St Vincent & the Grenadines

[Lightfin]

In a couple of weeks we're chartering in St Vincent & the Grenadines for a week.

Looking for itinerary, and any other suggestions anyone with first hand experience there cares to offer.

Thanks much!!

[Vasco]

Do a search on "all the usual suspects". A fellow member of my club that's owned a charter boat down there for five or six years. Very informative.

[camaraderie]

Stay off the St. Vincent mainland as much as possible and enjoy the Grenadines, Cariacou, Bequia...plenty to keep you thrilled and busy in just those 3 places!

[mickmul]

And Palm Island is beautiful, but not sure if you can stay overnight - we were not allowed back in '96 because some VIP had rented the complex there . .

[GordMay]

Excerpted from “The Usual Suspects - Destination: The Grenadines”
The Usual Suspects - Destination: The Grenadines
”... Palm Island is a day anchorage only. You might work it into your schedule as a lunch stop while en-route between Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union, or PSV. The anchorage is fairly spacious, so just pick a spot and go in. It gets deep fairly quickly, so you’ll need to come in close to anchor ...”

[kesey]

Originally Posted by Lightfin

In a couple of weeks we're chartering in St Vincent & the Grenadines for a week.

Looking for itinerary, and any other suggestions anyone with first hand experience there cares to offer.

Thanks much!!

Best for sailing info and pilotage is Chris Doyle's "Sailors Gudie to the Windward Islands".

Admiralty Bay in Bequia is probably the busiest place you will see. You will get a great flavour of local life there. If overnighting, take a mooring - occasionally if the wind is whistling down from the V of the mountains, the holding on anchor can be interesting. You could do some provisioning at Euroshoppers there.

Call in to Clifton on Union Island also. The reef is spectacular. Have a drink at Jonties little island - he built it from conch shells. Union is a good place to buy fresh fruit and veg. You'll see the open air market as you approach the main street. You'll get some goodies, nice wines and food specialities at the little French Shop on the main street.

Mustique is well worth a visit. The moorings there are well worth the EC$75 they charge for 3 days. Dine in Firefly and/or in The Cotton House. Neither are cheap. To get the two in you could get lunch in Firefly (spectacular views) and dinner in The Cotton House. The latter was listed as Conde Nast's top hotel in the world. I never stayed there, always having the boat to reside on, but I've enjoyed dining there many of the times I've been to the Grenadines. Do the walk along the beaches, to the right as you face Basil's Bar from where you are moored. It is fabulous along the uninhabited side of the island.

Don't miss Saltwhistle Bay on Mayreau. Walk up to the top of the island and down to Salines on the other side. The walk will work off all the lovely seafood you will have been nibbling! The views are lovely and the people are very welcoming. Some genius got overexcited when they were putting in electricity a few years ago and installed a maze of poles and wires up in the village, probably on the basis of "if you've got it, flaunt it".

The Tobago Cays are simply magnificent. There are turtles and rays there now which are great to see.

Don't miss the anchorage at PSV, between PSV and Petite Martinique. The hotel on PSV is good to dine in also.

Palm Island is as said above way too rolly to overnight in, particularly when there are such other lovely places.

[Lightfin]

Thanks to all that responded, and thanks especially to Kesey -- great info!!

[Chicken of the Sea]

GordMay is on the money.

Lunch at Palm is great. Union Island is a stone's throw away for over nighting, can be crowded but is convenient as a jumping off place for next day. Canouan can be rolly but worthwhile for another day.

Last night before departure, a super private spot is to tuck in behind Young Island, just minutes from Blue Lagoon, SVG.

Happy sailing.