Ferry services

Grenada and the Grenadines up to St Vincent are one of the finest places to sail in the Caribbean. Grenada itself, the southernmost island in the Lesser Antilles, makes a great place to start or to finish a charter holiday.

If you are starting in Grenada there are a number of very nice, sheltered bays in the island’s serrated southwestern coastline, where you can sail for the day before returning to the shelter of the main anchorages at L’Anse aux Epines and True Blue, Mt Hartman or St George’s. As you set off for the Grenadines you coast up the island, beneath the massive green rainforested flanks that move so slowly against the tropical sky, and then you cruise into the open water along the island chain, past a number of smaller cays before eventually reaching the first large island at Carriacou. The crossing between Grenada and Carriacou is notorious for its usually choppy seas and strong currents, hard beating to windward sailing. Coming back down with the wind behind you is good cruising.

On the way you will pass a place called Kick ‘em Jenny. It is not actually an island, or not at the moment at least, but it is rough water. Interestingly Kick ‘em Jenny is also an active volcano.Looking north from Hillsborough Bay on Carriacou you will see the Grenadines that are politically attached to St Vincent fade to grey on the horizon - Union Island, Petit St Vincent and Palm Island, Canouan and Mustique.  

Carriacou is an excellent stopover, four or five hours’ sail from the south of Grenada and an hour from Union Island (in the St Vincent Grenadines). During the daytime yachts anchor off the cays in Hilllsborough Bay, but even tucked close into the town itself it is a little too lumpy for a night stay. The best anchorage is Tyrell Bay in the west of the island. A number of restaurants and bars line the shore there. A marina is being built in Tyrell Bay, but it is not expected to open for several years.

Visiting yachts are required to clear Customs at Hillsborough. This is accepted as clearance for Grenada as a whole and no further checking is required. There is a fee, payable at the time of clearing), that depends on the size of the vessel, the length of the proposed stay). Customs hours are 8-11.45am and 1-4pm, Monday to Thursday and an extra hour until 5pm on Fridays. Yachts are not allowed to anchor in the oyster beds in Tyrell Bay or within 200 metres of any beach. 

Regattas

Regattas are well worth attending if you are on island (or to make a special trip for). You might go as a group of friends, renting one of the charter yachts and entering the charter yacht division, but if you just turn up you should be able to get a place as crew. And then there are all the fetes or parties ashore afterwards.

The main regatta is the Grenada Sailing Festival, sponsored by La Source, which takes place at the end of January / early February. Yachts from all the nearby islands and local workboats take part in five days of racing – from Junior Laser Class, through charter and cruising fleets and multi hulls - and partying.

Also look out for the Grenada Round the Island Easter Regatta, which is staged by the Grenada Yacht Club. Races are run over four days and it sees yachts from Trinidad whose crews come to participate in the races and of course the fete.

Carriacou Regatta is a very lively event held in the run up to Emancipation weekend at the beginning of August. The sailing is of course fiercely contested and takes place between local crews from all along the Grenadines and as far afield as Antigua, in locally-built boats as well as yachts in their own classes. It is partially intended to keep the sailing traditions of the island alive. Carriacou has a long tradition of yacht-building, the techniques of which have been handed down over the generations from the island’s early Irish and Scottish ancestors. The week’s sporting and cultural activities also include local beauty pageants, Calypso shows, road relays, Tug o' War and walking the greasy pole. All in all there is a really festive and lively atmosphere.

An easy & convenient way to get there is with the ferry service, Osprey Express Ltd. 

Yacht & Marine Services

Horizon Yacht Charters, True Blue Bay, t 439 1000

TMM in Blue Lagoon, St Vincent, t +1784 456 9608.

Grenada Marine, St David’s Harbour, t 444 6286

Shipwrights Ltd, Grenada Marine, St David’s Harbour, t 444 1062

Island Water World, Lagoon, St George’s, t 435 2150/1

and Grenada Marine, St. David’s Harbour, t 452 1223

Spice Island Marine Services, True Blue Bay, t 444 4257/4342

True Blue Marina, t 443 1047

Grenada Marine Canvas, t 443 1047

Johnny Sails and Canvas, t 444 1108 

By: Shabina Sanad

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