward a St Vincent based return or possibly St Vincent to Grenada. Also considering a St Lucia to Grenada one-way. I have read previous reports with Mooring, Horizon, DYC and Barefoot Charters but none with Sail Grenadines and curious about them. Also looking for opinions on the Nautitech 40 Open - if we end up with two couples, this yacht is of interest. Previous charters have all been on F/P Helia 44's. The helm positions of the Nautitech being so low would seem to make forward visibility difficult but perhaps not. Any advice is certainly appreciated.

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Re: Sail Grenadines / St Vincent [Re: finnman] #213783
01/13/2020 11:57 AM
01/13/2020 11:57 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
UncleLuff Offline
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UncleLuff  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
I have done a couple of charters in 2018 and 2019 after doing 3 charters in the BVIs as well. Both of the charters were with Dream Yacht charters that both have a base in St. Vincent and Grenada. Both times, charters were in late April and early May. Trade winds were pretty constant although we had sustained winds of over 20 knots and gusts over 30 knots on our way up to Carriacou in last May's trip. On the last trip we had a Saona 47 which was a beautiful boat and lots of space for the 4 couples traveling. DYC has a pretty impressive presence in both Grenanda and St Vincent. Do not have experience out of St Vincent. do not have any knowledge of Sail Grenadines. I think where you decide to start will decide your charter though. For example Sunsail and Moorings have a base in St. Lucia but not in St Vincent. DYC has a base in St Vincent but not St. Lucia.

In terms of differences, boat boys are a thing that you will have to deal with in Grenadines. They aren't too bad just be prepared to give them 10EC for their assistance and a cold beer/ coke. once you get into the heart of the Grenadines (Carriacou - Bequia) distances are about the same if not closer to what you would expect in BVIs. But if you are coming from Grenada it is a good 6 hours of sailing to get to and back. It is a tough sale up wind but a really nice run/broad reach on the way back. The Grenadines are a lot less crowded and not as built up or refined as the BVIs as well. Although there are some really nice resorts if you wish to be pampered (Palm island, Petit St Vincent or the new marina on Canaoun for example).

St Vincent return is what we would do if we were going back this year but it looks like the crew wants to try BVI again....

Last edited by UncleLuff; 01/13/2020 11:58 AM.
Re: Sail Grenadines / St Vincent [Re: UncleLuff] #213796
01/13/2020 01:07 PM
01/13/2020 01:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 28
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finnman Offline OP
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finnman  Offline OP
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Posts: 28
Thanks - very helpful. My wife and I did sail through the area on an instructional trip (ASA105/106) from Grenada to Tortola in October so spent overnights at Sandy Island, Tobabo Cays and Bequia on the way through and fell in love, haha. When we left Grenada, the winds were such that we had a close haul to Carriacou but made it on a single tack - and it was not a hard, pounding beat which it sounds like is typically the case in the spring.

Re: Sail Grenadines / St Vincent [Re: finnman] #213802
01/13/2020 02:13 PM
01/13/2020 02:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
UncleLuff Offline
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UncleLuff  Offline
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Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
That must have been a fun trip! Nice that you were able to get across the channel in a single Tack, must have been a monohull! Curious, who did you do your 105/106 with? I would be interested in doing the same trip sometime.

We did the 101-104 through Nautilus sailing out of Grenada in 2018.

Re: Sail Grenadines / St Vincent [Re: UncleLuff] #213860
01/13/2020 08:57 PM
01/13/2020 08:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 28
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finnman Offline OP
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finnman  Offline OP
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It was actually a 44' Leopard Cat - I suspect the prevailing wind angle that time of the year is more favorable. It was out of the southeast for us anyway. We motorsailed alongside the west coast of Grenada until reaching the channel and were able to sail a close haul, passing just east of the Kick 'Em Jenny restricted zone on to Carriacou. We were matched with two other couples also taking 105/106 with Tortola Sailing and Sights. They had a 50' mono and this 44' cat down in Grenada for hurricane season and worked up the course for the delivery back to Tortola - 12 days of fun and a great learning experience. Auto pilot was not functioning so it was over 500 nautical miles of hand steering, haha. Great instructor. Overnighted in Marigot Bay, St Lucia after leaving Bequia, then overnight sail to Isles Des Saintes off the coast of Guadeloupe. "The Saintes" were amazing and we stayed there two nights before the last sail of 40 hours or so to the BVI. Went through Round Rock Passage about 12:30 AM the last night before a final MOB drill at 1:00 AM and overnight at a mooring at Spanish Town. It was quite an experience and I highly recommend it!


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