Grenada Yacht Charter

Grenada is the smart play for the Caribbean, the southern anchor of the Windward Islands and a strategic starting block for the Grenadines. It's the full package: lush, volcanic terrain, proper sailing winds, and a legitimate culinary scene. Most critically, its position below the principal hurricane belt opens up the June-to-November season when other grounds are uninsurable or simply too risky.

The cruising ground

Grenada isn't a compact, hop-around-for-lunch destination like the BVI. This is a proper cruising ground that rewards a well-planned itinerary. The main island is the core, with its dramatic, fjord-like south coast bays and the stunning west coast running up from the capital, St. George's. To the northeast lie its sister islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, which offer a quieter, more old-school Caribbean vibe.

The real strategic value of Grenada is its position as the gateway to the Grenadines. From Carriacou, it's a short, open-water sail north to Union Island for clearance into St. Vincent and the Grenadines, putting the world-famous Tobago Cays Marine Park within a day's reach. This makes Grenada the ideal start or end point for a one-way charter through the entire island chain, a trip we consider one of the crown jewels of Caribbean yachting. The passages are longer, the sailing is more real, and the payoff is a chain of islands that feel less developed and more authentic than their northern counterparts.

Bases and clearance

The operational heart of crewed chartering in Grenada is Port Louis Marina in St. George's. It's an IGY facility, meaning it's built to a superyacht standard with reliable power, quality fuel, and excellent security. Provisioning here is the best on the island, and it's where your crew will stage the yacht for your arrival. It’s also adjacent to the Carenage, the iconic inner harbour of the capital, and a short run from Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND).

While you'll see yachts anchored in the southern bays like Prickly Bay and Mt Hartman Bay, these are more the domain of the long-term cruising fleet. For a charter start, the logistics and polish of Port Louis are non-negotiable.

Clearance is straightforward. Your captain handles all the paperwork. If you're arriving by air and starting your charter in Grenada, you'll clear immigration at the airport. The yacht will already be cleared in. If your itinerary involves sailing north into the Grenadines of St. Vincent (SVG), your captain will clear the yacht out of Grenada, typically in Carriacou, and then clear in to SVG at Union Island. It's a routine process, but it requires time and passports, so it's factored into any multi-country itinerary.

Where to drop the hook

Your captain will have their preferred spots, but a well-rounded Grenada itinerary touches on these key anchorages.

• St. George's & The Carenage: While you'll likely be berthed at Port Louis, a dinghy ride across to the Carenage for a walk and a drink is a must. The view looking back at the colourful colonial buildings from the water is the classic Grenada postcard.
• Grand Anse Beach: Just south of the capital lies two miles of perfect white sand. The anchorage is a wide, open roadstead. We'll drop the hook for lunch and a swim, or use it as a calm first-night anchorage after you board, putting you minutes from the beach and its low-key bars.
• Molinere Bay: Home to the original Underwater Sculpture Park by Jason deCaires Taylor. It's a mandatory stop. Your crew will set you up with snorkel gear or arrange a dive. It's a surreal, beautiful experience and best done in the morning light before any day-tripper crowds arrive.
• South Coast Bays: The deeply indented southern coastline offers a string of protected anchorages. Prickly Bay is known for its social scene and marina, while the adjacent Mt. Hartman Bay is quieter. Further east, Hog Island is a popular cruiser's hangout with a very casual, rustic vibe.
• Carriacou: This is a different world. The main anchorage is Tyrrel Bay, a huge, protected bay with a few good local restaurants and a tangible sense of boat-building history. The absolute gem here is Sandy Island, a tiny spit of sand with a few palm trees just off the coast. It’s the screensaver-perfect spot for an afternoon of swimming and cocktails on the beach.
• The Tobago Cays: While technically in SVG, they are the primary objective for many Grenada charters. It's a full day's sail from the south of Grenada, but a much more manageable reach from Carriacou. Anchoring inside the horseshoe reef, with sea turtles grazing on the sea grass beneath the hull, is an experience that cannot be oversold.

Weather and season

Grenada's weather is its key advantage. It has two distinct seasons, both excellent for chartering.

The High Season (December – April): This is classic Caribbean. The dry season is in full swing, with temperatures in the low-to-mid 80s°F (around 28-30°C) and very little rain. The northeast trade winds are established and consistent, typically blowing 15-25 knots. This is prime sailing season, especially during the "Christmas Winds" of December and January, which can be sporty. Book well in advance for this period.

The Summer Season (June – November): This is Grenada's unique selling proposition. While the rest of the Caribbean is in the high-risk hurricane season, Grenada lies south of the main storm track. Insurance underwriters are comfortable with policies here, making it one of the few viable and truly appealing places to charter in the summer and autumn. You'll have more rain, typically in the form of brief but intense afternoon squalls that pass quickly, and the winds are generally lighter. The upside is fewer boats, lush, green landscapes, and often better value.

The right yacht

The cruising ground dictates the hardware. For Grenada and the Grenadines, the crewed catamaran is king. The reasons are practical:

• Stability and Space: The twin hulls provide a stable platform both at anchor and underway, minimizing roll. The deck space, from the flybridge to the forward cockpit, is enormous, providing multiple private areas for a group to spread out.
• Shallow Draft: This is critical for getting into the best spots. A catamaran's shallow draft allows the captain to nose in closer to the beach at Grand Anse or, more importantly, navigate the reefs and sandbars of places like the Tobago Cays and Sandy Island.
• Accessibility: The transom "sugar scoops" provide walk-on, walk-off access to the water and the dinghy, which is invaluable for swimming and watersports.

We typically place clients on modern cats in the 50-65 foot range from builders like Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, and Bali. These offer 3-5 guest cabins, all with private ensuite heads.

Sailing monohulls are available for the purists who prioritize the heeled-over sailing experience above all else. Likewise, a few motor yachts base here, offering speed to cover the Grenadines chain faster, but for the quintessential experience of wind, water, and sun, the catamaran is the superior platform for this destination.

Money

The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), but the US Dollar is widely accepted, especially in tourism-focused businesses. All charter contracts and APA will be denominated in USD. It's wise to have some EC$ for small local purchases at markets or rum shops, which your crew can arrange.

A one-week, all-inclusive style charter on a quality, modern 50-foot crewed catamaran for 6 guests will typically run from $25,000 to $40,000 USD during the high season. Larger, more luxurious, or brand-new models in the 60-70 foot range will be $50,000 USD and up. Rates can be slightly more negotiable during the summer season.

Critically, Grenada does not levy a VAT or charter tax on the yacht fee. This represents a significant saving compared to destinations like the Bahamas or the BVI.

APA and the small print

Your charter fee covers the yacht and the crew. All your other expenses—fuel, food, drinks, dockage, customs fees—are covered by the Advanced Provisioning Allowance, or APA. This is standard practice in the crewed yacht industry.

For Grenada, we advise clients to budget an APA of 30-35% of the charter fee. This is slightly higher than in some other areas because itineraries often involve longer sailing distances (more fuel), and provisioning for high-end items can be more costly. Your captain runs the APA like a ship's bank account, and you can review the expenditure at any time. At the end of the charter, any remaining funds are returned to you. If you overspend (usually due to exceptional requests for rare wines, or extensive motoring), you settle the difference before disembarking.

The "small print" to be aware of includes:

• One-Way Fees: If you're doing a one-way charter from Grenada to St. Vincent, expect a repositioning fee of several thousand dollars to cover the cost of the crew bringing the yacht back to its home base.
• Park & Customs Fees: Entry into the Tobago Cays Marine Park carries a per-person daily fee. Clearing into SVG from Grenada also involves customs and immigration charges. These are all covered by your APA.

How we'd plan a week

This is a classic Grenada-focused itinerary with a taste of the Grenadines. It balances sailing with relaxation and exploration.

• Day 1: Arrival & Grand Anse Sunset. Board at Port Louis Marina mid-afternoon. After a champagne welcome and safety briefing, we take a short 30-minute motor sail to anchor off Grand Anse beach. You're swimming in calm turquoise water within an hour of stepping aboard, with cocktails served for the first sunset.
• Day 2: Sculptures & Spice. Morning snorkel or dive at the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park. Afterwards, a brisk sail up the west coast before returning south. In the afternoon, we arrange a private car ashore for a tour of a nutmeg processing station and the River Antoine Rum Distillery.
• Day 3: The Sail to Carriacou. A proper day of blue-water sailing. We'll leave early for the 35-nautical-mile passage north to Carriacou. The yacht will come alive. We'll anchor in the vast, calm expanse of Tyrrel Bay in time for a late lunch.
• Day 4: Sandy Island & Tyrrel Bay. A short hop over to Sandy Island for the morning. This is your Robinson Crusoe moment—pristine sand, gin-clear water. We'll set up a beach blanket and a cooler. In the evening, dinner ashore at one of the simple, excellent local restaurants in Tyrrel Bay.
• Day 5: The Tobago Cays Dash. An early start for the reach to the Tobago Cays. We'll clear out of Grenada and into SVG at Union Island. The destination is the legendary Horseshoe Reef. Spend the afternoon snorkeling with the green sea turtles that famously congregate here.
• Day 6: Southbound Leg. A leisurely breakfast in the Cays before a beautiful downwind sail back towards Grenada. This is a day to relax on the trampolines, read a book, and enjoy the motion of the yacht. We'll aim for a quiet anchorage on the north side of Carriacou or an alternative south coast bay on Grenada.
• Day 7: Final Anchorage & Dinner. A final morning swim and a slow sail back towards St. George's. We'll drop the hook in Prickly Bay, known for its lively yachting scene. You can have a final, celebratory dinner ashore at a place like Prickly Bay Marina or enjoy a special multi-course meal prepared by your chef on board.
• Day 8: Disembark. A final breakfast, then a short motor back to Port Louis Marina for your departure.