Ins & Outs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines - 2023

30 CHARTERING Comprising some 32 islands and smaller cays, stretching 32 miles from St. Vincent in the north to Petit St. Vincent in the south, the Grenadines have long been home to a rich tradition of seafaring. To this day, sailing remains an integral part of everyday life for most islanders. As such, this special part of the world is tailor-made for safe but adventurous cruising all year- round. Each island is different, offering its own unique character and attractions, and sufficiently close to each other that you can usually see your next destination as you make your way from point to point during daylight hours. The diversity of the various islands automatically provides a wide variety of scenic beauty, natural anchorages and commercial moorings. There is an excellent supply of farm fresh fruit and vegetables, delicious local bread and of course plenty of good fish and seafood. You can also order beautiful exotic flowers to brighten your cabins. What’s the buzz There are a number of reputable yacht charter companies operating out of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These companies generally offer starts in St. Vincent, Bequia, Canouan or Union Island. Sailing out of any one of these locations puts you immediately on the doorstep of the Grenadines without the 65-mile sail (including a 5-hour open-water passage) from St. Lucia, or the 6 to 7-hour sail (often against the wind) from Grenada. The yacht charter industry has recently benefited from the completion of the Sandy Lane Yacht Club and Residences – a sophisticated and beautifully equipped full-service yacht marina in Canouan. Looking forward, the K-Group has got planning permission to substantially upgrade the Blue Lagoon Hotel and Marina facility in St. Vincent adding 150 more berths. If you are a land-based holiday maker, you can still enjoy a day out on the water exploring the surrounding islands. The historic Bequia-built sailing schooner, Friendship Rose, operates day charters to the Tobago Cays, St. Vincent and Mustique. Also based in Bequia during the winter months (Dec-Apr) is the beautiful, classic sailing schooner yacht, Heron. Built by her captain, Nigel ‘Twig’ Bower, she has sailed over 100,000 nautical miles since her launch in 2003 and carried more than 35,000 guests. She was featured in the movie, ‘The Rum Diary,’ starring Johnny Depp. Sail Grenadines also offers bareboat, skippered and all-inclusive yacht charters. Island Time, a 2010 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i, is available for day trips and luxury overnight cruises to the Tobago Cays and the beautiful Grenadine islands with optional on-board catering. In the Southern Grenadines operating out of Union Island, Wind and Sea, Scaramouche and Yannis all offer memorable day trips. Morpion Dan Christaldi on t h e c h a r t e r i n g s c e n e

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