Tag Archives: Sailing

Traditional boat building in windward.

Windward and the boat building tradition.

Windward has a long tradition of boat building.

Grenada was returned to the British in 1783 after the Treaty of Versailles.
Many plantation owners on Grenada and Carriacou wished to import goods into the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the West Indies.

Trading vessels were few and far between.
So Scottish shipbuilders settled in what is now Windward to build trading sloops and schooners.

Traditional boat building in windward.

Wooden sloops being built in Windward.

Carriacou Boat Building on video.

Walking through the cemeteries in Windward confirms this, as all the headstones are Andrews, McLawrence, Roberts, etc.

The village of Windward in watering bay is a quiet one, almost a ghost town.
Its population is around 1,000 Kayaks (patois for the inhabitants of Carriacou).

The streets are lined with bright flowers that compliment the old gingerbread houses behind them.

Tradition re -Launched in Carriacou.

Nothing about the boats has really changed in centuries, except for the goods carried and their destinations.
Rum may or may not still be smuggled on these ships; I won’t speculate.

These boats are still built in Windward using the same methods, though in smaller numbers. Wood is sourced from Carriacou and Grenada and cut using axes and hand saws.
Planed by hand, except for the planking.

Everything is measured with the trusty eyeball method.

One of the traditional hand-built boats of Windward.
This one a fishing boat as is obvious from the pilothouse.

Launch Day.

On launch day, the entire island comes to Windward to participate in the party and the blessing.

This boat was built with all the tradition and passion that is left in the Caribbean wooden boat movement.
There is only one island left in the Caribbean building these amazing sailing “work boats”.

Carriacou 2015 Boat Launching.

An enormous cookout feeds everyone throughout the day and the only rum that is spilled on the ground is the rum offered up by the priest to appease their shipbuilding ancestors.

The boat, built on the beach, slides into the water and will anchor there until its first passage.

Traditional boat building in windward.

Wooden sloops being built in Windward.

Sailboats in the Tobago Cays.

The Grenadines islands – From St. Vincent down to Carriacou.

A paradise for sailors in the Caribbean.

You should without any doubt visit the Tobago Cays.
Find the Cays beside Union Island, and more or less in the middle of the Grenadines.

First of all, this is a picture perfect place to relax on your boat.
For the sailing here it is a great experience with all islands at a short distance.
As a result you can go island hopping all along the Caribbean.
From the hurricane safe harbours of Trinidad in the south, all the way up to the Bahamas and further.
Most noteworthy, this is where they made Pirates of the Caribbean.
Sailboats in the Tobago Cays - Grenadines.

Tobago Cays in the Grenadines.

Islands in the Grenadines.

Discover these shallow reefs which are ideal for snorkling.
These Cays are a nature reserve where you are not allowed to fish.
Hence there is an enourmous variety of marine life here in the Tobago Cays.
Swim with the turtles, you will probably not find any better snorkling elsewhere.

Wikipedia article about these islands.

In total there are 32 islands and cays that make up St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
Only nine of these 32 islands are inhabited, that is including the mainland of St. Vincent.

Islands in a chain, Saint Vincent in the north and the following islands.
Bequia and Mustique, Young Island,  Canouan, Union Island, Mayreau, Petit St Vincent Carriacou and Palm Island.

Carriacou Marine boatyard in Tyrell Bay – Harvey Vale.
Name
Carriacou Marine boatyard in Tyrell Bay – Harvey Vale.
Strategically placed on Tyrell Bay, Carriacou's premier yacht anchorage, the Yacht Club caters specifically to the needs of the discerning Caribbean traveller. Our features within a self contained complex combine high levels of comfort with the finest services for guests and visiting yachts.
Website
Carriacou Marine
Phone
(473)443-6123
Customs & Immigration offices in Tyrell Bay.
Name
Customs & Immigration offices in Tyrell Bay.
Carriacou Marine has been recently been appointed as a Port of Entry for yachts arriving from outside Grenada or Carriacou.
Website
Customs and Immigration
Phone
+1 473 443 7273
Cuthbert Snagg boattrips and water taxi.
Name
Cuthbert Snagg boattrips and water taxi.
Website
Snaggtours
Phone
1-473-403-2121
Lesterre Junior Sailing School on Paradise Beach.
Name
Lesterre Junior Sailing School on Paradise Beach.
L'Esterre Junior Sailing (LJS) is located at the south end of Paradise Beach on beautiful L'Esterre Bay, Carriacou.
The children meet every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. Volunteers and spectators are always welcome.
Phone
473-449-1382
Prices
Not available
Sherwin’s Lambi Queen water taxi and day trips to the Tobago Cays.
Name
Sherwin’s Lambi Queen water taxi and day trips to the Tobago Cays.
When in Carriacou ask for Sherwin and Nathan at Lambi queen restaurant and they will show you around to all the wonderful places in Carriacou and the Grenadines.
A 25ft speedboat does trips to the Tobago Cays.
100 us per person, a very good day out.
Phone
406 4122
Sailboats anchored in the Tobago Cays.

Sailing in the Grenadines.

Sailing around Carriacou.

The sailing community shares news on their Carriacou cruisers page.

Some of the best sailing in the world for recreational sailors, the Grenadines and Carriacou have perfect conditions for a sailing vacation.
Boat rentals and yacht charters are available on all islands of the Grenadines.

The sailing in the Caribbean is famous all over the world.
Trade winds provide a fairly reliable source for very enjoyable sailing trips.
The relative short distance between islands make the entire region ideal for island hopping.

Anchorages in the Grenadines.

The Grenadines are certainly no exception, specially the low location make the Grenadines ideal during the hurricane season to go in shelter.
Temperatures are ideal, specially when the breeze cools you down. rainfall is hardly a problem since it hardly ever rains longer then an hour here at sea.

While sailing it’s allways worth trying to catch some fish.
Throw a line and you will probably catch something.

Carriacou Sloops building on video.

About the boat building in Windward.

There are plenty boats for rent, some with crew, others without It’s a good idea to make up your mind about what type of boat you will want.
A catamaran has it’s advantages regarding space and stability.
On the other hand many people will prefer the sensation of a sailing in a monohull.

Try booking a boat that is the right size for your group.
Otherwise you might end up in a boat with people who don’t share your interests, and that could become an unpleasant experience.

L’Esterre Bay and Sandy Island.
Hillsborough Jetty arrival.
Tobago Cays anchorage.
Anchorages and Moorings in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Moorings in Tyrell Bay Carriacou.
Tyrell Bay yacht moorings and Harveyvale.
Mopion island north of Carriacou.