Category: Caribbean

Monthly Regional Reports for the Caribbean are posted the first week of each month so you’ll find the best of the Caribbean! The Caribbean islands offer an array of experiences for boaters. From unique cultures in St. Maarten to world-renowned diving in Belize, the region has it all. Southern Boating’s articles provide helpful insight into traveling the Caribbean by boat—including features on regions such as: Puerto Rico, Antigua, Belize, Grenada, St. Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, Aruba, St. Lucia and more. Monthly updates include news about events, fishing tournaments, and sailing regattas. Detailed cruising guides can be found in thoroughly researched articles by Southern Boating experts.

10 Facts about the Caribbean

The Caribbean is full of fascinating islands. Cruising the seas in the Caribbean is a unique multicultural experience.

From Cuba to Caicos and beyond, the Caribbean is brimming with good eats, secret islands, and beautiful sights. Impress your friends and family by knowing these Caribbean facts?

What are your Caribbean facts? Share in the comments below!

Saba Island has the shortest runway in the world, measuring in at less than 1300 feet long.
Pitch Lake, in Trinidad, is the largest of the world’s three natural asphalt lakes. The surface of the lake is semi-solid and can be walked on.
You can visit Tracks & Records, Usain Bolt’s sports bar, restaurant, and entertainment complex in New Kingston. The expansive menu features traditional favorites like jerk chicken, curried mutton, and janga soup, all of it, no doubt, served FAST.
In Havana, Cuba, the Coppelia ice cream parlor has been named the “busiest in the world.” The establishment can hold up to 1000 guests. That’s a lot of ice cream headaches.
Sandy Spit Island in the British Virgin Islands is also referred to as Corona Island because some of their commercials were filmed there. The only way to access this island is by boat.
Sandy Spit Island aka Corona Island
You can drive THROUGH a volcano in Saint Lucia. Sulphur Springs is the hottest and most active geothermal area in the Lesser Antilles.
There are more churches per square mile in Jamaica than anywhere in the world, with 1600 churches in total in the country.
Only about 2% of the islands are inhabited. Private islands, anyone?
The three most populous island territories are Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. About 30 million people altogether occupy these countries, which is about 75 percent of the Caribbean population.
Yikes! There are 500 species of reptiles in the islands, some of which are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile.

That’s all folks! What are your Caribbean facts?

Scrub Island

Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina is quickly becoming a charter hotspot. Now, both MarineMax Vacations and Dream Yacht Charters are based on the island.

Scrub Island, a 230-acre private island, is located nearly in the bullseye center of the British Virgin Islands. Tortola and Jost Van Dyke are to the south and west, Virgin Gorda and Anegada to the north and east, and the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) on Beef Island is a two-minute ride to the Trellis Bay Dock, where ferries regularly depart for Scrub Island Resort.

The resort, spa, and 55-slip marina is the perfect jumping-off place for a weeklong charter around the B.V.I. It’s no wonder that Dream Yacht Charter, a Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, France-headquartered company with more than 850 vessels in 47 destinations worldwide, has relocated its B.V.I.-based bareboat and crewed yacht fleet here. An additional plus is that Dream Yacht Charter guests enjoy access to the resort’s five-star facilities.

MarineMax

Damage from back-to-back category five hurricanes has tightened the supply of resort rooms in places such as the British Virgin Islands. However, this isn’t a problem when
chartering from MarineMax Vacations.

The B.V.I.’s premier power catamaran fleet operator partnered last fall with the Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina to offer a resort experience to guests prior to their embarking on a charter vacation. “We were previously located at the Hodges Creek Marina and will now be temporarily located at Scrub Island Resort, Spa, & Marina for the remainder of the 2017-2018 season,” says Dave Bigge, MarineMax Vacations regional president.

He adds that the 230- acre island, Autograph Collection Hotel, provides vacation charter guests this season with a bar, restaurant, water toys, dive shop, boutique, beach, market, and provisioning store in addition to its 52 guest accommodations, including 2-,3- and 4-bedroom villas and a 55-slip marina. Your MarineMax vacations just got even better, too.

dreamyachtcharter.com,marinemaxvacations.com; scrubisland.com

by Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating February 2019

More Caribbean Updates:

Race sailboats in the Caribbean

RORC Caribbean 600

Caribbean Lighthouses

If you fancy yourself a pharologist, or lighthouse lover, there is a trio of Caribbean Lighthouses to put on your must-visit list.

The first is the Los Morrillos Light located on the far southwestern corner of Puerto Rico. Built in 1882 and majestically set atop 200-foot-high limestone cliffs, the light remains in operation today.

Second, but inactive—yet popular due to its prominent position in front of the Hilton Barbados Resort—is the 1855-constructed Needham’s Point Lighthouse.

Last, don’t miss the 66-foot-tall, still-functioning light on Klein Curaçao, a small island offshore mainland Curaçao that’s reachable only by boat. The off-the-beaten-track destination, which also boasts the red brick ruins of a lighthouse that was owned by an actual lighthouse keeper, makes for a pharologist’s dream day trip.

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating March 2018

More Caribbean Updates:

St. Barths

Powercats in the Caribbean

More Power in Caribbean Charter Fleets

Powercats in the Caribbean are on the rise in charter fleets. This trend mimics the popularity of sailing catamarans but breaks new ground in a market, both bareboat and crewed, that has been dominated since its inception more than a half-century ago by sail. The two big players in the Caribbean power catamaran charter business are MarineMax Vacations and The Moorings. MarineMax offers the custom Aquila line and The Moorings its Leopard brand.

Sizes, on average, range from 39- to 51-feet LOA. “These cats come with the features power boaters want, such as electric cooktops, electric barbecues, large generators, watermakers, walkaround beds, roomy flybridges, and more. There is no roughing it,” says Raul Bermudez, Vice President for Clearwater, Florida-based MarineMax Vacations. Powercats today are also fuel efficient, making power charters more affordable than in the past.

The B.V.I. offers the largest fleet of charter powercats in the Caribbean according to Ian Pedersen, marketing manager for The Moorings, also based in Clearwater. “Antigua, St. Lucia and Grenada are recent additions to our power portfolio, but currently offer much smaller fleets,” he says.

marinemaxvacations.com; moorings.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating March 2018

More Caribbean Updates:

St. Barths

Caribbean Lighthouses

St. Barths

Put St. Barths on Your Bucket Regatta List

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A REGATTA for pure fun and, perhaps, there’s no place better to watch superyachts frolic on tropical turquoise seas than on the equally dazzling island of St. Barths. It’s here, from March 15-18, that the 24th St. Barths Bucket takes place. “No other regatta of this magnitude on the superyacht racing circuit has as its goals camaraderie and a non-commercial spirit built around the pure pleasure and enjoyment
of spending time on the sea with like-minded individuals,” says Event Manager Jeanne Kleene.

This year, more than 30 yachts sized 100-foot-plus have accepted invitations to sail. This includes the 108-foot Ribelle, built at the Netherlands’ Vitters Shipyard, launched in 2017 and debuting in St. Barths, as will My Song, a newly built 130-foot Baltic yacht. Classic yachts joining the Bucket fleet for the first time include the 100-foot Sea Dragon and 105-foot Farfalla. Additionally, overall Bucket winners returning to defend or recapture titles are SPIIP, Unfurled, and Visione. The chance to watch the racing by day from several of St. Barths iconic beach bars plus take part in festivities, such as the Bucket Bash and award presentations, makes regatta week second only to the French islands’ famed New Year’s Eve celebrations as the most fun time of the year for everyone, sailors and spectators alike.

“The island of St.Barths is a fantastic place to visit,” invites Kleene. “The island attractions, beaches, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife provide unlimited opportunities for fun and relaxation in a safe Caribbean environment.”

bucketregatta.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating March 2018

More Caribbean Updates

Powercats in the Caribbean

Caribbean Lighthouses

Race Sailboats in the Caribbean

Want to race sailboats in the Caribbean, but can’t or don’t want to bring your own boat?

No boat? No problem! Race with Ondeck! Chartering a yacht or crew spot to compete in one of the region’s spectacular spring regattas is a growing trend. After all, it’s less wear and tear on your own hull and there’s no need for costly long-distance transport logistics.

Instead, a great time awaits, plus the opportunity to actively try on a yacht model you’d potentially like to purchase for racing in home waters. More than two dozen Caribbean charter companies offer racing yachts in the Caribbean. One of the most popular is Ondeck, located at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina in Falmouth, Antigua.

“We have a number of Beneteau First 40.7s available for bareboat or skippered race sailboats charter,” says director Peter Anthony. “There [are] individual crew spots to book on our Farr 65, Spirit of Juno. There are three professional crew and we accommodate both experienced and novice sailors and everything in between. Some people sleep on board, some take accommodation ashore. Either way, a very diverse group of individuals knits into a team and often forges long-term friendships.”

Upcoming charters are available for this month’s RORC Caribbean 600. Furthermore, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, St. Thomas International Regatta and BVI Spring Regatta are in March, and Les Voiles de St. Barth, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week is in April. There may still be time to race sailboats in the Caribbean!

ondecksailing.com

by Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating February 2018

More Caribbean Updates:

RORC Caribbean 600

MarineMax Vacations is Open

RORC Caribbean 600

The RORC Caribbean 600 celebrates its 10th Anniversary

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 celebrates a decade with a stellar reputation as a must-do offshore race by some of the best teams in the world. The 600-nautical- mile, 14-island race starts outside Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, on February 19th and ends in the same place. Spectators can get a great view of the start from Fort Charlotte or Shirley Heights.

This year, entered teams include George David’s maxi, Rambler 88. David’s Rambler 100 set the still-standing course record (1 day 16 hours 20 minutes and 2 seconds) in 2011. New entries are three Gunboats: Arethusa, skippered by NYYC Commodore, Phil Lotz; Flow, sailed by owner Stephen Cucchiaro and Elvis, skippered by two-time Melges 32 World Champion, Jason Carroll.

Armchair sailors not in Antigua can follow their favorites via online fleet tracking from the event website.

caribbean600.rorc.org

by Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating February 2018

More Caribbean Updates:

Race sailboats in the Caribbean

MarineMax Vacations is Open

Bequia Music Festival

Bequia Music Festival is not to be missed

There aren’t many places you can listen to top musicians in a locale no more than 10 feet from a sugary-soft, white sand, tropical beach. These are two claims to fame of the Bequia Music Festival. Set for January 18-21, 2018, venues this year are the Frangipani Hotel, Bequia Plantation Hotel and De Reef Bar & Restaurant, all overlooking Admiralty Bay. What’s more, one of the headliners is New York’s Sean Harkness, an instrumental guitarist who earned the BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award for Best CD Release in 2014.

Caribbean artists include Anguillan vocalist and X Factor contestant, Deanna Mussington; Trinidadian classical and flamenco guitarist, Stefan Roach; and Bequia’s own amazing singer/songwriter, Amanda “Cloud” Gooding. Most concerts take place in the evening, which gives all day to enjoy sightseeing around this 7-square-mile Grenadine island known as a fantastic cruising destination.

bequiamusicfestival.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating January 2018

More January Caribbean Updates:

Regatta season in Barbados

Spice Island Billfish Tournament

Regatta season in Barbados

It’s regatta season in Barbados

Three sailing events in one regatta are the highlight of the second annual Barbados Sailing Week (BSW). Set for January 16-24, the competition kicks off with the three-day Coastal Racing Series for racing and cruising classes as well as the J/24 Class, which will have separate courses and scoring.

The main event is the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race, a demanding 60-mile sail around this Eastern Caribbean British Commonwealth that first started in 1936. It’s not just the distance that’s a challenge; there are two major bodies of water to navigate. The Atlantic Ocean to the east can serve up potentially huge rollers this time of year, while the Caribbean Sea to the west is often calmer.

But there are rewards to facing this contest—break any existing class records and the skipper wins his or her weight in Mount Gay rum. BSW concludes with the Ocean Passage to Antigua. This race is a great way to reposition for the Superyacht Challenge Antigua, January 31st to February 3rd, and the RORC Caribbean 600, which starts February 18th off English Harbour in Antigua.

barbadossailingweek.com

By Carol Barethuer, Southern Boating January 2019

Budget Marine Spice Island Billfish Tournament

Spice Island Billfish Tournament Celebrates 50 Years

One of the biggest sportfishing tournaments in the Caribbean in terms of boat and angler participation and size of targeted catch celebrates its half-century this year. The Budget Marine Spice Island Billfish Tournament takes place January 21-26 out of the Grenada Yacht Club in St. George’s, Grenada. “We are expecting as many as seventy boats this year, as we are offering a cash prize for the first time,” says Richard McIntyre, tournament chairman.

“That is, five-hundred thousand EC (USD $185,000) for anyone who catches a 1,000-pound or larger blue marlin. Many have reported seeing or fighting these monster-sized billfish in our territorial waters, so we wanted to highlight to the world what is in our backyard.” Blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish are bountiful and the basis upon which results are determined; however, anglers also target yellowfin tuna, dolphin fish (mahi-mahi) and wahoo for additional points and prizes. “Visiting boats are welcome and so are visiting anglers,” invites McIntyre, and suggests to arrive early if you’d like to get on a boat.

sibt.gd

By Carol Barethuer, Southern Boating, January 2018

Open for Business

The Moorings & Sunsail announce they’re open for business after hurricanes.

The Moorings and Sunsail, two of the most trusted names in yacht chartering, are pleased to announce the grand reopening of their British Virgin Islands charter base on December 9th, 2017, just three months after the Caribbean’s record-breaking hurricane activity.

Over the past few months, BVI staff members exhibited tremendous strength and dedication, working tirelessly to help restore operations in Road Town, Tortola, and they are eager to invite visitors back to this world-famous sailing destination.

The Moorings and Sunsail are also glad to report a combined fleet of more than 100 yachts ready for chartering. Additionally, an investment of $66.5 million will bring new fleet shipments for both brands with over 130 boats scheduled to arrive in the British Virgin Islands in early 2018.

According to Josie Tucci, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “The road to recovery has not been easy, but we simply couldn’t be more thrilled about reopening our base in the British Virgin Islands, and in such a timely manner. Tucci goes on to say:

“The humanitarian response from customers, partners, and employees following September’s hurricanes was overwhelming, and the tenacity of the local communities has been nothing short of inspiring. We believe it is this heartfelt combination of commitment and resilience that has helped us come back so strong.”

To continue supporting the future of the tourism industry and to assist with long-term hurricane relief efforts, The Moorings and Sunsail recently joined forces to establish the Caribbean Comeback fundraiser. Created in the spirit of uniting sailors everywhere, 100% of all monetary contributions go toward the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Puerto Rico employees, delivering supplies that are needed such as generators, gas stoves, and miscellaneous building materials.

Please consider joining The Moorings and Sunsail in this massive effort. Every contribution, no matter the size, is immensely appreciated. To donate or to learn more about this ongoing campaign, please visit CaribbeanComeback.com

To learn more about best-in-class Sail, Power, and all-inclusive Crewed yacht charter vacations in over 20 dazzling destinations across the globe, visit moorings.com and sunsail.com. The world is waiting and new adventure beckons around every corner. Come aboard, embrace the wind and water, and create your own unforgettable passage.

Media Contact:
Leslie Montenegro
Leslie.Montenegro@thlmarine.com
727.614.7376

Caribbean Charters

The Virgin Islands, both the U.S. and British, are the top destinations for Caribbean charters and yacht vacations, followed by the cruising grounds around St. Maarten-St. Martin, Anguilla and St. Barths. However, if you’re ready to explore less common waters and are eager to embrace the exhilaration of blue-water sailing, then head to the southern Caribbean.

The 40-some islands that include St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada are a great stepping-stone-style venue full of the charm found in off-the-beaten-track destinations. For example, in this 85-nautical mile stretch, stop at Mustique for a drink at Basil’s Bar.

Celebrities like Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfiger have all enjoyed a toes-in-the-sand rum punch here. Other great stops are a visit to the Turtle Sanctuary on Bequia, the Tobago Cays marine park and the picture-perfect mostly deserted Paradise Beach on
Carriacou. To charter, check out Horizon Yacht Charters’ base in Grenada.

“We have a brand-new Lagoon 420 coming from France this winter and will be offering it for charter starting in February,” invites Jacqui Pascal, who with husband, James, directs the base.

horizonyachtcharters.com/grenada

By Carol Bareuther Southern Boating, November 2018
Photos: Hank George and Claueren Morel

The World’s Toughest Row

Four intrepid Antiguans will put their oars in the water in La Gomera, the Canary Islands on December 12th for what is billed as “The World’s Toughest Row ” and paddle nearly 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua, in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

“Our plan is to complete the race in the top five teams and make the crossing in under 40 days,” says Eli Fuller, captain and owner/operator of watersports excursion company, Antigua Adventures, whose three teammates are John Watt, Scott Potter and Nico Psihoyos.

Fuller is following in the wake of his grandfather, Nick Fuller. In 2015, the senior Fuller was captain of Antigua’s Team Wadadli who completed the race and earned a Guinness World Record for being the oldest team of four to row across any ocean.

This year, Team Antigua will make a trek aboard a self-righting Rannoch 45 row boat, which measures 24′ long x 6′ wide, and has two cabins—front and stern. To track and root for Team Antigua, visit taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com or teamantiguabarbuda.com.

By Carol Bareuther Southern Boating, December 2017
Photos: Hank George and Claueren Morel

Watch Racing Action in Grenada

ENJOY A FRONT ROW SEAT and secondhand adrenaline rush by celebrating with the teams as they finish the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Transatlantic Race this month at the Camper and Nicholsons’ Port Louis Marina in St. Georges, Grenada. Originally slated to finish at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in the B.V.I. but rerouted due to hurricane damage in the northern Caribbean, the RORC Transatlantic Race is now the longest in the Club’s offshore calendar.

Crews, veteran professionals and also first-time Corinthians depart on November 25th from Marina Lanzarote in the Canary Islands and are expected to arrive in Grenada starting around December 9th. The 20-plus yacht fleet spans from big yachts like the Finot 100 Nomad IV; Volvo 70 Monster Projects; and Whitbread 60 Challenger, to the Sun Fast 3600 Redshift Reloaded. In Grenada, the 170-slip Port Louis will be the dockage headquarters for the teams as well as the site of the regatta’s awards ceremony.

Whether you’re there to meet and greet the race teams or simply cruising the southern Caribbean, be sure to check out the Parang Festival on Grenada’s sister island of Carriacou, which starts on December 16th. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the run-up to the holidays with music, parades, and feasting. Carriacou, 30 nautical miles north of Grenada, is a great launching-off point to the northern Caribbean, where many of the RORC Transatlantic sailors will also travel to race in the region’s spring regattas.

rorctransatlantic.rorc.org

By Carol Bareuther Southern Boating, December 2017
Photos: Hank George and Claueren Morel

Offshore World Championships

HOOK UP IN ST. LUCIA

More than $100,000 in prizes, plus entry into the world-famous Offshore World Championships in Costa Rica, are two good reasons to hook up at the St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament. Set for November 7-11 and hosted out of IGY’s
Rodney Bay Marina, it’s the waters just north of the island and south of neighboring Martinique that are hot for single- and doubleheader blue marlin bites in the fall.

Last year, 19 tournament boats from the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada released more than 50 billfish during three days of competition. “Rodney Bay Marina has great nightlife for socializing after each day of fishing,” says Sean Devaux, marina general manager. “Plus, the tournament…features some of the best anglers in the southern Caribbean.”

Charter boats are available. Captain Mike’s, run by brothers Bruce and Andrew Hackshaw, operates a fleet of 31- to 46-foot Bertrams and hold bragging rights for catching a 940-pound blue marlin in 2003, the St. Lucia record. Exodus Boat Charters and Reel Irie are two other sportfishing charters.

igy-rodneybay.com

Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating November 2017