About The Grenadines & Windward Islands
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About The Grenadines & Windward Islands

One of the major British Windward Islands, sleepy St. Vincent is just beginning to awaken to tourism. Sailors and the yachting set have long known of St. Vincent and The Grenadines , and until recently it was a well-kept vacation secret. Even if you've not been here, you may have seen its scenery in Pirates of the Caribbean , starring Johnny Depp.

You visit St. Vincent for its lush beauty, and The Grenadines for the best sailing waters in the Caribbean . Don't come for nightlife, grand cuisine, or spectacular beaches. There are some white-sand beaches near Kingstown on St. Vincent , but most of the other beaches ringing the island are black sand.

Unspoiled by the fallout that mass tourism sometimes brings, islanders treat visitors courteously. British customs predominate, along with traces of Gallic cultural influences, but all with a distinct West Indian flair.

South of St. Vincent, the small chain of islands called The Grenadines extends for more than 64km (40 miles). The islands have romantic-sounding names as Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, and Petit St. Vincent. A few of the islands have accommodations, but many are so small and undeveloped that they attract only beachcombers and stray boaters.

Populated by the descendants of African slaves and administered by St. Vincent , The Grenadines collectively add up to a landmass of 78 sq. km (30 sq. miles). These specks of land may lack natural resources, but they're blessed with white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and their own sleepy beauty.

Saint Vincent
Take a day ashore and follow the foot trail along the windward coast, through banana and coconut plantations, to La Soufriére volcano, or on the leeward side, Trinity Falls can be reached by following the trail from Richmond .

Admiralty Bay , Bequia
Here you can spend time ashore exploring the shops, bars and many good restaurants along the waterfront or hike inland to other areas of interest. Bequia has some great diving and a sea turtle sanctuary.

Mustique
No introduction required - this is one of the most exclusive islands in the world, frequented by royalty and rock stars alike. It is surrounded by coral, sandy beaches and coves. The hot spot of the island where yachtsmen mingle with the island dwellers, is Basil's Bar on Britannia Bay , the island's main harbor.

Canouan
Sail downwind to this hilly island and pick up one of the moorings off Tamarind Bay at the northern end. With a new airport and large resort on the cards for Canouan, it may not be a quiet island for long, but you should still visit what many consider to be the best beaches in The Grenadines on the eastern side of the island, protected by an extensive reef.

Tobago Cays
A national marine park not to be missed, the Tobago Cays are at the top of many a cruising itinerary. Snorkeling and diving inside the Horseshoe Reef protecting some scattered islands, is spectacular, offering a kaleidoscope of underwater colors. There are many superb anchorages and small sandy beaches to be found.

Clifton Harbour , Union
Clifton , the bustling main port on Union Island , has a cosmopolitan atmosphere and is the yachting centre of the southern Grenadines . Supermarkets and boutiques abound, and you can visit the collection of sharks in the pool at the Anchorage Hotel. You may want to stop for a drink or a meal here or in the more characteristic local bars and restaurants.                      

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Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary

Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - The Grenadines

Day 1: After a light breakfast we set sail towards Mustique - the private island of the Super-stars. Inaccessible to most but private yachts, like ours, are welcome. After lunch, choose to explore the islands many stately mansions and beautiful beaches or snorkel the reef around the anchorage. Dinner is ashore and enjoyed at the popular Basils Bar where lime daiquiris and watching for the "green flash" is tradition.

Day 2: The Tobago Cays - a few hours sail away from Mustique, is our destination and where we will explore for the next 2 days. Very often, pods of dolphin will come along and play in our wake. Snorkeling and diving on shallow live coral reef with their vast diversity of marine life is an experience second to none. Above the water, be sure to have your VCR's and cameras ready... welcome to paradise.

Day 3: A sunset sail on the 3rd day leaves your yacht anchored in Chatham Bay, a primitive fishing village on the uninhabited west side of Union Island. Snorkeling amongst the pelicans diving to catch their prey is an unforgettable experience. Towering cliffs that plunge into the sea either side of a long white beach make this the perfect spot to take a bottle of wine to the beach... an unforgettable experience.

Day 4: Mayreau Island lies on the South Western extreme of the Tobago Cays. Here, tucked away on its western side, is a unique slender stretch of land dividing the rugged windward side from the calms of the leeward. On the Leeward side is a stunningly gorgeous long white beach with a stone beach bar - you are now in Salt Whistle Bay. Venture over the top of the island to visit the little fishing village with its old Chapel and school. Before dinner onboard, your captain and hostess will prepare a floating bar with exotic cocktails. Sip and swim!

Day 5: Enjoy the view from the yacht's fly-bridge as we set sail north to Petit Nevis - a once whaling station where this culture is still evident today. Then onto an island as unique as its name implies - Bequia. Beaches, boutiques and friendly smiles greet you.

Dinner ashore at the Frangipani is the perfect end to the day and welcomes you to an evening, where steel pan and calypso will keep you dancing till dawn.

Day 6: Another day in Paradise! Wake up to the soft sounds of surf lapping on the powder white sands of the Princess Margaret Beach. For the scuba diving charters, Bequia offers a host world class dive sites - if you look hard enough, you may be lucky to see Bequia's elusive Sea Horses! After lunch, we set sail back to St. Vincent where we once again spend the night in Blue Lagoon.

Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - The Windward Islands

Fly into St. Vincent in the Southern Grenadines . Board your yacht and enjoy beautiful views of the island and neighboring yachts. An afternoon swim is a perfect way to unwind after traveling.

Diving the remote reefs off nearby Carriacou works up an appetite for your chef's dishes prepared using spices indigenous to Grenada -- nicknamed the Isle of Spice. Start off with pumpkin and callaloo soup, but save room for the local flavored ice cream.

Like a tropical suburb of Paris , the 425-square-mile island of Martinique has a definite sense of style. View the staggering coastline between Fort-de-France and St. Pierre , the town once destroyed by Mont Pelee's eruption, enroute south to Le Marin.

Take a trip inland to shop the boutiques in Fort-de-France , or visit the Casino Trois-Ilets. Join the scene at the circular bar near the infinity pool at Soitel Bakoua Coraliaic. Attend a performance of Les Grands Ballets de Martinique, one of the finest folkloric dance troupes in the Caribbean .

Savor a lethal rum punch while lounging in a hot mineral bath in the Papillote Wilderness Retreat on Dominica . Don scuba gear and dive the world-renowned waters of Soufriere Scottshead Marine Reserve, site of a submerged volcano.

The two largest islands in the Guadeloupe archipelago, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre , have richly varied topography thanks to the four-mile Riviere Salee that flows between them. Hike the excellent trails through the jungle highlands or bask on the white-sand beaches.

Spot whales off the lunch west coast of Grande-Terre before heading ashore to Plage Caravelle just southwest of Ste. Anne, where the snorkeling is premium. Fly out of the St. Francois Airport .

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ST. Vincent ,The Grenadines and Windward Island Maps

       Map of ST. Vincent and The Grenadines Islands
              

           Map of Windward Islands
               

Complimentary Grenadines & Windward Islands
Yacht Charter DVD

To obtain your complimentary Grenadines and Windward Islands yacht charter dvd or additional information about yacht charters in the Grenadines and Windward Islands and around the world, please call us on 1-877-3YACHTS (392-2487) or (202) 882-2127.

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