Charter itinerary in St Lucia

[bbg]

Here's the situation.

Me and family are meeting another family (total 4 adults, 5 kids) in St Lucia end June this year. I know that's hurricane season but that's what we're doing. Far enough south and early enough in the season that we're taking the risk.

Looks like we'll be chartering an Athena 38 for 12 nights. I've assumed first and last night in or very near the base, which leaves 10 nights "out there".

I've read and heard (thanks to forumites who've responded to some PMs) that we might get bored by staying on St Lucia, but the passage south to Bequia has problems - long, potentially unpleasant passage to St Vincent (which you don't really want to visit anyway - not so nice and recent violent crime in some bays). Once in the Grenadines, though, lovely sailing.

So what to do? Fast dash south, a few days in the Grenadines, then hard slog back north? Or risk being bored on St Lucia for 10 nights? Bear in mind the 5 kids.

A further question - is it difficult to clear in and out of St V & G on a charter boat?

All input welcome.

 

[michael_w]

It's quite easy to skip St Vincent. Leave St Lucia at first light, doesn't really matter where from and you'll be in Bequia by late afternoon. I've done it several times in my Contessa 33.

The secret when you are heading north is keep as close as you dare to the coast once north of Chateaubelair. This will put you at a reasonable angle to fetch The Pitons. It can be very gusty at the north end of St Vincent and by hugging the coast keeps you out of the worst of the wind and sea for as long as possible.

Once you're about 5 miles north things will settle down.

Dunno about clearance procedures for charter boats.

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's the situation.

Me and family are meeting another family (total 4 adults, 5 kids) in St Lucia end June this year. I know that's hurricane season but that's what we're doing. Far enough south and early enough in the season that we're taking the risk.

Looks like we'll be chartering an Athena 38 for 12 nights. I've assumed first and last night in or very near the base, which leaves 10 nights "out there".

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it already booked and paid for? If not, why not charter from the Grenadines if thats where you want to end up??

This site might help?

http://www.usual-suspects-sailing.com/boat.htm

Having said that, his boat was based in St. Vincent, which you perhaps wish to avoid.

Cheers

Richard

 

[Jeannius]

Go north sir. Martinique has some beautiful anchorages all, of course, with great food available. Maybe 3 hours on an Athena from Rodney Bay to Marin at the southern tip of Martinique. Then carry on around towards Fort de France with several nice overnight stops. I'm sure there is more but that's as far as I've been.

IMHO 12 days is too long on St Lucia. You'll want to kill a boat boy before you are half way through. I counted 12 'visitors' when moored between Soufriere and the Pitons. Drove me up the wall

 

[capnsensible]

Hiya, I've sailed around that area a few times and I reckon with the kids on board you may not want to go too far. It may not be as far as you think down to Bequia, but the last short stretch from the S. of St. Vincent to Admiraty Bay is often a bit of hard yakka with the prevailing wind and current pushing you determindly to the West! Even if you set off at first light from, say, The Pitons, south St. Lucia, its often a struggle to get in by dark o'clock. Tropics generally still only give about 13 hours daylight.
I skippered a family charter in Antigua a few years ago and the kids did get a bit restless at anything longer than 4 or 5 hours, don't blame them.
From RodneyBay (worth a couple of days sailing round getting used to boat plus anchoring and swimming), there is Marigot Bay, the Pitons and the cantrememberthenameofit bay at the far South. At the opposite end, going North there are a number of attractive places on Martinique with lovely beaches and French food to die for.
Short hops, lots of beaches and swimming at anchorages I reckon would make it for the kids plus still ntertain the adults.
I always use the Doyle pilots, not that expensive and you could probably get one in UK to help with a spot of planning.
Hope this helps!!

 

[GrahamP]

We made this list of things to do in St Lucia for friends a couple of years ago. – may be of use to you if you choose to spend some time there. With a group of nine hiring a mini bus taxi could get you around more efficiently than the local transport.


Graham and Michaela's St Lucia guide

Soufrière

Soufrière beach - Hummingbird beach bar / restaurant
Anse Chasenet beach + hotel facilities - snorkelling - coral and fish
Anse Maman Walk North along coast from Anse Chasenet or circular walk from Soufrire via Columbette and Bouton
Malgre Tout beach ( few facilities - next to pitons)
Captain Hook's restaurant and bar (local and cheap!)
Tour of Town ( Avoid area called the Gulf)
Church
Jalousie Plantation Resort ( between the Pitons - get there by boat?)
Sulphur Springs
Diamond Mineral baths and Botanical Gardens
Soufriere Estate
Still Plantation resort ( reasonable eating with pool )
"Les Pitons" waterfall
Rain Forest Walk (tour )

Castries

Pointe Seraphine duty free shopping
Long beaches from Vigie to Cap Estate
Cap Estate
Rodney bay
Gros Islet (Fishing village by day - big street party every Friday)
Cas-en-Bas (long walk from Gros Islet to this remote beach on East Coast )
Club St Lucia all inclusive resort ( day passes available)
Pigeon Island (historic area)
Eudovic's Sculptures
Batik houses
Green Parrot Restaurant
Castries Cathedral
The Rain Restaurant and bar
Castries Market
Marigot Bay
The Pink Elephant (reasonable food and drink)

Vieux Fort

Vieux Fort Beach (can have large waves. Beach pass from Club Med for watersports)
Maria Island - National Trust nature reserve
Chok Chok restaurant and bar


Choiseul

Beach
Arts and Crafts centre

Others

Anse La Raye - village
Labourie - village
Banana plantations
The Marquis Estate (tour)

 

[AndrewB]

I'm with Jeannius - plan to spend part of your time in Martinique. Marin is a half day sail from Rodney Bay, that and St Annes have more to offer than anything in St Lucia, plus its a fine base for a day tour of the rest of the island. And, as he says, no boat boys, though they are nothing like as bad as they used to be. If time permitted, I'd recommend sailing not to Fort-de-France, more suitable for a land visit (easily by bus from Marin) but in behind the reefs on the SE side of Martinique. Challenging and requiring careful navigation, but some remote and fascinating spots to visit such as the ruined pirate's mansion at Baie de Tresor.

 

[snowleopard]

Me too. The Grenadines are nice but it took us an overnight passage from Marigot to Bequia and you're not allowed to sail after dark with charter boats.

In Martinique you have Point du Bout which is a nice anchorage and the interesting old capital of St Pierre. You can hire a car and go up into the rain forest or climb Mt Pelee. The food is greatly superior to St Lucia too. If you get bored with Martinique you can also move on to Prince Rupert bay on Dominica where you'll see a totally different world.