If you are thinking of renting a bareboat or chartering a private cruise on the Caribbean here are some considerations and choice destinations.

Early Season: December through March.

Favour destinations from Antigua southwards.

During these months cold fronts originate every week or so over the North American continent and often sweep over Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico the Virgin Islands and even visit St Martin before dissipating.

The temperature does not dip very low but the fronts do bring horizontal rain, high winds, and rough surf conditions. For sailing, day cruises or even sunning at the beach, these are not ideal conditions.

Northerly swells generated by bad weather in the North Atlantic will render many anchorages of the northern Antilles unbearable (6 foot seas). Heed the forecasts or raise anchor in hellish conditions and sometimes in the middle of the night, and sail for hours to find a quieter anchorage. These conditions can make some unprotected anchorages uncomfortable as far south as St Lucia.

Mid season: end of March until early June.

No restrictions you can sail from all Caribbean destinations.

There are very few fronts and northerly swells during this period. Some years Tropical Waves will begin their westerly migrations in May. This sometimes means a few hours are better spent at anchor to let the squalls go by.

Late season: hurricanes start to menace.

June.

Again stay south of Antigua during June. Early hurricanes visit the northern Caribbean. From Antigua south no one worries.

July.

Stay more south. From Martinique south there is not much of a chance to be inconvenienced by a Tropical Depression or worse.

August and September.

Stay well south! Now it is high season. To be safe from hurricanes you could sail from Trinidad or Tobaqo, in Venezuela chartering a crewed boat at Los Roques. St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada are not at great risk. They get hit once in 35 years or so, or less than the east coast of the USA so the risk is minimal.

October

From Grenada to Martinique is OK

November

Antigua south.

Recommendations: * Acceptable, ** Good, *** Excellent

Islands in geographical order.

British Virgin Islands. **

• Smaller islands.
• They drive on the left.
• Sailing distances are short on protected seas.
• Good anchorages.
• There are a good number of bareboat or crewed charter offerings with competitive prices.
• Security is not an issue.
• Customs have a bad reputation, are expensive and slow.

Anguilla. *

• A smaller island. Laid back and quiet. The wealthy build retirement homes here.
• They drive on the left.
• Few night time anchorages.
• Close to St Martin so crossing is simple and smooth.
• Security is not a problem.
• Customs are expensive but friendly.

St Maarten/St Martin. *

• A smaller island frequently devastated by hurricanes.
• The drive on the right and you can easily rent a car to visit.
• Good restaurants and excellent provisioning.
• There are a good number of bareboat or crewed charter offerings with competitive prices.
• There are many nice anchorages.
• Sailing to Anguilla and St Barth is short.
• Security is a real issue, watch your step.
• Customs are inexistent but you still have to clear in with authorities and the Dutch side is expensive and has a bad reputation. The French side was free but is now charging a minimal fee.

St Barthelemy. **

• A small island frequently devastated by hurricanes. The harbour is like a Mediterranean post card. It is well known to the famous and wealthy.
• There are boats for rent and charter cruises are offered.
• Good restaurants abound.
• Sailing to St Martin is not far. Crossing to Saba or St Eustatius is some 30 nm.
• There are few anchorages.
• Security is not an issue.
• Customs are cleared easily at the marina.

Antigua. *

• Smaller island, with nice old architecture and picturesque towns.
• They drive on the left.
• Good anchorages.
• Sailing distances to neighbouring islands are longish.
• Security is so-so. (A skipper was murdered this year, another boat attacked by armed pirates.)
• Customs are expensive and have a reputation for nastiness (recent reports tell of much improvement).

Guadeloupe.***

• This is a larger island.
• There are nice anchorages on this island and you can sail 22 nm to Les-Saintes then another 20 nm across to Dominica, 27nm across to Martinique.
• They drive on the right, roads are excellent, car rentals are affordable.
• Expect to find great restaurants and superb provisioning (wines etc.) for your boat.
• Security is not an issue.
• Customs are free and now courteous and quick.

Martinique.***

• Again a larger island, interesting visits ashore.
• It has a good number of bareboat or crewed charter offerings with competitive prices.
• They drive on the right, roads are excellent and car rentals are affordable.
• Many anchorages, le Marin offers an excellent marina and that bay has exceptional protection from all directions.
• They drive on the right, roads are excellent, car rentals abound and are reasonably priced.
• Expect to find great restaurants and superb provisioning (wines etc.) for your boat.
• Security is not an issue.
• Customs are free and always courteous and quick.

• Saint Lucia.**

• A mid sized island with interesting visits ashore.
• They drive on the left, road are minimal, car rentals are expensive.
• There are boat rentals and crewed charter offerings.
• Free anchorages now offer minimal protection. RodneyBay offers an excellent marina in the protected lagoon.
• Good provisioning at RodneyBay, many restaurants, most are expensive.
• Security has improved but a boarding was still reported at SoufrièreBay this year.
• Customs are not too expensive and now courteous but slow.

• St Vincent (not recommended)

• St Vincent is a mid sized island. It is very green, very mountainous, absolutely beautiful and little developed.
• Security is very bad so I do not recommend it. You can fly there and board your boat at Blue Lagoon or Young Island Cut.
• Reasonable provisioning is available at Kingstown
• Customs are quite expensive and slow but courteous.

The Grenadines.***

The Grenadines, even those that are part of St Vincent, are recommended.

• These are small islands in an emerald sea with white sand beaches.
• Provisioning is possible at Bequia and Union islands but very expensive and limited. Some provisioning is also possible at Petite Martinique.
• There are many beautiful anchorages.
• You can visit them afoot or ride a pickup-truck-taxi. The islands are not far apart so crossing times vary from one to three hours.
• The sea is protected and sailing conditions are milder.
• Security is good.
• St Vincent Customs at Bequia and Union are expensive and slow but courteous.
• Grenada customs at Carriacou are expensive, slow and unfriendly.

Grenada.**

• A mid sized island with interesting visits ashore.
• They drive on the left, road are good, car rentals are expensive.
• There are boat rentals and crewed charter offerings.
• Free anchorages now offer minimal protection. In the lagoon at St George’s find an excellent marina (expensive) and the GYC yacht club (reasonably priced but with limited space).
• Good provisioning in the lagoon and at the Spiceland Mall, many restaurants, most are expensive.
• Security was good but an attack on a yacht and crew was reported this year.
• Customs are somewhat expensive and courteous.

Los Roques. ***

• An archipelago of some 50 island 100 miles off the Venezuelan shore. These beautiful, undeveloped coral islands, are protected by a large horseshoe reef. They they offer many white sand beaches, good snorkelling.
• Crewed charters only, no bareboat rentals.
• Safety is not an issue here although the archipelago is part of Venezuela.
• You fly in from Caracas or Margarita.