Some ideas for Christmas in the Caribbean?

[rasher]

We're going to charter for a week or two over the Christmas holiday. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? We did Junkanoo in Nassau and then a week in the Exumas that was pretty amazing. Looking for something similar if possible.

Some of our early thoughts (without going a lot of research)
Puerto Rico - Fajardo to Culebra/Vieques
Antigua - over the St. Kitt's for Sugar Mas festivities
Martinique to Tobago Cayes
Grenada to Tobago Cayes

Any thoughts on "Christmas winds" and which locations are worse/better than others? Wife and I are fairly experienced cruisers but we'll have some family on board that might not be so tolerable of high winds or rolly anchorages.

[Flagman101]

Go south!
The Grenadines are wonderful.
For a week I would not change countries.
Customs and procedures can make you loose time that could be spent doing something else...like sailing
The Grenadines have plenty for a week.

Christmas winds....wind is wind.
You can expect 25 knots. If you choose your anchorage well it won't be rolly.
7 days in the Grenadines
Day 1 Arrival and preparation
Day 2 Start at Blue Lagoon and sail to Bequia
Day 3 Sail to Tobago cays
Day 4 Stay at Tobago cays
Day 5 Short early sail to Mayreau Salt Whistle bay
Day 6 Sail to Union
Day 7 sail back to Blue Lagoon

[rasher]

Thanks for the tips. SV & Grenadines looks great. A bonus is that flights down there on Caribbean Airlines lay over in Trinidad, so perhaps we can get a day or two for Trini Christmas.

Regarding "Christmas Winds" = It's difficult to determine what some people consider to be intolerable conditions versus what wife and I think is acceptable. I've heard horror stories of "Christmas Winds" and yet 25 knots is no big deal for us. But we've also been warned by people about the dangerous and arduous sail from Virgin Gorda Sound to Anegada (LOLZ)

My understanding is the frequent periodic lows coming down from the US East Coast around the holidays makes for more variable conditions at that time. I assume the farther you go down the chain (like, say, The Grenadines), the more consistent things are?

[Flagman101]

That is correct.
The Grenadines are slmost never affected by systems that will affect the Bahsms and the leewards islands.
Expect 25 knots with gusts at 25knots....
If there is a big storm in the Atlantic that produces a northern swell, this might affect the Grenadines.
But dont worry charter companies are well aware of that, and will let you know where not to go and where to go if needed.