St Lucia to Barbados

[Zulane]

Hi we are in the ARC 2006 and arrive StLucia pre Xmas. Would like to sail direct to Barbados for New year( I Know "miss the ARC and miss St Lucia") but the ARC and St Lucia it is.
Anyone done that crossing direct to Barbados in December/January? what conditions? I have had some reports of a difficult sail at that time?

 

[snowleopard]

Just in time for the Xmas winds. Reckon on 80 miles to windward in a F5-6 with a fetch of 3000 miles.

Not surprisingly, few people do it.

Alternatively you could have a few days in Barbados in transit as long as you're quick enough to make it to St Lucia for the closing date.

 

[webcraft]

What is Barbados to Trinidad like in January?

- Nick

 

[snowleopard]

The Christmas winds should be easing by then in any case but it's a broad reach. Fantastic sailing (as long as you have enough hulls /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

 

[ranga]

We tried Grenada to Barbados once early Feb - 30 hours of figting against wind and current and bailed out to Bequia. Then sailed up to St Lucia on the inside and then to Barbados - which was a doddle compared to what we were trying to do from Grenada. Port tack all the way against a F5 for sure, but could crack off a fraction after a while.

 

[Bajansailor]

We have often sailed back to Barbados from St. Lucia, and it is usually a reasonable overnight passage, especially if you have a Northeasterly wind about F4. You will be sailing on a close'ish reach, although you will get a certain amount of lee bow effect from the prevailing current that tends to set towards the NW.

And if you sail up to St Annes in Martinique first to stock up on cheap wine boxes and nice cheese, then it should be a doddle!

Lots to see and do in Barbados - check in at Port St Charles marina on the northern end of the west coast - do NOT check in at the commercial harbour in Bridgetown! Very high walls, diffcult to climb up from a dinghy, and big ship fenders that are perfect stanchion benders, especially if there is a northerly swell coming into the harbour.

I think the check in fee is still US$ 25 (in normal working hours - overtime charges can be a lot more outside of thse hours). Remember to keep back about BDS$10 for light dues which are payable when checking out (this fee is calculated on gross tonnage, hence is not a round figure).

You are allowed to anchor off PSC after checking in, or Speightstown 1 km to the south. Here there is a supermarket on the beach - very convenient for dinghies - and a nice little rum shop by the jetty called the Fisherman's Pub..

Or you can sail 10 miles down the coast to Carlisle Bay - however there are two night clubs ashore that pump out megawatts of stereophonic noise (I am reluctant to call it 'music') until 0400 every night - it becomes a case of if you can't beat them (ie get to sleep) then go ashore and join them.....

Carlisle Bay has some nice wrecks in shallow water (20' - 40') which are good for snorkelling on, and 1000's of very tame fish, all of whom are expecting to be fed....

Re getting about, there is no need for taxis as the public transport system is very good, albeit a bit hair raising at times (re the speed the buses travel at, and how many people they can manage to pack in....). There is a fixed rate of BDS$1.50 (about 40p) for any route, any distance.

If anybody has any other questions re sailing to Barbados please post a note here, or PM me - we shall look forward to welcoming you here!

 

[Bajansailor]

I had mentioned above about the high walls being difficult to climb up from a dinghy - sorry, I should have said from the deck of even a 35' long yacht.
On previous occasions when we have come alongside in the commercial harbour the quayside has always been at nose height for me when standing on deck (we do not have much tidal range here - 1m max on springs) and it does then get a bit precarious leaping off and scrabbling for the quay edge with your finger tips....

I have had a PM from Zulane, and they are definitely planning a visit to Barbados for New Years Eve (or Old Year's Night as it is known here). There will be parties going on to suit all pockets - however I think the best plan of action is to just go for a sail up the west coast and watch everything happen from offshore.
There will be a couple of truly mega fireworks displays happening on barges moored off big hotels on the west coast - a bit like a smaller version of the pyrotechnics at the end of Cowes Week - and one gets a grandstand view of these displays from the sea.

And the Zulanes will be catching up with an old pal of theirs who runs a nice little beach bar on Carlisle Bay called Lobster Alive with ice cold Banks beers (and yes, lobsters as well).
Although to be fair there are a couple of other equally nice little beach bars on the Bay as well - good potential here for rum shop crawls.....