Smooth Sailing

With 7000 islands, and regions of distinct and varied character, the sparkling waters of Caribbean offer a wealth of options to yacht owners and charters - and is no stranger to welcoming A-list superyachts to its shores.

The waters of the Caribbean have been inextricably linked with sailing ever since the days of Colonist forays, privateer ships, pirates and legends of the sea. Admiral Rodney and Captain Nelson sailed here and Spain, France and England constantly vied for mastery of these seas.  The Caribbean gave freed slaves liberty, explorers spices, exotic fruits and nuts while marauding bandits sank ships, fired canons and pounded treasure.

Many of the world’s luxury yacht owners choose to berth, or sail, around the Caribbean islands while virtually every large-scale hotel in the Caribbean provides small sailboats (most often Sunfish, Sailfish, and small, one-masted catamarans) for its guests - that’s how crucial setting sail is. 

 

For larger craft, the almost-ideal sailing conditions in the Caribbean region offer many options for dropping anchor at secluded coves surrounded by relatively calm waters. The sea-scape isspectacular, from mountainous islands such as the Virgin Islands to the empty sands and castaway isles of the Grenadines. Popular sailing around Antigua, Barbados, St. Martin, and the French-speaking islands offers gorgeous views  of beautiful marine life and soaring seabirds. Conditions are generally recognised as calm but there are certainly strong currents with the biggest waves usually on the northern and eastern sides of most islands -- the Atlantic (as opposed to the Caribbean) side.

So where is best is to sail?

The British Virgin Islandsoffer a superb array ofwell-developed marina facilities, as does the nearby US Virgins too.  A sizeable number of seasoned yacht owners call these islands a second home, with the reigning capital for sailing is Tortola, the largest island of the British Virgins. On-site are about 300 well-maintained sailing craft available for bareboat rentals and perhaps 100 charter yachts. With the US Virgin Islands home to some of the biggest charter business in the Caribbean on St. Thomas.

Famed for its 33 seductive beaches of the silkiest sands, and hidden cays accessible by a speedboat jaunt, Anguilla offer some outstanding coastal scenery complete with tangled mangrove forests and heritage site dives. Yachts drift in and out amongst waters rich in southern stingrays, reef shark, nurse sharks, lobsters, moray eels, turtles and barracuda, shoals of grunts and tarpon. Sailing in Anguilla has a long and deep history, and is one of the defining characteristics of the island - there are a number of yacht charter companies here but it is a less developed yacht charter destination than many Caribbean islands, featuring pristine nature and sandy beaches.

 

Antigua and Barbuda site together on a shallow bank ringed by beautiful soft sand reefs and corals; twin islands blessed by gorgeous coastal scenery. Shipwrecks lie off both islands the best equipped is Antigua from which most of the reef dives are located in shallow waters off the west coast. Flanked by flourishing rainforest on one side and a palm-tree-lined beach on the other, Carlisle Bay lies in one of Antigua’s most beautiful bays. Arriving guests are greeted with a walkway over a lily pond and relaxation is aided by thoughtful touches. Since it opened in 2003, its modern jetty and calm anchorage has been a hit with the superyacht set. Less than five nautical miles from English Harbour, its four restaurants, floodlit tennis courts and cavernous spa offer plenty to tempt you ashore.

 

The islands of the Bahamas boasts some of the clearest waters you’ll find together with the third-largest fringing barrier reef. At. Over Yonder Cay, a solid ground resort with superyacht-level service, an experienced yacht owner runs a four villaexclusive resort that can accommodate parties of up to 28 people. The marina is capable of handling yachts up to 54.8 metres with a feature seldom found in the Bahamas, 3.9 metre depth — oh, and you even swim to hammer head sharks here - an adrenalin pumping thrill!

Water-sports and sailing in Barbadosis hassle-free thanks to mature sailing scene, year-round warm waters, well maintained marinas and top notch boatyards island-wide. Simon Cowell is a regular here with his A-list friends aboard the $500,000 a week ultra-luxurious Slipstream Superyacht. Cowell traditionally arrives in Barbados in early December for a long winter break and enjoys snorkelling and jet skiing in waters rich in turtles, moray eels and barracuda in and amongst corals, sponges and gorgonians.

The Cayman Islands offer some outstanding waterspouts and sailing in the birthplace of sport diving with luxury yachts and charter vessels  well served from Grand Cayman,. Between September and March some of the world's largest superyachts reside in the Caribbean - and several head straight to the Cayman Islands for its 365 dive sites, excellent sport fishing and fabulous restaurants and spas. Buoys provide secure anchorage for multimillion dollar mega-yachts, such as Octopus owned by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. Marinas on the sheltered coast include the Barcadere Marina, the oldest place of berth in Grand Cayman, seen on early maps of the island since 1735

The Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo resort is spread across 7,000 acres and is a legendary Caribbean resort within the yachting scene. Join the fleet of professional boats that are drawn to the sport-fish hub of Casa de Campo Marina, such is the lure of theblue marlin,  billfish and pelagic species such as mahi mahi, wahoo and tuna. From your suite the sparkling Caribbean sea beyond provides a stunning backdrop on an island that boasts luxuriant marine vegetation, a submerged volcano crater and spectacular water sports.Look out for squid, squirrelfish and frog fish and flying gurnards are popular sightings.  

Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire boast the perfect weather for sailing, with a constant breeze and calmseas. The Dutch Caribbean islands  – an archipelago known as the ABC Islands – are regarded for their dive sites and average temperatures of 27 degrees year round.Curaçao’s low mountain range blocks the trade winds, protecting the southern coast and making for vibrant, healthy reefs and smooth sailing off the southern shore. Here, the Curacao underwater park protects nearly 1,500 acres of reef with waters that boast more than 400 species of fish, sponges, gorgonians, corals and other marine life with 57 varieties of coral alone.

Grenadais no stranger to superyacht scene, as the 'Spice Island', as it is often known, lies south of the main hurricane belt, making it a popular marina destination for yachts and superyachts to berth during the Caribbean summer months. All facilities cater for yachts up to superyacht size. Spice Island Beach Resort, on the southern end of the three-kilometre curve of golden sand, is popular with the yachting crowd and exudes old-school luxury with porters in gleaming gold buttons and pith helmets just a short drive, or quick tender spin, from the Camper & Nicholsons Marina. Grenada is also home to the world’s first underwater sculpture park created by artist Jason DeCaires. 

Jamaica’s north coast has attracted the rich and famous for six decades and everything here, from the pristine sands to the no clocks policy, is geared up to help visitors switch off. For the ultimate R&R, moor at Ocho Rios pier a mere two miles away, and take a private transfer to the Jamaica Inn, a favourite of the world’s holidaying elite. Explore underwater corals in a zillion bubblegum hues in the surrounding warm clear waters.  Excellent sailing infrastructure ensures Jamaica a popular destination for yacht owners - with plenty of turtles and rays to see. Jamaica is the third-largest island in the West Indies, and the only one completely surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. 

Upscale Martinique’s rich soil boasts fantastic botanical growth and these nutrients run into the seas to nurture fertile waters. The Caribbean and Atlantic Coasts are teeming with marine life, and the brightly-coloured underwater landscape looks like a fairy tale. Superyacht charters and luxury yacht charters in Martinique are both popular options and a host of private yachts also visit every year - the island ranks ‘super yachting” as one of the islands most popular - and extravagant- hobbies.

The waters of Montserratare unspoilt and unpolluted and lap black-sand beaches, coral reefs, cliffs and shoreline caves. At present Little Bay is the only port of entry, and whilst there are plans to build a marina here, the bay offers a reasonably protected anchorage for visiting yachts. Stepping ashore on Montserrat is like stepping back in time to the Caribbean of yesteryear - within an easy day cruising of both Antigua and Guadeloupe. Most of the island’s diving is carried out along its protected west coast and around Little Redonda Island. The islands are all popular nesting sites for seabirds and there are plenty of dolphins in surrounding waters as well as larger pelagic species and turtles. 

St Kitts and Nevis are some of the most unspoilt and relaxing islands in the Caribbean. Vividly green with blue skies, clean air and long empty beaches, Nevis has a pace of life that encourages you to stop and appreciate the natural beauty around you. St Kitts has a special ambience and charm, that is reflected in the warmth of its people. There are plenty of moray eels, wrasse, turtles and rays in the waters around the Nevis where superyacht numbers continue to soar - it was once known as the 'Secret Caribbean' for its pristine coastline, lush rainforest and quiet anchorages,but it is rising as a sanctuary for superyachts.

St Lucia’scrystal clear waters are overlooked by the iconic Piton mountains, where a former plantation is now an upscale resort, beautiful Sugar Beach.  Boats are welcomed into a deep bay to tender in to the resort’s jetty, which juts out from powdery white sands. Exclusive residences. Here have large decks and infinity pools that offer views out to Petit Piton and the superyachts bobbing beneath..

With 32 unspoiled islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesboast the idyllic character of of a Caribbean utopia with its warm, clear waters and exquisite, powdery sands. Boating is a way of life in the Grenadines, partly because access to many of the tiny remote islands is difficult or impossible by airplane and there are a number respected local yachter charter agents headquartered here. Look out for an abundance of sea life in the waters surrounding the islands.The uninhabited Tobago Cays with its flawless pale sands, is Saint Vincent and the Grenadine’s National Marine Park is especially stunning.

The waters around Trinidad and Tobagohave earned a big reputation for exceptional sailing, watersports and dive sites. Healthy reefs feature both hard and soft coral and there are plenty of barracuda, turtles, eagle rays and cobia plus countless schooling fish.Tobago is also a site for migratory whales (sperm and humpback) leatherback sea turtles and black tip reef sharks.         

The oh-so sailable calm waters surrounding the 40 different islands and cays of Turks and Caicosfeature a vast, thriving coral reef ecosystem and brightly-coloured fish. Only eight of the islands are are inhabited and one of the key annual spectacles is a deep water migration along the 35-kilometre/22-mile-wide channel separating the Turks Islands from Caicos. Yacht owners are giving the Turks & Caicos islands the attention they deserve, thanks to Grace Bay on Providenciales, an 11 acre spa resort that has something for everyone, from fine-sand beaches to impeccable service - and more. The remote island Salt Cay is one of the best places to experience the rare opportunity to interact with humpback whales - awesome.