Caribbean islands in March: please give advice on the route!

[Katana]

Hi everybody,

I'd love to go sailing round Caribbean islands with a group of friends in March. Will appreciate any recommendations on the route! I've got some experience, but not plenty, and would love to practice in a beautiful place like that.

Is that a good idea?

 

[lonederanger]

You best leave now or you will never make it in time !

 

[kalanka]

I sailed across the Atlantic in a 10.5 m sloop and then kept the boat in the Caribbean for two years visiting most of the islands from Grenada to BVI.

I was frequently single-handed and am used to rugged Scottish conditions but I thought the sailing between the individual Caribbean islands was pretty challenging with some strong downdrafts and difficult seas. It is a great area for sailing because the wind is almost always present and almost always between NE and SE. However, if you lose ground to leeward say on passage from St Vincent to St Lucia it is often very hard to beat back to windward (typically in 30Kt) when approaching your destination. I wouldn't say it was exactly a place to practice in!

That said, most boats there were much bigger than mine. A bigger boat with a powerful engine would not have much bother perhaps. I knew someone who worked for one of the big charter companies in the Carib and he said that 90% of their charters were big cats and 90% of those never unfurled a sail....

Good luck!

 

[geem]

The sailing here in the Windward and leeward islands is fantastic. Probably some of the best in the world. The conditions are normally circa 15/25 kts with higher squalls and gusts. The spray in your face is warm and the air temperature rarely drops below 25degC even at night. Winds blow from the East so wind is normally on the beam or just forward of it by the time you allow for the West setting current. Its a great place to do some proper sailing. If you charter a monohull you will rarely motor anywhere

 

[Laser310]

I was frequently single-handed and am used to rugged Scottish conditions but I thought the sailing between the individual Caribbean islands was pretty challenging with some strong downdrafts and difficult seas.

i agree with this

some time ago, there was a thread on this forum about the caribbean 600.., and i posted something similar. of course, it depends on the day..,some are harder than others.., but when going between those islands that are a reasonable distance apart, one should be prepared for _real_ ocean sailing. That said, if you are prepared for it, and have a good boat, it will be loads of fun.

 

[geem]

i agree with this

some time ago, there was a thread on this forum about the caribbean 600.., and i posted something similar. of course, it depends on the day..,some are harder than others.., but when going between those islands that are a reasonable distance apart, one should be prepared for _real_ ocean sailing. That said, if you are prepared for it, and have a good boat, it will be loads of fun.

Haha, its real ocean sailing in bite sized chunks. I tend to think of it as just real sailing! ?
From Grenada up to Antigua there is nothing more than about 40nm as the longest hop between islands. Behind Guadeloupe you will find little wind and will likely need the engine at times. Its amazing how a hot climate and hot sea changes your perception of tough conditions. For me there is nothing nicer than a beam reach in 20kts. The other 26000 boats in the Caribbean must have a similar view!

 

[Katana]

Thank you!