Special delivery: Sign up for the free Yachting email newsletter. Subscribe to Yachting magazine for $39 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.

Long a top honeymoon destination, St. Lucia has lots to love for all visitors. Its lush, natural beauty, rich history and culture, delectable food scene and welcoming atmosphere beckon cruisers to drop anchor and linger awhile in this lovely and laid-back Caribbean port of call.

The Pitons

The twin peaks of the Pitons are the beloved symbol of St. Lucia and the island’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Formed 30 million to 40 million years ago by a volcanic eruption, these iconic peaks are now blanketed with a lush tropical forest that’s home to 27 bird species and many rare plants. The shorter, steeper Petit Piton (2,438 feet) is a realm for professional climbers only. But the taller Gros Piton (2,619 feet) is popular for its guided day hikes.

Castries Central Market

Replenish your provisions at the colorful Castries Central Market, opened in the heart of St. Lucia’s capital in 1891. The produce and spice vendors are considered the highlights among the 100 stalls, but you’ll also find handicrafts and souvenirs. It’s busiest on Friday and Saturday mornings, and closed on Sundays.

Diamond Falls Botanic Garden and Mineral Baths

This 6-acre retreat checks all the boxes for a relaxing afternoon. Hummingbirds flit between the hibiscus, heliconia and other beautiful tropical blooms filling the flower gardens. Stroll along the winding path to the 55-foot-tall Diamond Falls, its surrounding rock face a kaleidoscope of colors. And, naturally, follow in the centuries-old tradition and take to the therapeutic mineral waters, choosing between a public or private soak. Guided tours are available, but this is a place where a leisurely wander can be equally rewarding.

Pigeon Island National Landmark

Once the lair of a 16th-century French pirate nicknamed Wooden Leg, Pigeon Island now attracts a variety of visitors for far more legitimate reasons. The trails crisscrossing this 44-acre national landmark off St. Lucia’s northwest tip lead up to the remnants of Fort Rodney, an 18th-century British garrison, as well as to the museum and interpretive center, which provides context for the island’s ecological and historical significance. The island’s two small, calm beaches are considered among the top beaches on St. Lucia and are popular picnicking spots. (A pub and a restaurant are on-site too.) The island is at its liveliest every May when it welcomes music lovers from around the world for the wildly popular St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.

Big Chef Steakhouse

For an indulgent dinner out on St. Lucia, reserve a table at Big Chef Steakhouse in Rodney Bay Village. Since 2007, chef Rosie Joinville and her husband, Marc, the manager, have served up mouthwatering steaks and seafood, wickedly rich desserts, and well-curated cocktail and wine selections.  

The post Cruising Stunning St. Lucia appeared first on Yachting.

Special delivery: Sign up for the free Yachting email newsletter. Subscribe to Yachting magazine for $39 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.

Trinidad and Tobago reward cruisers with far more than merely beautiful beaches. While best known for the Carnival celebration, these twin isles tempt travelers ashore year-round with awe-inspiring architecture, bountiful biodiversity, and memorable mouthwatering meals. Continue reading to learn more about our favorite destinations in Trinidad and Tobago.

This article was adapted from our Island Icon Series in the June 2023 Edition of Yachting Magazine.

1. Magnificent Seven

The 260-acre Queen’s Park Savannah is the nexus of social and cultural events in Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain, particularly during its internationally renowned Carnival and steel-pan festivals. But any time of year, visitors can take a stroll along its western edge to take in the Magnificent Seven. This architectural sampler of resplendent early 20th-century mansions fully lives up to its moniker.

Castle Killarney—also known as Stollmeyer’s Castle—was the first to arise on the block, its design inspired by Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Palladian-style Whitehall takes its name from the gleaming coral used in its construction. The Archbishop’s Palace melds Indian Empire design with red granite and marble brought over from Ireland. Intricate iron railings adorn the elaborate Roomor, while stonework stands out on the French Colonial-style Hayes Court. A 93-foot-tall clock tower dominates the German Renaissance design of the Queen’s Royal College. The elegant French Provincial Mille Fleurs was originally built as a gift for Port of Spain’s mayor and still stands as a gift that keeps giving to all who pass by.

2. Maracas Beach

The 1.25-mile crescent-shaped Maracas Beach on Trinidad’s north coast is as much a destination for its natural beauty as for its “bake and shark” vendors. This classic street food wraps shark meat in fried flatbread and slathers it with condiments of your choosing.

3. Asa Wright Nature Centre

Trinidad’s remarkable biodiversity is on full display in the Asa Wright Nature Centre in the Arima Valley. Schedule a tour to this 1,200-plus-acre preserve, where more than 600 butterfly species flit among the more than 2,000 varieties of flowering plants. The center’s 400-plus species of birds draw in enthusiasts eager to spot tanagers, toucans, colorful motmots and the elusive oilbird.

4. Veni Mangé

For a culinary and visual feast, dine at Veni Mangé in Port of Spain. Opened in 1980 by a Cordon Bleu-trained chef and her sister, this bustling, art-filled restaurant sets the standard for authentic West Indian fare on the island. It’s best known for its rendition of callaloo, Trinidad’s national dish, as well as oxtail.

5. Fort King George

If you’re spending time on Tobago, see the restored 18th-century colonial buildings and beautiful vistas at Fort King George, overlooking Scarborough and Rockly Bay. The officers’ quarters house the Tobago Museum and its collection of Amerindian artifacts, 17th-century maps and military relics.

Other Island Hopping Tips:

• Best Places to Unwind on Bahamas’ Harbour Island
• Things to Do and See on Catalina Island
• 3 Unique Things to Do in BVI

The post 5 Places to See When Cruising Trinidad and Tobago appeared first on Yachting.

Special delivery: Sign up for the free Yachting email newsletter. Subscribe to Yachting magazine for $39 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.

One by one, the fleet of a dozen multihulls—11 performance-cruising catamarans and a sole French trimaran—retrieved their anchors and hoisted their mainsails, each with a deep reef in the main. In the anchorage off Anse Marcel on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint-Martin, in the lee of the isle, the waters were calm and serene. Outside in the nearby Anguilla Channel, however, the easterly trade winds were pumping, and it was a sporty scene indeed, with the roiled seaway flecked with whitecaps.

It was the second day of the fifth-annual running of the Caribbean Multihull Challenge in early February. For the first time, the event was also hosting a rally in conjunction with the usual regatta for racing cats and tris. While the race committee was setting racecourses back in Simpson Bay on the island’s Dutch side, the cruisers were setting sail for an anchorage on the far side of Anguilla, where an evening of music, dancing and merriment awaited.

As anyone who has been to one of the major boat shows in the past decade knows, the multihull segment of the sailboat sector is far and away the fastest growing. And while the CMC rally fleet was well represented by French builders such as Lagoon, Nautitech and Outremer, with a half dozen entries, the South African-built line of Balance Catamarans was easily the most dominant brand. Perhaps not coincidentally, the company’s founder and president, Phil Berman, was in the thick of things aboard his own Balance 482, In Balance, as part of a season of island-hopping.

“You learn so much from the experience of just getting out and sailing your boat, day after day, living aboard and cruising through the islands,” Berman, a former national champion in the Hobie 14 class, told me at the outset of the rally.

Balance is currently building about 25 of its swift, daggerboard-equipped cats a year, and the production run is basically sold out for the next two years. “It’s crazy, but we’re probably the fastest-growing catamaran builder in the world,” he said. “But we’re just doing what we’ve always tried to do, which is build comfortable cruising boats that perform nicely.”

Berman said he’d been looking for ways to link his owners, and the rally was just the ticket. “We’re trying to build a community with Balance,” he said. “And it’s working. The owners all become friends, and they just like hanging out together.”

As the fleet started blasting across the Anguilla Channel, with most of the Balance tribe hoisting spinnakers and seriously trucking, it was clear not only that the boats perform well, but also that their crews were top-notch sailors happy to push the envelope.

Berman said there were several other Balances cruising the islands. Next year, he says, he thinks he’ll have several more cats in the fleet. Steve Burzon, the CMC director of marketing, says he hopes to attract other brands to the rally. “We do all the organizing; they just need to show up, and, for the price of their entry fee, they get the parties, the camaraderie—everything,” he said. Burzon also acknowledged that the rally half of the event may soon overshadow the racing portion, which drew 17 boats this year. “We may have created a monster.”

It’s a good problem to have, and it will be interesting to see what transpires. In that moment off Anse Marcel, however, all those colorful spinnakers soon vanished over the horizon. While the racers back off Simpson Bay were getting ready for a day of bashing their brains out, the rally folks had different priorities. After all, there was a party to attend to.  

The post Balance Catamarans Dominate Caribbean Multihull Challenge appeared first on Yachting.

Special delivery: Sign up for the free Yachting email newsletter. Subscribe to Yachting magazine for $39 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.

Y.CO says it has welcomed the 187-foot Feadship Halo to the charter fleet, with inquiries being accepted for summer bookings in the Mediterranean as well as winter bookings in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Halo is a 2015 build that accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms. The yacht charters with 14 crew.

The yacht was built to be a world-cruising platform. It has a gym, a pool with custom carbon-fiber awnings, and an outdoor cinema.

“Halo is a fantastic charter program that has everything necessary to keep guests of all ages entertained,” Yasmine Naitijja of Y.CO Charter Management stated in a press release. “Her incredible sundeck is a sensational area for guests to relax and soak up the views, while the fitness and wellbeing offering—an onboard gym, pool, and personal trainer and yoga instructor among the crew—will suit anyone with an active lifestyle.”

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Halo? It’s $425,000 in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at y.co

The post ‘Halo’ Is Now for Charter with Y.CO appeared first on Yachting.

Special delivery: Sign up for the free Yachting email newsletter. Subscribe to Yachting magazine for $39 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.

In the winter months of December through April, the high season of Caribbean bareboat chartering, the Sir Francis Drake Channel that courses through the cruising paradise known as the British Virgin Islands is surely one of the world’s busiest, most picturesque yachting destinations. Named after yet another pioneering British seafarer, the thoroughfare bisects the main island of Tortola, to the north, with a series of popular smaller isles (Norman, Peter, Salt, Cooper) to the south. In the busy weeks and months starting around Christmas, the channel is trafficked by an astounding number of chartered boats, ferries, inter-island traders and private cruising craft. It’s quite the scene to swallow.

I’d been to the BVI on multiple occasions over the years, always during busy season. These islands have been referred to as a “nautical theme park,” and with good reason; such is the wealth of fine trade-wind sailing; taut anchorages; great snorkeling; countless beach bars; and all the related waterfront attractions on which the reputation has been built. Still, I’d always wondered what these islands were like in the offseason, the summer months during hurricane season when activity crawls to a standstill.

Last August, while on a fingers-crossed journey to Tortola to shoot a series of videos for The Moorings (one of the BVI’s most popular charter outfits), I got my answer. What, exactly, is happening in the BVI in the summertime? A whole lot of not much.

It’s understandable. The last truly vicious storm to rake these islands—Hurricane Irma in 2017—was named a tropical storm on August 30 and spent the next couple of weeks wreaking major Caribbean havoc. It’s no wonder that many charter operators haul or stash much of their fleet in hurricane holes for the summer’s last weeks. But the summer months of 2022 were odd indeed; in fact, it was the first August in 25 years that the Atlantic basin did not generate a single named storm. One theory for this was that the dry Sahara air and dust that permeated the Eastern Atlantic for months tamped down the formation of tropical systems.

So, we proceeded cautiously with our video plans and, save for an occasional quick squall, were rewarded with fantastic weather. Which actually made the entire trip even stranger. Why were we the only ones enjoying it?

The Soggy Dollar Bar in Jost Van Dyke happened to be doing brisk bit business on the afternoon we visited, but not for long: The beach umbrellas were yanked by 5 p.m., and the bar closed down soon after. On Norman Island, another popular watering hole called Pirates Bight was completely closed, and nary an inebriated soul stumbled across the infamous deck of the nearby floating bar known as the Willy T. On the beach and grottoes known as The Baths on Virgin Gorda, the few people in attendance were locals. Everywhere, in every harbor, empty mooring balls bobbed in the waters as far as the eye could see.

That even included the Indians, a set of four rocky islets near Norman where every vacationing sailor worth his swim fins must enjoy a snorkel. Sometimes in the high season, boats jockey for hours to pick up a mooring. We nailed the closest one to the cliffs and had our choice of several more. It was fantastic. Yet eerie.

So too was our last day in the BVI, when we took a cat out on the Sir Francis Drake for one final sail and some drone shots. There, smack-dab in the middle of the whitecap-flecked waters, we were the sole vessel underway, our wake the only one in sight. As souvenirs of sailing trips go, I’ll take that one every time.

The post Off-season Cruising in the British Virgin Islands appeared first on Yachting.

Special delivery: Sign up for the free Yachting email newsletter. Subscribe to Yachting magazine for $39 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.

Ocean Independence has welcomed the 111-foot Circa Marine Iceberg to the charter fleet. The motoryacht is expected to cruise in the Caribbean this winter before beginning a world tour in summer 2023.

Iceberg accommodates six guests in three staterooms, including a master forward on the main deck with a king-size berth. The guest staterooms have queen and twin berths.

The main deck is set up with a sizable open area far aft, creating what Ocean Independence calls “sea level” seating. It’s a spot that can be used for water-toy access to follow the fishing action or to prepare for snorkeling and scuba-diving excursions.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Iceberg in the Caribbean? It’s $55,000.

How to book a week on board: contact charter professional Casey Noble at oceanindependence.com

The post An ‘Iceberg’ in the Caribbean appeared first on Yachting.

Special delivery: Sign up for the free Yachting email newsletter. Subscribe to Yachting magazine for $39 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.

Churchill Yacht Partners says the 130-foot Westport Dona Lola is scheduled to be in the Bahamas starting this November and is accepting inquiries now for the whole of the winter 2022-23 charter season.

Dona Lola is a 2003 build that most recently was refitted in 2018. The yacht accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms and charters with seven crew.

Tenders and toys include a 30-foot Intrepid center console, an 18-foot Novurania RIB, scuba and snorkeling gear, WaveRunners, standup paddleboards, kayaks, Bladefish sea scooters, fishing gear and a floating island.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Dona Lola this winter in the Bahamas? It’s $100,000.

Take the next step: contact a charter broker at churchillyachts.com

The post ‘Dona Lola’ Now Accepting Winter Charter Inquiries appeared first on Yachting.

Why does champion kitesurfer Jeremie Tronet love Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines? Let him count the ways.

“We have amazing trade winds,” he says. “We always have good weather. The water is so beautiful. They call Union Island the Tahiti of the Caribbean; it has this beautiful lagoon with clear water. Plus, all the other small islands are only a 10- to 15-minute speedboat ride away, so it makes our center on Union Island a multi destination kitesurfing spot.”

The center is the JT Pro Center, a kitesurfing school that Tronet opened on Union Island in 2012. It has since become a magnet for kitesurfing enthusiasts of all skill levels, and has raised the profile of Union Island as a recreation destination.

A native of Martinique, Tronet first tried the sport of kitesurfing in 1998 at age 12. Two years later, he constructed his first inflatable kite on his grandmother’s sewing machine. He quickly became known for his high jumps and board-up tricks. His signature move is the “Jesus walk,” in which he removes his board while airborne and walks on the water. His creative moves won him the Caribbean championship and a spot on the world-tour circuit.

Check out more icons: Island Icons

Now, the kitesurfing world comes to him on Union Island. “Kitesurfing gives you the most amazing sensations on the water,” he says. “All you need is the wind and a board, and you can go fast and fly.”

What do you enjoy about kitesurfing? It’s a 3D sport. You’re riding on water, and any time you want, you can fly through the air. It’s very addictive.  

Describe your perfect day of kiteboarding. It would be a beautiful, sunny day with wind over 25 knots. In the morning, I would do some very high jumps and have fun on the water. In the afternoon, I would switch it up and kitesurf in the nice waves next to our center.

Jeremie Tronet’s Union Island Picks

Happy Island: It’s a great bar atop a man-made island built of conch shells in Clifton Harbour. The signature drink of Janti, the owner, is a mean rum punch.  

Sparrow’s Beach Club: It’s a beautiful setting on a calm beach protected from the wind. My favorite dish is the smoked marlin.

Fort Hill: It’s an easy 15-minute hike up Fort Hill above Clifton. At the top, there’s an ancient fort with cannons and nice, 360-degree views of Union Island.

The post Jeremie Tronet Puts Kitesurfing, Union Island on the Map appeared first on Yachting.

Tadzio Bervoets was born and raised on St. Maarten, where nature was his playground. From his first swimming and snorkeling lessons at age 7, Bervoets was entranced by coral reefs, fish and especially sharks. But as he grew up, became a professional diver and noticed negative changes along the reef, “the ocean became something more than recreation,” he says. “It became my passion.”

Now one of the leading conservationists in the Caribbean, Bervoets’ passion is his life’s work. He’s the managing director of the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, which spearheaded the creation of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park, St. Maarten’s first protected marine area. He is also director of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, where he coordinates regional and international efforts to protect the Caribbean’s fragile ecosystems. The DCNA drove the establishment of the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary around Saba and Bonaire.

In 2020, Bervoets co-founded the Caribbean Shark Coalition to increase and streamline the collection of data on sharks by organizations throughout the islands.

In recognition of his conservation work, Bervoets became the first Dutch Caribbean national to be inducted into the US-based Explorers Club. “As a kid, I followed the adventures of Thor Heyerdahl and Robert Peary and the great explorers of the past,” he says. “So to become a member of the Explorers Club was an honor and a privilege.”    

What do you love about your work? I’m in one of the special and unique places on Earth, in terms of not only the environment and ecosystem but also history and culture. I’m fortunate, as someone born and raised in the Caribbean, to be part of its conservation movement. I invite everyone to visit St. Maarten and the wider Caribbean and explore off the beaten path.

Tadzio Bervoets’ Best Bets

Freedom Fighters Ital Shack (Philipsburg): It’s a Rastafarian restaurant with delicious, healthy food and awesome vibes.

Dinghy Dock Sailors Bar (Simpson Bay): It’s at the end of the airport runway. It’s laid-back, has fine bar food, and has one of the best beer selections on St. Maarten.

Man of War Shoal Marine Park: Naturally, my favorite dive site in the park is Proselyte Reef. It’s one of the healthiest reefs on the island with a good fish and turtle population.

The post Conservationist Tadzio Bervoets Is a Force of Nature appeared first on Yachting.

James Hackett’s Lush Kingdom textiles are a visual shorthand for the Caribbean. With their rich color palette, creative designs and evocative names such as Hibiscus Blue, Lush Parakeets and Guava Season, they provide both wearer and viewer with a tastemaker’s touch of the tropics.

It was a custom Hackett textile that acclaimed Grenadian American fashion designer Fe Noel used for her styles featured in a 2019 issue of Vogue. Beyoncé and actress Gabrielle Union have been spotted wearing Hackett-Noel collaborations.

Hackett describes Lush Kingdom as “what you want to see the Caribbean to be—something that is imagined by our most creative selves and inspired by our surroundings and the things that make us unique.” His patterns adorn everything from sketchbooks and face masks to his own pocket collections of dresses and swimwear.

He finds inspiration all around him on Trinidad. His pattern Desi Deratta pays homage to the island’s East Indian heritage and the handloom prints from that region. Nu Africana celebrates Emancipation Day, and is one of several free print downloads offered on the Lush Kingdom website to encourage experimentation and collaboration between creatives. His bestselling print, Vivrant, captures the island’s foliage as well as Hackett’s overall aesthetic: “I want people to feel they’re looking at something lush, rich and vibrant.” 

Where did the name Lush Kingdom come from? I was walking home on a nice, sunny day. Everything just felt cool. I was looking at the Northern Range. There were these wonderful colors in people’s gardens. I thought, “I’m living in a lush kingdom.”  

What advice do you have for aspiring designers? Find your point of view. All of us have unique stories that people are interested in hearing. The best you can do is share and show your point of view.

James Hackett’s Top Trinidad Picks

Food trucks at Eddie Hart Frounds (El Dorado): The vendors offer such a variety of street foods, including the ever-popular doubles, which are two flatbreads with chickpeas inside.  

Macqueripe Beach: It’s one of the quieter beaches. You reach it on a wonderful walk, descending through the bushes. It feels like a secret adventure.

Maracas Falls: It’s such a lush environment. There’s a natural pool where you can take a dip, get some rest and then hike back out.

The post Designer James Hackett’s Story-Inspired Textiles appeared first on Yachting.