Sailing Area
Short sailing distances take you from the rainforests of St Vincent to the stunning islands of Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union, Petite Martinique and Petit St Vincent. There are so many anchorages and opportunities to snorkel and see amazing marine life, with buzzing little ports and white sandy beaches ashore.
Click any island for the full guide — anchorages, what to do ashore, and what it's best for.
Rainforests, waterfalls and the start of every charter
The friendly island and the gateway to the Grenadines
Private island glamour, quietly done
Beach club polish with empty bays a mile away
Salt Whistle Bay's perfect half-moon of sand
Five uninhabited islands inside a horseshoe reef
Kitesurfing capital and Grenadines crossroads
A sheltered anchorage and beach stop off Union Island
PSV — the southernmost luxury secret
Crossing south into Grenadian waters
The Isle of Spice — southern turnaround for one-way charters
The Pitons, Marigot Bay and the northern turnaround
Practical notes on weather, anchoring, communications and etiquette in the Grenadines.
The climate varies between the islands — the Grenadines to the south are slightly drier than St Vincent. The prevailing wind is North Easterly (the trade wind that normally arrives mid-December). This wind direction is ideal for exploring the islands further south. For charters starting or finishing further afield we suggest a north-to-south itinerary.
Your sailing area can include short or long distances. Most clients stay in the Grenadine Islands as there is so much to explore in a single charter, though some venture to St Lucia or Grenada. For one-week charters we strongly recommend the closer central Grenadines so you can visit a different island each day. 10–14 night charters give you more time to explore — we recommend sailing north to south for longer distances.
Mooring is by anchor in sand — please be very aware of coral, as there are huge fines for any yacht seen damaging the coral seabed. Mooring buoys are available in most anchorages and local boatmen will assist and charge. Dock space is limited and you'll need to call ahead to pre-book in Bequia, Union, Canouan and St Vincent. In Mustique you can anchor or take a mooring depending on yacht size.
VHF is widely used around the islands. Your yacht will have a phone with a local SIM card to contact the office once out of VHF range, and signal is good throughout the islands. Starlink Wi-Fi is available on some of our yachts.
Maintain at least the same level of personal security awareness as you would at home and keep your yacht and tender secured at all times. Be vigilant, take care when walking alone off main roads, and avoid isolated areas (including beaches) after dark. Use only licensed taxis and take particular care at late-night street parties, especially during festival season. Don't carry large amounts of cash or jewellery; leave valuables and travel documents hidden on board.
Garbage facilities exist on most islands except Mayreau, Petit St Vincent and the Tobago Cays — please don't throw rubbish into the sea, plastic containers kill sea life. Under no circumstances empty holding tanks close to shore: always close the seacocks in harbour or anchored off a beach. Be friendly with the locals — buying a few bananas, fruits, fish or beads is an important source of income. Drugs are banned on board our yachts; serious fines and imprisonment can follow.
Rotis, jerk chicken, mouth-watering ribs and amazing fish — the islands have an abundance of food to choose from. Fresh lobster and even lobster pizza appears on menus. Don't be afraid to try conch fritters, jerk wings and salt bakes.
The main Imray charts for the area are B3 (the whole sailing area) and B311 (close-up of Mayreau, Union and Tobago Cays). Copies are aboard every yacht. The main guide book is Chris Doyle's "The Windward Islands Guide" — a very useful book for pre-planning itineraries.
Tell us your dates, group and what matters to you. We'll recommend the best options from our yachts and wider charter network — with first-hand Grenadines advice to help you choose.
