Itinerary suggestions in The Caribbean - St. Lucia & Martinique

Yacht Charter in St. Lucia and Martinique

Unrivalled sailing, with the possibility of longer open water passages, and the easy access to a versatile range of enchanting Caribbean islands - all this is the hallmark of a sailboat vacation in the tropical paradise of St. Lucia and Martinique in the Windward Islands. Also look forward to the pleasures of modern resorts, sightseeing and fabulous white sandy beaches.

•      The Pitons - two impressive volcanic rocks on St. Lucia
•      Exciting sailing
•      The boat builders on Bequia
•      Dining on luxurious Mustique
•      Crescent Beach at Salt Whistle Bay
•      Snorkelling and scuba diving in the Tobago Cays

St. Lucia is often called the jewel of the Windward islands - which is quite appropriate. Mt. Gimie, the island's highest peak, rises more than 900 meters into the sky. The steep hillsides are covered in lush rainforest, home to an abundance of exotic plants such as orchids and giant ferns. Bird watching and hiking are popular pastimes. Like the rest of the largest islands in the Windward island group, extending from Martinique south to Grenada, St. Lucia has a volcanic origin. The dormant volcano Soufriere is a major tourist attraction and a must-see on any St Lucia yacht charter.

Although St. Lucia has a population of approximately 160,000 and its large banana plantations, picturesque towns and beautiful ports - the island does not appear specially developed and therefore give an impression of how the Caribbean looked like before mass tourism made its entry. A sailboat holiday in the Windward Islands and St. Lucia also invites visiting yachtsmen to make open water passages to the equally breathtaking islands of St. Vincent, Bequia, Mustique and Mayreau.

Sailing in St. Lucia and Martinique

The Windward Islands forms the eastern boundary between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The trade winds blowing from the northeast typically through the winter months, the peak season for a yacht charter in the area - and then from a more easterly direction in the summer. The islands north-against-south geographical location means that the wind will usually come from the port when you turn south. This is ideal for fast navigation on longer passages between the islands. Some sailors choose one-way navigation, allowing a longer route.

Wind speeds typically vary between 10 and a more lively 25 knots, often slightly weaker at the islands north-ends. Temperature-average in December to May is usually between 18 °C and 29 °C, and from June to November between 24 °C to 35 °C.

Highlights

A yacht charter in St.Lucia and Martinique includes a wealth of experiences - and the superlative sailing between the islands is only one of them. White sandy beaches, swimming, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling, diving, excellent dining experiences, travel and the opportunity to explore the breathtaking historical sites, are all part of a yacht charter in these fantastic waters.

One can easily spend a whole week around St. Lucia, and enjoy smooth sailing and take defectors to the country for shopping, sightseeing and tasting the local cuisine at one of the many good restaurants. But to most sailors a big part of the attraction of the eastern Caribbean, the chance to combine longer open water passages in the gentle breeze between the islands, with days of pure relaxation, where you can swim, snorkel and experience the culture and atmosphere of the smaller islands of the area - which also includes St. Vincent and the Grenadines.