No need to chase the sun to find an ENDLESS SUMMER, it always here, right overhead where you left it, in the sun drenched, Tradewinds cooled, Grenadines.
When things begin to cool down, and winter closes her icy grip on most of North America, treat yourself, friends and or family to some winter sunshine with Barefoot Yacht Charters down in the beautiful Grenadines. Winter temperatures are in the high 80s (28 to 30 C) and our annual trade winds are in full effect. Epic sailing conditions can be found with 15 to 25 knots every day. Being that it is our dry season, any significant rain is very rare. In the northern hemisphere’s winter months, the islands are alive and buzzing with excitement. Everyday there are new things to do and places to explore. During these months sailors from all over the world come to sail these enchanted isles, a bucket list item for every true blue water sailor.
As the temperatures rise and the summer weather arrives to the upper half of North America, less and less sailors venture to the Caribbean leaving the islands of the Grenadines, in particular, empty. Flights to the islands become considerably less expensive and charter prices on boats also come down significantly. There is no place on earth like the Grenadines for sailing in the summer time. YES, DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON!
The common but mistaken idea that the entire Caribbean is a shooting gallery for hurricanes is simply not true. In this regard it’s location, location, location that’s the important factor. The Grenadines are located between 12.2 degrees North Latitude and 13.2 degrees North Latitude which puts them south of the average track of hurricanes. “Islands south of 14º North Latitude seldom are affected, so islands south of Martinique have only a 2.2 percent annual risk of being affected by a hurricane, making your odds about 50-1 against a storm interrupting your vacation. That compared to a 25 % chance or 4 – 1 for Miami and Bermuda and a 20% chance or 5 – 1 for the Bahamas” – according to TRIP SAVVY. The BVI lie somewhere around 10 % chance or 10 – 1. “A handful of Caribbean Islands lie far enough south to be considered beneath the hurricane belt, so they are good options for travel at any time of the year. Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are far less likely to be affected by hurricanes than the other islands” – says Responsible Travel.
During the summer months, anchorages in the Grenadines are deserted and in some months even the boat venders don’t bother to come out. Resorts are closed, and their guests, long gone. You have the entire stretch of 32 islands and Cays all to yourselves. Imagine being the only boat in the world-famous Tobago Cays or Salt Whistle Bay in Mayreau. Well, just you and the turtles. This is frequently the case in the months of September and October. July and August sailors will find a handful of boats in their favorite anchorages (Usually only 20 % of the winter numbers) and still can enjoy having many bays, and even islands, all to yourselves.” This is what cruising the Caribbean was like, before the charter boom of the 1980s, when I sailed these islands with my farther and grandfather” says Philip Barnard, owner of The Barefoot Companies and professional racing sailor. “We would wave towels to welcome boats into the anchorages, as it was such a rare occurrence to see other yachts”. He continues to say “This is my favorite time of year to sail with my own family” Summer really is the great time to bring your family and or friends on the sailing vacation of a lifetime and take advantage of the lower rates to bring a larger group.
Things to do on a Barefoot Endless Summer charter
- Dine at Basils Bar on Mustique – a private island and home to Mick Jagger, Brian Adams and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few.
- Indulge in some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean with something for all levels of divers. Wrecks, walls, drift dives and easygoing dives on protected reefs.
- Enjoy kitesurfing, scuba diving, kayaking, stand-up-paddling and much more.
- Snorkel and freedive with turtles and thousands of brightly colored tropical fish in the Tobago Cays.
- Visit Happy Island, the NEW happiest place on earth, have a rum punch and get silly.
- Swim around Mopion, a tiny sand island surrounded by a beautiful reef atoll located 0.6 nautical miles from the closest island of Petit St Vincent
- Have a barbecue dinner for two on your own private beach looking up at billions of stars.
- Enjoy a sun-downer at Frangipani Bar in Bequia, a right of passage and bucket list item for every true blue water sailor.
Everyday is summer and you will be able to:
- Explore secluded, deserted, powder white or pink sand beaches.
- Eat fresh lobster and fish along with fresh, organically grown, local produce.
- Swim or snorkel with turtles and a huge variety of tropical fish.
- Dive, kite-surf, windsurf, surf, stand-up paddle, kayak, free-dive, deep sea fishing, rock climbing, hiking, scenic jogging and world class sailing are just some of the activities waiting for you on an adventure sailing vacation in the Grenadines.
- Enjoy exciting sailing in one of the best sailing ground in the World.
If quiet anchorages, cooled by consistent trade wind breezes with deserted beaches and friendly locals sounds like the vacation you have been looking for with your family or friends, then contact Barefoot Yacht Charters and get advice from people who have lived and sailed in the Grenadines for 5 generations and have an intimate knowledge and love for sailing in this unique cruising paradise.
