Bareboat Charters

melodycs30 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

My wife and I who sail the Great Lakes are considering chartering a sailboat out of St. Vincent this winter. This will be our fist experience at sailing the carribean and had been thinking about the Sunsail flotilla charter as we would be doing this with other boats. The smallest boat they show on their site for this is 36' and it is a two week excursion. Preferable since it will be just the two of us a 32-34' would work best to keep the cost down and 10 days a better time period. We could charter on our own and get what we want for when we want but are a little reluctant do to our inexperience in this area. We do sail each summer to the North Channel of Lake Huron, 3 weeks over 500 NM so its the new environment we are concerned about. Should this be a concern for us? Any charter company better to deal with than another? Anyone with some experience with charters in the Grenadines - thoughts or direction would be appreciated.

Paul
Life Is Good
CS30

Vasco · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

Paul,

There are quite a few charter companies in St. Vincent. I would go with a second tier company such as Barefoot. The sailing is easy eyeball sailing with maybe a few waves between St. Vincent and Bequia. You can get a 10 day charter, also you don't really need to go with a flotilla. Check out this site, a member from our club used to have a charter boat there.
The Usual Suspects -* Destination: The Grenadines

camaraderie · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

St. Vincent itself has some crime issues and I would not think about spending time in cruising around and anchoring off that particular island alone. The islands to the south however...the Grenadines, Carriacou, Bequia and Grenada are quite safe and the Tobago Cays are one of the very best places to cruise. The trades can blow quite strongly and you should be comfortable with your own skills in 20-25 knots but seas are typically not rough though the ocean swells can be large and a bit different than you may be used to. Certainly nothing that your described skills can't handle and a real joy under sail. You will appreciate a larger boat in such conditions.
If you are concerned about your skill level, I'd suggest the BVI instead where the conditions are more moderate and protected and every bit as beautiful.

melodycs30 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008

Many thanks for the advise re: sail chartering in the Grenadines. The advise is very helpful.

Paul
Life Is Good