To The South

What will the type of sailing be like?

Route Overview Departure: Sint Maarten Primary Route: Sint Maarten – Guadeloupe – Les Saintes – Martinique – St. Lucia – Grenada Estimated Distance: 430–500 nautical miles, depending on routing and anchorages Key Points: Continuous coastal and offshore navigation, French island stops, mix of day and overnight sailing, final offshore leg to Grenada Passage Breakdown Sint Maarten to Guadeloupe Crew briefing, vessel preparation, and weather review in Sint Maarten Initial offshore leg south to Guadeloupe, with the first opportunity for customs entry and local exploration Through the French Islands: Les Saintes & Martinique Successive legs to Les Saintes and Martinique, with stops planned for crew rest, and time ashore (Think speedy) Emphasis on coastal navigation, harbor entry, and managing formalities at French ports Flexible itinerary allows for local exploration, dining, and shore-based activities Martinique to St. Lucia Short hop to St. Lucia, with both offshore and coastal navigation components Crew continues rotating through navigation, log keeping, and sail management Final Push: St. Lucia to Grenada Last overnight or extended offshore passage to Grenada, with landfall and trip debrief Arrival formalities and crew transfer at a main marina near St. George’s Training Focus Offshore and inter-island passage planning, with emphasis on French Caribbean navigation and protocols Practical skills: chartplotter, radar, AIS, GPS, and visual piloting Watchkeeping: helm, lookout, log entries, sail handling, and daily systems checks Anchoring, docking, and tender ops at varied island harbors Introduction to regional customs, local communication, and port procedures Overnight sailing, fatigue management, and nighttime navigation Expected Conditions Winds: Predominantly E–ESE, 15–25 knots typical for March, consistent trades Seas: 4–8 feet in open channels, moderate chop between islands, smoother in leeward harbors Weather: Mostly sunny with trade wind clouds, isolated brief squalls, warm and humid Hazards: Ferry traffic, local fishing vessels, currents between islands, strong gusts near high terrain Why This Passage is Relevant Southbound transit covers a variety of navigation and seamanship skills Experience with both day sailing and overnight passages in the Caribbean Focus on French island ports, providing cultural and logistical variety Suitable for sailors looking to build confidence, sea miles, and real-world passage experience