A Guide to Chartering a Yacht in St Vincent and the Grenadines

St Vincent and the Grenadines are a group of islands that make up one country. Other than being next door neighbors, they bear no relation to Grenada, despite the similarity of the name. These special islands have a similar feel to the British Virgins in that you can easily sail or motor from one to the other while remaining in the same country. The similarity ends there in that these islands are still less developed and far less ?discovered? than the BVI. No jet skis, aquascooters, or spearfishing are permitted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which make it perfect for a relaxing charter (see our boats in the Grenadines). There is a conscious effort toward protecting the spectacular natural heritage of the islands.

The prevailing winds and currents are north to south, especially in the winter months. It is comfortable to sail southward from St. Vincent down to Union Island , with the wind and the swell. Steaming north can be more of a struggle but the islands are close together and a round trip can easily be accomplished in a week to ten days. But?the main point of the Grenadines is not to ?accomplish? anything. As one visitor put it, ?There is never enough nothing to do?.?

St. Vincent

St Vincent is a rugged, hilly volcanic bit of real estate that still houses a 3,000 foot volcano named Soufriere, which last erupted in 1979. There are no white sand beaches to attract tourists, and, thus, the island has remained largely unspoiled. The interior is undeveloped and, in a sense, nothing but ?wild nature?. There are not even roads crossing the island. A true ?eco-tourist? will enjoy climbing the volcano or taking a trip by boat to the Falls of Baleine on the north end of the island. For the less adventuresome, the Botanical Gardens near Kingstown are the oldest in the Western Hemishere and quite beautiful. There are still specimens of breadfruit left by the famous Captain Bligh.

Bequia (pronounced Beck-way)

This beautiful island is only about eight miles from Kingstown or Blue Lagoon in St. Vincent down to Bequia. Bequia is the largest of the Grenadines (7 square miles) and has a rich history of boatbuilding and whaling. For years it was only possible to get to Bequia on a ferry from St. Vincent or a private boat so the island has maintained a very authentic West Indian character.

The main stopping point for yachts is Admiralty Bay/Port Elizabeth. There is a long walkway around the bay with various local shops, bars and restaurants. Try the Gingerbread Caf?, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and also sells gourmet special ty goods including wine, coffee and caviar?or Auberge Des Grenadines, famous for fresh lobster?or Frangiapani (right on the water), known for lobster (grilled lobster, lobster cocktails etc), curried conch and its Thursday night ?jump-up? and barbeque. A little outside of town, Le Petit Jardin is a special treat. Its owner/chef trained at the Culinary Institute in the US , but his style is definitely mouth-watering French gourmet. At the southernmost end of town is the Plantation House, an old West Indian-style plantation resort with cottages and a restaurant and bar.

Mustique

This island hideaway (only 3 miles long and a mile and a half wide) is about fifteen miles from St. Vincent and ten from the West Cay of Bequia. Mustique is a privately-owned island sprinkled with only about 90 homes, many belonging to the rich and famous. Gently sloping manicured lawns and beautifully kept houses are characteristic of the island. The best way to get around is to rent a ?mule? (heavy duty golf cart) or a motorbike (Mustique Mechanical Systems 488-8555).

Competing with Foxy's for the most famous New Year?s Eve party in the Caribbean is Basil?s Bar ( ph# 784-488-8350 basils@caribsurf.com). Basil?s also hosts a Blues Festival each year (from January 19-February 5 in 2007) and a Wednesday night bbq buffet and ?jump-up? with a steel band. Yachties in search of a drink, a great sunset and a little Caribbean music dinghy right up to the pier where Basil?s is located. You can buy a kaftan (for which Basil?s is known) in shop adjacent to the restaurant.

Cotton House, formerly a suger mill was completely renovated in 2004, is the only resort on the island. It is small with only 20 rooms, and like just about everything in Mustique, offers complete luxury in a small, private setting.

For provisions, try Corea?s Food Store or the Mustique General Store in the harbor. (The harbor is quaint and boats hosting more than 25 people are not allowed in.) There is a lovely French pattiserie, Sweetie Pie Bakery that sells baguettes, croissants and pain au chocolat.

Canouan

Canouan was a quiet island virtually untouched island until Italian developers bought it some years ago. Now it hosts a large Raffles Resort, the Tamarind Beach Hotel and Yacht Club, the Villa Monte Carlo Casino, the Amrita Spa and the Trump International Golf Club. It is not a favorite of yachties in the Grenadines, but if you have had enough tranquility, it is the perfect place for an afternoon on the golf course or evening at the casino!

Tobago Cays

Further to the south are the Tobago Cays, famous for amazing snorkeling and for the filming of ?Pirates of the Caribbean ? and ?Dead Man?s Chest?. This cluster of cays inside a rim of reef (Horseshoe Reef) are becoming more popular but are still far less crowded than places like the Baths in the BVI. Every morning, the ?bread man? will come around to your boat offering bread and ice, two necessities. Sometimes, there will be fishermen offering fresh fish or lobster (beware the underweight/illegal lobsters!). Islanders sometimes host beach parties or bbq?s, but the Cays are by and large a natural phenomenon and remain a completely undeveloped national park. Be sure you are well provisioned before going in. Once there, soak up the beautiful sights around you, both under the water and above.

Mayreau

Saltwhistle Bay in Mayreau is not to be missed. It is one of the most perfect beaches in all of the Grenadines. If you arrive too late in the day during high season, you will have to anchor in Saline Bay on the far side of the island (a nice hike over the crest of large hill). (Beware of anchoring anywhere near the ferry that comes barreling into Saline Bay in order to dock at the enormous concrete pier over to one side).

Saltwhistle Bay is home to a spectacular resort called the Saltwhistle Bay Club (ph: 784-458-8444). Visiting yachties are welcome to lounge and swim at the beach (pretty much like being in a postcard that is too good to be true). For a luxury experience, reserve well in advance for cocktails at the Saltwhistle bar and dinner at the stone tables under the trees at the beach. For a little ?local flavor? or a less expensive dining experience, walk up and over the hill to some of the local bars and restaurants. The food is fresh and delicious, and the people of the island are very welcoming and friendly.

Palm Island

Just a mile to the west of Union Island and south of the Tobago Cays is Palm Island . There is a narrow strip of sand just off the island, which looks like what you always imagined a deserted would be. Many of the palms that were planted here have been stripped off by hurricanes. You can anchor and go snorkeling in an area that is protected and clean.

Palm Island itself is home to an upscale resort called Royal Palm and a chi-chi beach bar and restaurant. Yachties can reserve for lunch or dinner. (ph: 784-458-8824) The ?main event? on the island is still Casuarina Beach, one of the prettiest in the West Indies .

Petit St. Vincent

This tiny island has a beautiful, quiet little ?cottage? resort (22 cottages). Each cottage has a flagpole and when the guests want room service, they run up a flag! There are no televisions, telephones or even room keys. The resort?s bar and restaurant will accept a few groups of yachting guests each night. The only way to get a place at the bar and a table is to reserve well in advance. Petit St. Vincent Resort ph 954-963-7401).

Union Island

Union Island can be seen from miles away because of its famous peak, Mt. Parnassus (866 feet). The main town of Clifton is a bustling, ?happening? spot. There is an open-air fruit and vegetable market in the main square and a number of grocery stores. There is also one lovely gourmet store, which sells fabulous wine, coffee, olive oil, bread and chocolate. There are several local restaurants/bars overlooking the harbor including Lambi?s and the Anchorage Yacht Club. In May, the island celebrates the beginning of the planting season with the Maroon Festival. Easterval is held each year during the four days around Easter.

In the harbor of Union Island , there is a tiny bar on a man-made island called Happy Island . Happy you will be when you stop in there for a cocktail at sunset. Just tie your dinghy up and enjoy!

On the far side of the island in Chatham Bay, there is a crescent beach (quite nice but not a spectacular white sand beach like the one at Saltwhistle Bay ) where ?Shark Attack?, a Union Island local has a beach barbeque featuring pork and lobster. (Reservations 784-2694). Just make sure you bring your own plate and cutlery, get near the front of the buffet line (or you will miss the grilled lobster) and ask Shark Attack the price of the dinner before it is time to pay (prices can drift upward as the night goes on). There is a steel band and dancing after dinner.

Other Helpful Information

There are infinite ways to spend your holiday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is important match your (and your party's) desires and goals to the itinerary.

Written by Tom Virden at Boatbookings.com

Looking For Yachts To Rent Or To Buy, Travel Wise!

You can afford. And you think that owning one is possible for you considering that you have the financial resources and you believe that you could count on a yacht as a very good property or investment. If you think what you have is not that sufficient, you could always have the other option which is to rent a yacht instead.

There is a wide market for yacht selling and renting but how would you know that you are buying it from a reliable source? What are the considerations that you are going to buy it from that of good quality?

Since yachts are included in the family of boats, it would be better if the sources would be narrowed down. From the World Wide Web, there are sites you could visit that would lead you to better options in order for you to weigh choices and make the best decision. Having these purchased or rented, you would surely be glad and satisfied, realize how much fun travel could be.

The following are the sites you could navigate through:

Boats.com- This is the most reliable source of all the lists you need. This site has a lot of features that makes it as then best, most updated, most reliable source for your yacht information. It has this section which shows the latest models and creations of boats such as fishing boats, water sports, sailing boats and so forth.

This also includes pontoon, pleasure boating and of course, yachting. These categories are also broken down to more specific sub-categories like manufacturers? listings. These listings include the details about the manufacturer. Moreover, photos of the products are also shown.

This site also sells second-hand boats.

Searay.com- Rangerboats.com- these are all other sites where you could navigate and look for the Regalboats.com- boat you want to have. These websites have updated information, Larsonboats.com- photos, reviews and price comparisons as well. This is of very big help to you since you will not only get to know the product but as well as how is it doing in the market.

Ebay.com- the best auction site in the world, it would respond to your needs of looking for used yachts. This site offers products not only in a state or country but in all parts of the world.

With these sites to visit to, what are you waiting for? This would mean making your mind-boggling task a bit easier and it is just right on you fingertips.

James Penn runs a highly informative Caribbean website which details exactly how to find cheap Caribbean cruises and also the ten best activities in the Caribbean for families and couples alike.

Bahamas Boat Rentals and Yacht Charters

When traveling to Nassau, various boating experiences are available to embark on. Whether you enjoy a boat or a yacht doesn?t change the exciting experience you will have on the beautiful blue water of the Bahamas Islands. Bahamas yacht charters are a popular Caribbean adventure that will give you just what you need to go home and brag to all of your friends.

Fishing boats and fishing charters exist for the sportiest of the group. The Nassau area houses one of the greatest sport fishing spots in the world. From marlin and tuna to yellow fin and wahoo, a large variety of fish are available to be caught. So cast a reel in! A variety of exotic fishing experiences can be had in this beautiful area. Experienced tour guides are available to guide you into finding the perfect adventure whether it?s deep sea fishing or a Bahamas yacht charter for your interests. Boats leave early morning to late night. Find the perfect one for you!

For other travelers, sailing is their first choice. Sailboats are available for rental and one can cruise the crystal clear waters of Nassau. This Caribbean water adventure keeps visitors smiling throughout the entire trip. Various other boat cruises are available during the day and even through the night. Bahamas yacht charters as well as many other boating experiences provide great fun for the visitors of the Bahamas islands. Book a trip to the Bahamas and schedule a boat tour to see all this beautiful area has to offer!

Planning a trip to The Bahamas? Whether it's a scuba diving vacation or a sport fishing trip we can help you book your flight, find the right hotel and schedule tours and rentals.

Yacht charter Tobago

If you are looking for a great way to sail the ocean, you will want to have the Yacht charter Tobago. This is a great way to spend a great vacation. You will feel great and wonderful when you decide to take a trip on this great ocean liner. You will want to share your time with people that you love and let them experience the same fun and excitement that you are.

When it comes time to having a great time on a special boat, you need to see what the Yacht charter Tobago has in store for you. You will enjoy every inch of this great boat. You can set sail on the deck and watch the land get smaller and smaller as you drift away. You will appreciate the wonder of this great time. There is no better way to spend a great and enjoyable time.

If you are ready to have a great time on a special adventure, you need to get aboard the Yacht charter Tobago. This is something that you will love and appreciate with this package. If you are wanting to sail alone and meet new people or if you have a special someone to bring along, you will be impressed with all the enjoyable moments you are in store for.

If you are ready to have fun and games planned for your trip, you need to be on the Yacht charter Tobago. You will have something to do each second of the day and night. You will not have to worry about being bored, because this is a time when you can kick back and enjoy the time that you are getting alone or with your friends and family members.

When you want to get away for some peace and serenity, you will have to get to the Yacht charter Tobago. There is no better way to spend a relaxing vacation. You will find the views to be amazing, the food wonderful, and the activities and entertainment to be the best that you can have. You will not be disappointed in your choice to cruise along with this great boat.

Check out all of the great features that you can take advantage of on this cruise. You will have the options to have as much fun as you can without the high cost. You can find a way to make this ride fit into your budget. You can have the peaceful vacation that you deserve time and time again.

Lena Hilltorp

Lena Hilltorp is a freelance publisher based in Sweden. She publishes articles and reports and provides Mediterranean Rental Yacht resources on http://www.charter-yacht.org/mediterraneanrentalyacht.html Caribbean Rental Yacht http://www.charter-yacht.org/caribbeanrentalyacht.html

Stag Weekends in Brighton - Yacht Sailing

With its best social scene on the South Coast and fantastic locations for all types of outdoor activities, Brighton is easily the number one choice for a stag weekend. Mountain boarding, kayaking, sailing, raft building, paintball and clay shooting are a few of those stag dos you will find in Brighton.

Yachting Day in Brighton

The best part of yacht sailing in Brighton as a favourite stag do is that you get a full day to ride a 36 ft racing yacht. You will be given a safety briefing before being taken by your skipper on board. For two hours, you will be taught the mechanism and the basic skills required for sailing. Chillisauce ensures that you are treated to a delicious lunch at the yacht club while sharing your new experience with the rest of the crew.

The time to test your skill comes in the afternoon when you will be asked to take charge of the yacht yourself. The skipper will then act as a passive crewmember and will only take charge of the yacht if your team finds it difficult to control. Each team will comprise of a minimum of six and a maximum of ten members. A fun filled stag do, yacht sailing is the best way to spend your stag weekend in Brighton.

The Positive side of Stag Do in Brighton

Stag weekends with stag parties and stag nights are the best ways to enjoy your weekend. Brighton, with its scenic beauty and thrilling nightlife is the right place if you are looking for a calm place, eager to escape the din and bustle of city life. When it comes to all types of stag outdoor adventures and water activities, stag do in Brighton gives you the ultimate pleasure. Yacht sailing, one of the most sought after stag do in Brighton, releases you of all the tensions of the past week and rejuvenates your mind by giving you a adventurous feel with a long lasting soothing effect on your mind. If you are looking for some adventurous water activities, just go for the big challenge of Yacht sailing in Brighton.

Beachfront Villas, Yachts, All-Inclusive Packages Make Great Caribbean Vacations

The Caribbean, also known as the West Indies, is the common term given to a group of islands located in the Caribbean Sea. Located from the southeastern areas of Mexico to the northwest of Venezuela in South America, these Islands are organized into 25 territories including sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. There are at least 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cayes in the whole Caribbean region.

Because of their location and their natural beauty, the islands in the Caribbean region have become favorites to tourists, due to the many things they offer like style, seclusion, niche gifts, and nightlife.

Planning a trip to the Caribbean soon? Read the tips below to make the most of your vacation.

Rent or buy a beachfront villa If you have the money, the best way to totally enjoy the Caribbean is to rent or buy a Caribbean villa. The prices of Caribbean villas range from the cheap to the outrageously expensive. The prices depend in the location but almost all villas are beautiful.

In general, beachfront villas in the Bahamas area are expensive while beachfront property in the Dominican Republic is more affordable. Both locations are beautiful but the Bahamas is frequented by significantly more tourists than the Dominican Republic.

IF you are planning to stay for just a few days or a few weeks, it is highly advisable that you rent a beachfront villa instead of staying in a hotel. There are many advantages to doing it this way. It is more private and beautiful than a crowded hotel. Another advantage of a rented beachfront villa is the fact that you can cook your own meal there. In a hotel your choices are to all meals, in a restaurant. You can even hire someone to cook for you in a beachfront villa.

Rent a Caribbean Island But if you want to have a really perfect Caribbean vacation then rent a whole Caribbean Island for yourself or for you and your friends or family. That's right! You can rent a whole Island in the Caribbean. You can truly live like a king on the island because it comes with staff and everything you need to spend a luxurious vacation. Renting a whole Caribbean island is also a very nice idea for a wedding or any party.

Charter a Yacht If the island is too much activity for your tastes, you could just charter a luxury yacht. There are many Caribbean yacht providers that will surely be able to meet your needs and budget.

Get in touch with a Caribbean holiday specialist Of course you can simply go online and start searching and learn everything there is to do in the Caribbean and the places to go when you get there. But it is definitely a lot easier to simply employ a Caribbean holiday specialist to help you plan the perfect Caribbean vacation. Getting the services of a Caribbean holiday specialist will save you a lot of time and energy. You could also save money with this method because they know different discounts and preferred rates. They have insight and knowledge and many years experience booking Caribbean vacations so you don't have to do serious work and effort to plan the vacation yourself.

David Arnold Livingston loves to travel with his family
and a favorite spot for vacation is the Caribbean.
As a resource, he recommends: Ultra Kool Caribbean

Monaco Yachts

 by: Laura Ciocan

Sea and rich people: where else to find a better combination than in Monaco! A real yacht parade can be admired throughout the year in the Hercule Port besides the local yearly yachting events. From imposant, big-sized ones to neat, small, jewel yachts. If you are a yachting amateur or if you are hardly interested in the matter (as I was before seeing this impressive display) you will find something to like here.

There is a restraint, exclusivist rich group that has a thing for yachting, mainly because they can afford to! You and I, we both know that we'd like to own even a small, "unpretentiuos" sailboat, don't we? And have at least once dreamed to relax on the deck of a luxury yacht in Monaco. But, hey, who needs a yacht in a so busy world? Do we wake up in the morning with nothing better to do than dress in white completely (maybe some blue too), have our cafe au lait (maybe a croissant also if not on diet) and go to the quay ordering around the employees to rub up better that side? We certainly don't! If you say you do, that's another story!

What better place (and object) for a competition: who has the bigger, more expensive model, envies arise, disputes start... Shirley Bassey reportedley complained of the big size of "Le Grand Bleu" belonging to the Russian billionaire Abramovich. The yacht appearantly spoiled the view on the port of her uphill apartment. Well, what else would you like rich people to do?...

Besides occasional cruises and constant care some rich peolpe find a practical use to their yachts: some rent them, others live there. Owning a yacht can be extremely useful if you are a tax exile, especially UK citizens who live in Monaco but work in the UK. Renting is very profitable, especially during holidays season or when big events happen in Monaco: prices go from EUR25,000 per week to EUR365,000 per week, depending on the size and facilities.

Some of world's famous yachts rest in the waters of the bay. Some of them are so big that they have helicopters on their top decks. Among worlds' 100 largest yachts are:

• Octopus - owned by Paul Allen, the Microsoft cofounder;

• Tatoosh - owned also by Paul Allen;

• Atlantis II - owned by the Niarchos family, descendants of Onassis rival Stavros;

• Le Grand Bleu - owned by the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich;

• Delphine - owned by the American car magnate Horace Dodge;

• Montkaj - owned by Prince Mohammed bin Fahd, son of Saudi Arabias King Fahd.

Following its policy of capitalisation of all (though scarce) natural resource, the Principality quickly became aware of the potential of the Hercules Bay and started a yachting tradition. There is a Yacht Club founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier and it was all along supported by himself and his son Albert, who is also its President. The Yacht Club de Monaco gained international fame attracting worlds' greatest names in sailing to came and do battle on the Monegasque waters.

Naturally, there are also prestigious yachting events of international interest, excellent opportunities for yacht owners all over the world to show off. There is Primo Cup Trophe Credit Suisse, Challenge Inter-Banques, Monaco Classic Week, Fte de la Mer, Rgates Corporatives, Monaco Yacht Show. The events are organised with the support of H.S.H. Prince Albert I and of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III. All of these events have display and competitions parts, except for Monaco Yacht Show which is the greatest in-water yacht exhibition in Europe, without competitions show.

So, rich or less rich, you can enjoy for free at least a great show if you happen to be in Monaco at the right time. Welcome aboard!

Laura Ciocan writes for http://www.ilovemontecarlo.com/ where you can find all you want to know about living in Monaco

Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: mailto:lauracio@gmail.com.

Want a Dream Career? Get a Job on a Yacht!

If you’re the “outdoorsy” type, prefer to work on a team, have a positive attitude and are a confirmed “people-person,” you may fit right in as part of a yacht crew. Though jobs on most yachts are seasonal or part-time (depending on when someone rents it for a cruise), you will gain an incredible amount of experience while sailing your work days away.

A few yacht crew jobs include the following:

Chef/Cook
Diesel Mechanic
Flotilla Skipper
Host/Hostess
Sailing Instructor

You can apply for positions with private yachts; exploration ships that travel far and wide; commercial vessels; or megayachts and superyachts, liners or tankers. But, where do you find these jobs, anyway?

There are several yacht crew-finder services for vessel owners and employers around the world. Remember, this is a global industry, and though you’ll have full decision-making authority on things like what kind of vessel you’d like to sail on and when you’re available to crew, things like salaries or whether you will work a working holiday yacht cruise or as a voluntary crew member are largely non-negotiable, particularly for entry-level jobs.

You can also work on shore-based jobs related to the yachting industry, such as outfitters or suppliers for deck and overall yacht needs like linen services or glassware.

And think about this: You pretty much get to decide ahead of time whether you’d prefer to work on Carver yachts, Catalina yachts, Seaward Yachts, Pershing Yachts, or pal up with a few friends on the ship of your choice. The other good thing about yacht employment is that, because it is seasonal work, for the most part, there is a lot of turnover, so you won’t have to “paddle the waters” very long while looking for a job!

Another good tip to know is that vessel owners are usually very generous and pay their crew very good (tax-free) wages, along with job “perks” such as the obvious, like travel expenses and great accommodations, plus a free vacation!!

David Dunlap is the owner and founder of Only For Yachts, an online resource for everything related to yachts. Visit http://onlyforyachts.com to get information on yacht charters, yachts for sale and also sign up for the free yachting newsletter.