Yacht Charter in St. Martin and Antigua A sailboat holiday in the Leeward Islands - and especially by the many famous islands in the area such as St. Martin and Antigua, will be an unforgettable journey through a tropic paradise. Lively resort towns with restaurants and bars, secluded anchorages with great snorkelling and scuba diving, are among the many pleasures that will greet guests. Superb sailing A mixture of European and Caribbean culture Pristine beaches on St. Barts Snorkelling and diving on Anguilla Good restaurants and casinos on St. Martin Sightseeing on St. Kitts The British named the archipelago the Leeward Islands, because, unlike the neighbouring Windward Islands, it was usually not necessary to sail against the wind to reach them from other British colonial territories. The Leeward archipelago starts east of Puerto Rico and stretches 150 km south to the Dominican Republic - and includes Guadeloupe, Antigua, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts and Anguilla. The chain ends near the famous St. Martin. The waters are ideal for an exciting Caribbean sailboat holiday - and provide access to a wealth of exciting and varied anchorages. Whether the islands are British, Dutch, French or independent - they all have their unique characteristics - and you can find both hip and trendy or isolated and relaxed. Some islands are mountainous remnants of ancient volcanoes, which today are covered by lush rain forests. Others are low-lying and surrounded by incredible white sandy beaches and vibrant coral reefs. St. Martin is one of the most famous islands in the Caribbean - and presents visiting sailors with a myriad of opportunities to enjoy the great Caribbean food, beautiful beaches, as well as formidable snorkelling and diving. A yacht charter to St. Martin and Antigua will for sure be an unforgettable adventure. Sailing in St. Martin and Antigua Because the area around St. Martin and Antigua is very large, a yacht charter to this area offers a wide range of sailing adventures. Both beginners and more experienced sailors will find a route that perfectly suits their navigation skills. A sailboat holiday can both be centred on short trips and easy navigation - but can also include more vibrant open-water voyages around the islands - anything is possible in the Leeward Islands. The trade winds typically blow from northeast to east in November to March, and east to the southeast in April to October. The strength is between 10 and 25 knots. The wind also gives strength to the North Equatorial Current, which is usually not a factor, except when gaining strength at the ends of some islands. Tidal currents are weak because of the small tidal range on about 1.5 feet. The Leeward Islands has one of the most pleasant climates in the Caribbean - with an average temperature of 26 °C throughout the year. Highlights You can easily spend a week exploring the northern Leeward Islands. By sailing 21 nautical miles a day, you will have time to enjoy relaxing navigation as well as excursions ashore to shop, sightsee and taste the delicious Caribbean food at one of the nice restaurants. You can also choose to extend your sailing area to make both long and short passages, which will allow you to be able to sail further south and visit the picturesque islands of St. Kitts, Nevis and Antigua. The combination of open water passages in the smooth wind, down the archipelago, and short cruises between the islands, with swimming, snorkelling and relaxing at secluded anchorages, is just one of the many pleasures when sailing in the Leeward Islands. Yachting in Guadeloupe Guadeloupe unfolds in the ocean as a butterfly - split in the middle by a narrow mangrove strait. At the port of Pointe-à-Pitre, you can shop at the colourful fish and spice market before the voyage goes southwest around Basse-Terre with a view of the active volcano La Soufrière and lush rainforests.The Jacque Cousteau Underwater Reserve and diving paradise around Pigeon Island must be a stop on the route towards the north. This route offers a more challenging sea sailing to Antigua and St. Kitts. Towards the south, the enchanting islands of Les Saintes, with fine wooden houses in cheerful colours and amazing anchorage coves, can be found. You will experience how the turquoise colours of the sea around the island of Marie-Galante shine dazzling. An old plantation with a rum distillery tells its own story. You can also take a detour to the pristine island of Dominica and experience its friendly locals and natural harbours, which are surrounded by rainforests.

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.