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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Month |
°C Max |
°C Min |
Avg. precipitation (mm) |
Avg. Water temp. (°C) |
Avg. wind (m/s) |
January |
28 |
24 |
76 |
25 |
NE 7,5-10 |
February |
28 |
24 |
51 |
25 |
E 7,5-10 |
March |
28 |
24 |
51 |
26 |
E 7,5-10 |
April |
29 |
25 |
76 |
27 |
E 7,5-10 |
May |
30 |
26 |
101 |
28 |
SE 7,5-10 |
June |
31 |
27 |
76 |
28 |
SE 7,5-10 |
July |
31 |
27 |
76 |
29 |
SE 7,5-10 |
August |
31 |
27 |
127 |
29 |
SE 7,5-10 |
September |
31 |
27 |
127 |
29 |
SE 7,5-10 |
October |
31 |
27 |
101 |
28 |
SE 7,5-10 |
November |
29 |
26 |
127 |
28 |
NE 7,5-10 |
December |
28 |
24 |
101 |
27 |
NE 7,5-10 |