Where and when to charter a multihull?

The Caribbean

If you want to sail in the warmth during the winter, you must go to the West Indies. Here we find the biggest concentration of charter companies, and the string of islands from Grenada in the south to the Bahamas in the north is certainly the most beautiful playground that exists for lovers of sailing vacations. Here we find hundreds of islands of all sizes, and thousands of anchorages. The most pleasant period for cruising in the West Indies? From November to June it is fine and warm. The summer is wetter, and the months of September and October can be very stormy, with a real risk of hurricanes. The main departure areas in the West Indies are the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and the area along Central America.

Leaving from Martinique, you have the choice between remaining locally and enjoying one of the most beautiful islands in the West Indies, with a particularly wild and not very busy windward coast, or sailing south towards the Grenadines.

The Grenadines are certainly THE ideal destination in a cat. Here you will find numerous anchorages, all absolutely superb. Moreover a number of films or advertisements have been shot in these delightful islands.

Another emblematic place in the Caribbean is the British Virgin Islands.

Here is a feast for your eyes! The Virgin Islands, with around 40 islands plunged into translucent water, are amazing for everyone. The anchorages are only a few miles apart, mooring buoys are available for the night, and the sea here is always calm. The steady trade winds provide an ideal climate, which makes this stretch of water the ideal playground for families and novice crews. As the flora and fauna are well-protected, the underwater life offers some extraordinary encounters. In a word, a visit to the Virgin Islands is essential for anyone who likes cruising in the tropics.

In the north of the West Indies, we find an incredible archipelago: the Bahamas. Don’t look any further… It’s perhaps here that you will finally discover the image of paradise on earth that you keep hidden deep inside you1 The Bahamas, with 700 islands, clear waters flecked with lush green islands, and endless white sand beaches, welcome you with open arms for a perfect holiday…

And then of course there is Belize, the San Blas, the Guadeloupe archipelago, and one of the most beautiful anchorages in the world, the one at Les Saintes. In fact the area is so vast and beautiful that you could easily spend a lifetime here!

A few destinations

Bahamas

When:

All the year round, but the best is from February (a bit cool) to June. The summer is hot and wet.

How:

If you live in Florida, don’t hesitate to go there for the weekend…

A week’s sailing in the Bahamas is very good.

The dream: two weeks, enough to explore an infinite part of the 700 large and small islands in the Bahamas.

The West Indies (from the BVI to Grenada)

When:

From December to the end of ...