There are many places to see when you decide to go on a Caribbean sailing vacation. After all, the area itself comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays. You just have to rent a boat or tell the skipper that this is where you want to go. By choosing to rent a bare boat or a chartering a crewed vessel, you will be able to practice your sailing skills.
The sailing capital of the Caribbean is the British Virgin Islands. With consistent trade winds blowing from the northeast at 10 to 25 knots, clear water and about 60 islands and cays to explore in an area that’s 32 miles long and 15 miles wide.
If you want to start your vacation here, go to Tortola that happens to be the largest island where many operators are available to rent bareboat craft or crewed yachts, depending on your skills and interests.
But to get here, it is best to book with a private plane charter to avoid several connections in order to get there. One event you shouldnt miss when you are here is the BVI Spring Regatta where 100 yachts compete as part of the events in the three-day festival.
There is also St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands. Here, the wind comes from the northeast and blows at 10 to 25 knots. Most of the islands here are undeveloped so you can drop anchor and do some sunbathing while the rest can go and have a picnic. You can also do some shopping in town where spice market is known for its pervasive fragrances.
Another group of islands that is worth seeing is the Bahamas just 100 miles of the coast of Florida. Here, you are surrounded by turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. Abaco is the major centre here for yacht charters and from here, you can check out Andros Island, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Long Island, Mayaguana San Salvador Island or Nassau that are make up just a few of the 700 islands.
Dont forget the islands of the French West Indies which includes Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin and St. Barts. The winds here are between 10 to 20 knots and the best time to sail in these parts is between December and April which also happens to be the dry season.
Fort-de-France in Martinique is one of the Caribbean’s loveliest bays, and of the island’s several marinas, Le Marin’s Port de Plaisance is the island’s biggest and best-equipped.
If you think about it, any of these places is a good starting point to start your Caribbean sailing vacation given that millions of tourists visit this place every year.
This makes this island paradise is ideal for everyone as there are packages available for couples, honeymooners and adult only so you just have to mention which one you want to avail of. These are often posted in magazines and a lot of them are available online which means it wont be long before you find a package that suits your budget.
But apart from the different places you can go, dont forget to indulge yourself in some of the activities that you can do. These include snorkeling, board water sports, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking and scuba diving.
You will just have to borrow the equipment if you dont happen to have any of these as part of your luggage.
If you dont like large crowds, never plan your Caribbean sailing vacation during the peak months. This will also save you money as the rates will also go down.