Sailing boat cruise across the Caribbeans, from martinique to St. Vincent and Grenadines

When you say the Grenadines are "paradise of sailing 'are right. Browsing is a pleasure, driven by the gentle (but sometimes even imperative) dell'aliseo breath between a myriad of islands all different from one another: they go from green volcanic and St Lucia and St Vincent, through the unforgettable lagoon the Tobago Cays, to the typical postcard beaches (white sand, fine sand, palms, sea by incredible nuances) of the South island (Pam Island, Petit St. Vincent ..).

Finally the day x, the day of our departure for Martinique. From there 'there on the board Sidereal, a monohull sailing boat of 17 meters to navigate to the Grenadines. We chose a very tankers because we love sailing and the feelings that we feel a catamaran can not 'give. The boat is a prototype built for the cruise: the priority areas of conviviality, has a large central cockpit in which we added to our system for you punch, a typical local aperitif made of rum, sugar cane and lime, the first of a long series. We arrive in Martinique in the afternoon, after a low cost flight from Milan, a night in Paris (which is always Paris) and a flight on a French company that does not seem sold in Italy but by the prices.

At our skipper, an Italian couple martinicana we expected. Truly, we must thank the kindness, hospitality and expertise of our two skippers who have accompanied us about availability and we have always' straight 'are necessary. For organizational details will say that we have chosen a formula cruising including galley kitchen and service, for this to take maximum advantage of our 11 days of holiday, but that you can personally take care of cooking and spending.
Day 1. Our first shipping, from Martinique to St Lucia, Rodney Bay, lasted almost 4 hours. The sea channel, where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet, giving rise to a few times intemperance, it was beautiful waves of 1, 5 meters, wind force 4 / 5, the right to advance our boat with an average 9 knots. In the evening go to Rodney Bay: lively, full of BARETTINI and restaurants of all cuisines in the world. We choose an Indian restaurant and eat good, but spicy. A good night's rest awaits us in the peace of the port channel, surrounded by beautiful colonial-style villas.
Day 2. After customs declarations starting in collective taxi (buses from 8 passengers) at a time of Castries, the capital of the island. The environment of the taxi is fantastic reggae thoroughly and friendly people and smiling. The market of Castries and what you imagine a market for an island of the Caribbean: messy, noisy, colorful. Exotic fruits, handicrafts from leaves of palm trees, smell the spices. Back on Sidereal Sailing on to Marigot bay, an 'oasis of peace, enclosed bay in the mountains overlooking and surrounded by mangroves. The presence of U.S. investors is clear (fortunately a large well harmonized in the landscape), but they are the authentic local restaurants on board the Sea, which come alive on the evening of live groups, to accompany our dinner boat. Tomorrow we are facing a long navigation to Bequia.
Day 3 Departure after breakfast at 7 to Bequia. Along the island of St Lucia to the Pitoni, two cones impressive majesty, then we attack the channel of St Vincent, yet forgiving, along st Vincent, we encounter a flock of dolphins that accompanied us for a few minutes playing with the bow of the ship. All go at the helm as every team that respectable. Incredible, but at our arrival are still strong and enthusiasm for a ride to the ground. Bequia is a port of entry to the Grenadines, and a crossing point for the navigators of the place: There are banks, supermarkets, water and fuel, fruit market, so many nice places to eat and the atmosphere contrasting british / rasta Islands . We do a tour, eat an ice cream, we return by boat for a dinner Luculliana.
Day 4
Bequia has lived in the past, among other things, the hunting of whales. Even today the practice is regulated and closely with traditional media (harpoon, etc.) .. We rent a pick up for the tour of the island: we bring to the rearing of turtles, a house of an old fisherman of whales style "The Old Man and the Sea ', a viewpoint from which you can see the bay, and a beautiful beach. After lunch departure for the buoy MustiqueAttracchiamo (required to protect the bottom) and leave for the first snorkling holiday. Then, the evening cocktail at Basil Bar, on a palafitte, informal look, where we serve excellent cocktails. A table discussing: Mustique is someone too 'perfettina' grass cut to perfection, Creole cottages by pastel colors, etc. .. and then megaville by rich ... This does not prevent us, after dinner, to return to Basil: This is Saturday evening and c 's live music.
Day 5: After a trip to the island with the style golf car starting at a time of mythical Tobago Cays. What can we say? truly one of the most beautiful places I've seen ... and on this point, my fellow travelers are in agreement with me. Throw the anchor in two meters of water and we can not help but dive. A myriad of colorful fish us. .. and then we have not yet gone to the barrier, says our skipper ....
For half a lobster dinner to head all'aglio potatoes, white wine and a dessert. What do you want more from life?
Day 6: Coral Reef. We follow our skipper, who has not ceased to surprise us: now confirm, is also a man / fish. Leads us to swim, attentive to the difficulties of all, because there is a 'outlet, until the overhang of the barrier. Corals, fish of every size and color, even a squaletto After half an hour and go back to the boat in the tender, but we do not decide to leave the water. Shortly we lack that we enjoy the traditional punch drink directly into the sea. Sailing after lunch to the time of Union Island, another place of rifornimento.A Union Island music is omnipresent. The culture here is more rasta marker and the people are very kind. The island is colorful, sunny and offers beautiful views from the sea seems to really include all the shades of green and blue. Spend the evening by Lambi's,. Meeting place for crews, is a typical restaurant colorful local flavor, and had a heavy steel band, which offers a self-service rich local Creole cooking, not refined, but genuine and abundant. We ate, we drank, we danced, and we returned with the tender boat when the restaurant closed. We were the last. The irreducible.
Day 7 Departure for Petit St Vincent, an island occupied by a private resort style honeymoon by water such as beautiful Tobago Cays. Essential step in Morpion, atoll in the middle of the sea. I am not telling you anything. E 'una sorpresa. A Petit St. Vincent continue our holiday relaxing and we do not reject the ritual drink, this time on land, in the hotel bar, which they say makes the best pina colada in the area.
Sailing Day 8 After breakfast, sail back to Union, then Palm Island, exceptional colors, to Mayereau. Started way back. After a stop in beautiful Salt Whistley bay, we stop in the great bay to the north, and down to earth, we are moving towards the village at the top of the hill, where we take a drink with fried shrimp and the usual reggae music. Dinner at the boat,

 

Sailing Day 8 After breakfast, sail back to Union, then Palm Island, exceptional colors, to Mayereau. Started way back. After a stop in beautiful Salt Whistley bay, we stop in the great bay to the north, and down to earth, we are moving towards the village at the top of the hill, where we take a drink with fried shrimp and the usual reggae music. Dinner at the boat, as always beautiful and abundant, and well-deserved rest.
Day 9 In the selection of a proposal to pull up to St Vincent to Bequia or revise, choose Bequia. We want to have dinner on the ground, which we have not done very often in this holiday, and it seems that Bequia has to offer numerous opportunities. The sea is lively, and for a good hour, at the exit of Mayereau, we bow to the sea, and there fun to ride the waves, which does not spare us a steady shower. Then, past Canouan, the sea is calm, and finally, after attempts at trying to tow a fish huge king fish. We are proud and satisfied with the performance, and, once in Bequia, we are the rite photos, on the deck, with our huge fish and envied. I say envy because the scene does not escape a group of Italians present dul place that board on the beach we like to know what and when. But do not give up our evening at the restaurant. The fish will end at berbecue tomorrow evening.
Day 10 Departure at dawn for the long voyage back home. At 12 we are already in view of St. Lucia, the Pitoni. A crossing from various events: the sun, rain, waves exit from St Vincent (seems the most "heat" of the cruise), but nothing impresses us. There seems to be other than those that started 10 days ago, the boat for us is no longer secret and we feel real sailors. At dinner enjoy our prey, partly cooked barbecue, partly baked. What satisfaction!
Day 11 in Martinique return. Tomorrow we have the return flight. Sailing in the morning hours of good because we want to take advantage of some beautiful bay of Martinique: our skipper still at Anse d'Arlet, a typical village in the Caribbean coast of the island, the turquoise water of an intense and rich in corals for the snorkling. A turtle swims around the boat. What wonder! Last night in a boat, aperitif, dinner, music, digestive. Let's go to bed late and do not want to start. It 'been a wonderful cruise.

For those who wish to address and additional information, write me as well.

Beatrice (beatrice.mo @ hotmail.com)