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BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER: Explore one of these glorious holiday destinations in your own sailing yacht.
FLOTILLA SAILING HOLIDAYS: Sail your own yacht with the added support of a lead boat crew.
LEARN TO SAIL HOLIDAYS: Start from scratch or brush up your skills.
MOTORYACHT CHARTER: Do you prefer power to sail?
CREWED YACHTS: Relax, let the crew do the work.
SAIL AND STAY HOLIDAYS: Why not add a few days ashore in a hotel?
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BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER: Sail your yacht in any one of our glorious holiday destinations and explore at your own pace.
MOTORYACHT CHARTER: Do you prefer power to sail?
CREWED YACHTS: Relax, let the crew do the work.
SAIL AND STAY HOLIDAYS: Why not add a few days ashore in a hotel?
- PLAN YOUR TRIP
AIRPORT PARKING & HOTELS: Save up to 60% when you book airport parking & hotels in advance.
BOOKING CONDITIONS: Check our Booking Conditions.
CAR RENTAL: Rent a car instead of an airport transfer or if you add a week ashore.
CRUISING GUIDES: Start planning before you travel with a cruising guide or chart to your sailing destination.
PASSPORTS & VISAS: Check the passport & visa requirements of your sailing destination.
SAILING LOGS: Read our reports on sailing holidays we've been on.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Don't travel without adequate insurance. We offer single trip or Annual multi-trip travel insurance.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN: Read our handy hints on taking small children on a sailing holiday.
USEFUL LINKS: Check these websites for more information on your sailing destination.
WHAT'S ONBOARD: Standard inventory for all charter yachts.
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CONTACT: Check our details and opening hours.
REQUEST A BROCHURE: Order our latest brochure.
WHO WE ARE: Meet the Nautilus team.
WHY BOOK WITH US: How do you benefit?
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Are you thinking of buying a new yacht and putting her with a charter fleet? Speak to us about the best deal for you. Nautilus Yachting has been arranging sailing holidays throughout the Mediterranean & Caribbean since 1992 so we are ideally qualified to advise you on yacht charter management. Find out more
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Sailing Holidays in Grenadines
Explore these Robinson Crusoe islands with soft white sand, turquoise seas and spectacular coral reefs.
The Grenadines rise up out of the emerald Caribbean Sea in a chain of exquisite islands stretching from the Spice Island of Grenada in the south as far as St Vincent, 50 miles to the north. These beautiful, unspoilt islands have idyllic beaches with white sand, palm trees, clear turquoise waters and a myriad of bays, anchorages, and moorings - perfect to explore on a sailing holiday.
Start your yacht charter at Grenada, where the trade winds are perfumed by tropical spices and the easy going islanders make you welcome. Sail north into the Grenadines, just far enough off the beaten tourist track to let you explore the authentic Caribbean. Visit the islands of Carriacou, Union, Bequia, Mustique, Mayreau and Canouan and anchor in the fabulous Tobago Cays, a breathtakingly beautiful national park. Nightlife is conspicuous by its absence, peace and solitude are unsurpassed, and the dress code, like the lifestyle, ranges from informal to barefoot casual.
Sailing in the Grenadines
From Grenada sail north into the Grenadines, visiting Carriacou, Union and the fabulous Tobago Cays, a stunning anchorage protected by the horseshoe reef. Linger a couple of nights at Tobago Cays, a stunning anchorage protected by the horseshoe reef. Union is full of local life and colour, while the smaller islands are just the way you imagine - untouched, uncrowded, with perfect white sandy beaches. Passages are more exposed than in the BVI, but islands are no more than three hours sail apart.
One-way charters between Grenada and St Vincent, Union Island or Carriacou can be arranged at extra cost.
DAY 1 : From base at True Blue Bay, make an early start for an exhilarating day sailing to Tyrrel Bay, on the island of Carriacou (30nm). Anchor amongst the local fishing boats and dine ashore or BBQ the fish you caught on the passage from Grenada.
DAY 2 : Take a swim at Sandy Island, a flawless sandy spit with no more than half a dozen palm trees, before visiting Hillsborough to pick up fresh fruit and vegetables at the market, as well as to clear out of Grenadian territory. Sail over to Petit St. Vincent (10nm) and anchor behind the reef to the north east of the island. Dinghy ashore for an excellent meal at the exclusive hotel on PSV.
DAY 3 : The dramatic peaks of Union Island are a short down-wind sail away. Enter Clifton Harbour and complete check-in formalities for St. Vincent territory. Set sail for palm-lined Saltwhistle Bay on the north west shore of Mayreau (12nm). Snorkel the reef on Grand Col Point. Hidden behind the pristine beach and palms of Saltwhistle Bay nestles a fine resort where you can enjoy dinner Flintstone-style on rock tables.
DAY 4 : Take an early morning stroll to the top of Mayreau and enjoy the magnificent views of the Tobago Cays and surrounding islands. Navigate the channel to the Tobago Cays (5nm) under the midday sunlight. The horseshoe reef offers limitless snorkeling and some fine drift dives. Dine aboard under the stars, in the knowledge that you are in one of the most spectacular anchorages on earth..
DAY 5 : Sail back to cosmopolitan Clifton Harbour to check out of St. Vincent territory, then ease the sheets for a great down-wind sail to Tyrrel Bay on Carriacou (15nm).
DAY 6 : One last passage to Grenada and overnight at Prickly Bay (35nm), a large tranquil bay on the south coast of Grenada. Enjoy exclusive dining at one of the best restaurants on the island. At weekends, dance the night away to the local sounds of the steel pan band at the Boatyard.
DAY 7 : A short leisurely sail brings you back around to True Blue Bay Marina (5nm) for a noon finish.
Sailing conditions
Temperatures in the Grenadines are around 30°C all year with short tropical rain showers, especially in July to October. Trade winds at 20-25 knots during the peak winter months, north-easterly and lighter in the summer. Experience level 2-3 depending on itinerary.
To ease you into your Grenadines sailing charter and maximise your time onboard, hire a check-out skipper for your first day's sail from Grenada to a mooring on the island of Carriacou. During the passage, the skipper familiarises you with your charter yacht and the sailing area. The skipper then disembarks in Carriacou, leaving you to enjoy sailing at your leisure through the Grenadines. Fee for this service US$300.
SAIL & STAY IN GRENADA: Extend your sailing holiday with a few days or a week ashore in a beach hotel in Grenada.
Yacht charter in Grenada
Start your yacht charter at True Blue Bay Marina on the southwest coast of Grenada. Charters start and finish any day (minimum 5 nights), giving you total flexibility over your holiday dates.
Click on the yacht names below to view yacht layout & specification
3 cabin
4+ cabin
Catamarans
Yacht charter rates are shown WITHOUT flights giving you the flexibility to book your own flights.
If you want a flight-inclusive holiday Nautilus Yachting is a fully bonded ATOL tour operator and can book flights from the UK to fit your sailing holiday. Choose from a wide choice of airlines - we are not tied to any particular airline. All flight-inclusive holidays are fully bonded for your financial protection under our ATOL 3016. Airport transfers can also be pre-arranged.
FLIGHTS TO GRENADA:
Virgin Atlantic and Monarch operate direct flights from Gatwick to Grenada. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also have daily flights from Gatwick via Barbados. Transfer time to True Blue Bay Marina 10 minutes.
Whether you are an experienced sailor or setting foot on a yacht for the first time, we can offer you a holiday afloat to suit you. We have given all the sailing areas a level with 'Experience Level 1' suitable for less experienced crews and 'Experience Level 3' for the experts.
This takes into account the wind strength, tidal range and currents, distances between stops and ease of mooring. Of course even experts may choose to sail in Level 1 areas as they still offer stunning scenery and great sailing.
Experience Level 1: BVI, Bahamas, Florida Keys
Generally light winds Force 2-4, line of sight navigation, shorter sailing distances under 20nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 1 week or 100nm as skipper
Experience Level 2: Antigua, St Martin, St Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Belize
Stronger winds up to Force 3-5 with some longer passages up to 30nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 2 weeks or 200nm as skipper
Experience Level 3: Cuba. One way itineraries, eg Antigua to St Martin, St Lucia to Grenadines
Stronger winds up to Force 4-7 which can lead to bigger seas on long passages between the islands. You will be Coastal Skipper standard with experience to a higher level having sailed at least 4 weeks or 400nm as skipper.
To charter a yacht bareboat or on flotilla you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew.
At present you need an RYA Day Skipper qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for charters in Croatia, Montenegro, Mallorca, Tenerife and Malta.
The RYA ICC will be ever more required by overseas port authorities but if you have skipper experience it is easily obtained in a day from RYA sailing schools in the UK such as Hamilton Sailing or Brixham Sea School
Yacht charter rates are shown WITHOUT flights giving you the flexibility to book your own flights.
If you want a flight-inclusive holiday Nautilus Yachting is a fully bonded ATOL tour operator and can book flights from the UK to fit your sailing holiday. Choose from a wide choice of airlines - we are not tied to any particular airline. All flight-inclusive holidays are fully bonded for your financial protection under our ATOL 3016. Airport transfers can also be pre-arranged.
FLIGHTS TO GRENADA:
Virgin Atlantic and Monarch operate direct flights from Gatwick to Grenada. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also have daily flights from Gatwick via Barbados. Transfer time to True Blue Bay Marina 10 minutes.
The Tobago Cays is an idyllic yachting anchorage, a dream for snorkellers, a paradise for beachcombers and a film location for Pirates of the Caribbean. The anchorage behind a cluster of five uninhabited cays, is protected from the Atlantic swell by Horse Shoe Reef, an excellent coral reef with an abundance of colourful corals and tropical fish.
Rub shoulders with the rich and famous on Mustique, a Caribbean island that blends elegance and luxury with natural white sands, palm trees and turquoise seas. Famous for its celebrity guests including pop stars and royalty. Pick up a mooring in Britannia Bay, dine at the Cotton House, sip cocktails at the lively Basil’s Bar or relax on the lovely Macaroni beach.
Grenada is called "the Spice Island" because there are more spices per square mile here than anywhere else in the world. Grenada produces a third of the world's nutmeg and other spices grown included cloves, cinnamon, mace, ginger, turmeric and vanilla. Taste the flavours in the local cuisine and smell the perfume all over the island. You can visit the nutmeg plantations at Gouyave.
"At the beginning of June my family and I took a flotilla holiday from your base at Palairos. It was one of the best holidays I have ever been on and my family agree. "
Ionian flotilla 2011 - W.C.
