Tired Of Sailing The Virgins? Try A Sailing Holiday In The Caribbean Windward Islands
Getting tired of cruising the Virgins? Well, there is a lot of other tremendous sailing grounds in the Caribbean.
Sailing in Windward Islands, though its eye-catching charter areas, will probably be one of your most amazing journeys. The group of islands has a lot to offer to keen sailors. It has a combination of short and long passage ways which can take you to some of the world's most beautiful beaches. To fully cover and enjoy Windward Islands' natural tourist spots, you must have at least a 2-week itinerary.
The Windward Islands consists of the sovereign territories of Martinique, the Grenadines, Grenada, Saint Vincent, and Saint Lucia. At the height of the British Colonial era in the Caribbean, the Windward Islands total land area was larger as compared of today. It used to have on its official territory the islands of
- Tobago,
- Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago at that time was not united),
- Dominica (at present, Dominica now belongs to the Leeward Islands) and
- Barbados (Barbados was alienated from the group because its government separated from the union in 1885).
From 1871 to 1960, Windward Islands' capital was Grenada's Saint George. Although at that time the island-group runs their own system of government, they had, however, a universal head - the union's Governor in Chief.
Sailing here is best done between November to April. The average air temperature is from 22º to 30º C (72º to 86º F) and the water temperatures stay between 20º and 23º C (68º and 74º F). The northeast trade wind blow steadily at a constant 15 to 25 knots.
Most yacht charter start in St. Vincent or St. Lucia and sail to the south. If you start your journey in St. Lucia I would recommend that you anchor in Anse des Pitons on the first night.
Going back, you will be hard on the wind, so allow plenty of time to work your way up north to your return base.
If you are really into exciting activities, sailing in Windward Islands is just right for you. The region was once formed by volcanic eruptions. Because of this, most of the islands are rugged. Several of them are mountainous. Its forests are rich and abundant in all forms of flora because of the islands' volcano-fertilized soil.
Sailing in the Windward Islands can be best experienced when you route your way to the Grenadines. This island country is located between Granada and St. Lucia. It has several smaller islands. The best thing is, some of them have small hills. Others have a single palm tree surrounded by a proportion of white sand. Grenadines is blessed with stunning beaches, clear turquoise sea waters, and magnificent reefs. The island has been a haven for many keen divers because it has one of clearest water in the Caribbean. On it are colorful fishes and other forms of marine life.
