St Martin-Guadeloupe or Martinique-Grenada or ...

[Pafff]

Hi

We have sailed Martinique-Tobago Cays-Martinique 20 years ago. Now we would like to sail again in the Caribbean next April.

We would charter a catamaran and are considering the following alternatives:

1. St Martin - Guadeloupe (one way, very good flights from Europe)
2. Guadeloupe - Martinique (one way, very good flights)
3. Martinique - Grenada (one way, no good flights)
4. Martinique - Tobago Cays - Martinique (very good flights)
5. Something else in the region?

We appreciate nice bays, swimmig and sometimes a visit on shore. We appreciate less: long sailing trips and overcrowded marinas.

Any experiences, what do you think is better?
Any recommended itineraries?
Is it a good idea to sail north to south to have better wind?

Thank you and regards
Patrick
Berne, Switzerland

[hpeer]

You could also charter out of Jolly Harbor, Antigua. Dream Yacht Charter I believe.

[Zanshin]

Hello @Pafff - what is your timeframe for the charter and what month do you wish to do this? Also, if you are chartering with Moorings you could add St. Lucia as a one-way destination, and there are several direct flights to the U.K. and from there back to Switzerland.

Guadeloupe has great flights, and Pointe a Pitre is a large marina to pick up from. I'd head to the Iles des Saintes immediately, they are beautiful; or Marie Galante depending on the time of year. Then Dominica in Portsmouth and after that you are already on Martinique. The leeward side of all 3 islands is usually almost windless and you'll motor; but the winds really pick up for the short sails from the southern tip of one to the northern tip of the next one.
I'm in St. Martin now and am heading to St. Lucia in the next day or two (once the weather gets better). Depending upon your timing and willingness to sail you could do St. Martin to St. Barths then St. Kitts & Nevis and then either to Antigua or Guadeloupe depending upon the time of year/winds. There are lots of choices. The longest sail would be 90NM from St. Martin to Antigua; with a couple of crew you can do that overnight and not miss a day ashore.

[Pafff]

Hi Zanshin


This will be for 2 weeks at the beginning of April, 8 or 9 people, probably a catamaran which cannot sail against the wind.


I have read many rather negative comments about St Kitts&Nevis, most people seem to sail St Martin - St Barth - Barbuda - Antigua - Guadeloupe because of that. This implies sailing twice 10 hours or so, i.e. to lose 2 days as we don't like sailing in the night (we find it dangerous and unconfortable).


Do you think that this is a wrong impression and that St Kitts and Nevis are nice?


Another idea we had was Guadeloupe - Dominica - Martinique.


But we are afraid that the region north of Martinique could be less nice than Martinique - Grenada.


One more question: do you know where I find a description the winds in this region in that season (except that they usually come more or less from the north...)

[Zanshin]

I like to visit St. Kitts for Fort Brimstone and the White Hous Bay anchorage and bit of stuff ashore, Nevis doesn't have too much to offer except hiking and the Pinney Beach anchorage.

The winds always come from the east, and vary seasonally a bit between ENE/ESE and even to NE/SE. Wind strength and swell vary by season as well. In April you'll be seeing stable weather and should calculate with 12-15 knots ESE. The waves will be 1 meter or so. All in all good sailing up and down the islands.

From St. Martin the only sail where you might be pushing a hard-on-the-wind tack is to Barbuda or Antigua - all the other sails in your itinerary are going to be quite nice.

[Pafff]

Thank you for your feedback.

We have decided to charter a boat in Martinique and go to the Grenadines.

Regards