The Caribbean

One Day In The Caribbean

The Caribbean is rightly referred to as a yacht vacation paradise… Perhaps no other destination in the world can offer such a range thanks to its 7000+ beautiful islands, islets, reefs and cays; varied cultures and activities, clear water, and unlimited itineraries – including some of the top yachting destinations in the world – St Barths, the Virgin Islands, St Martin, Antigua, the Grenadines and Barbados.

The Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, incorporating the US Virgin Islands of St Thomas, St Croix and St Johns, and the British Virgins, is in many ways a yachting paradise. These famous islands provide all of the ingredients for the perfect yachting holiday – gorgeous beaches, varied destinations varying from posh hotels to deserted sandy beaches, shipwrecks, excellent snorkelling and diving, chic beach bars, restaurants and night life, and a pace and charm that perfectly ties in with a yachting holiday.

St. Barths and Anguilla
St. Barthelemy is the main meeting point of the jet set in the Caribbean. The island is more rugged and less lush than some of the other Caribbean islands, but it has culture, shopping, accommodation and amenities that necessary for a luxury holiday. The island offers excellent cuisine derived from its French roots. The main Super Yacht port in St. Barths is Gustavia Port, which offers excellent accommodation, and amenities for super and mega yachts.

St. Martin/St. Maarten
St Martin/St Maarten is a must visit destination in the Caribbean. You get two islands in one – one French and one Dutch. It is the smallest island in the world to share two governments and to have coexisted peacefully for 350 years. On the French side, the port of Marigot offers a few lovely main streets with shops, boutiques, bistros, patisseries and restaurants (all very French!). At the southern end of town, there is a chic new designer shopping centre where all purchases are tax free. On the Dutch side much of the island has been densely built with resorts and casinos. The main centres are Simpson Bay and the capital, Phillipsburg. Simpson Bay is the centre of yachting activity and annually hosts the Heineken Regatta. St. Vincent and The Grenadines For those seeking the beauty of the Caribbean combined with the seclusion of quiet coves and bays with white sand beaches, a charter cruise among St. Vincent and the Grenadines is for you. Part of the Windward Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines are 32 volcanic islands located south of St Lucia and north of Grenada. Only nine of the islands are inhabited, while the rest are known for their bird sanctuaries, scenic hiking routes and colorful fish and coral featuring some of the finest diving and snorkelling in the Caribbean.

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua’s white corridors of sandy beach are its main draw, with shopping, dining and charming inns ready for vacationers. St. John’s, on the west coast, is the capital of Antigua and offers plenty of attractions including the Antigua and Barbuda Museum, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and Redcliffe Quay. Antigua’s history as a sugar plantation island is still evident today, as over a hundred abandoned sugar mill towers still grace the rolling countryside.  Coral reefs that protect the coastline of Antigua and Barbuda, once an obstacle to enemy ships, provide abundant marine life great for snorkelling and scuba diving. Antigua is a great Caribbean yacht charter vacation destination because of its many harbours. Sail into English Harbour on the southern coast, famous for the historic military lookout of Shirley Heights. Nearby Falmouth Harbour to the east is a major yachting centre with three large marinas and Nelson’s Dockyard, the only working Georgian dockyard in the world. Good anchorage for your charter yacht can be found on the east shore at Green Island, as well as at Five Island Harbour just south of St. John’s and at Jolly Harbour on the south coast, which offers marinas, restaurants and shopping. The island of Barbuda is lesser known than Antigua, and offers an inviting contrast of quiet and solitude. Good sailing is available with anchorage opportunities on the west coast and to the south. Codrington, on Barbuda’s west side, is the island’s largest town and is famous for the Frigate Bird Sanctuary in Codrington Lagoon. The Lagoon is also one of Barbuda’s most famous beaches, yet on your yacht charter cruise, you will encounter very few humans visiting its pink sandy stretch.

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