Caribbean grenadines crewed sailing vacation, skippered yacht charter

Thierry Lassalle and the Manhattan Sailing School are organizing a week long skippered sailing vacation to the Grenadines over the Thanksgiving holidays ⁽¹⁾.

This trip is open to all students, members and their friends who want to work on their suntan in one of the most exclusive spot of the world at a time when the rest of the Northern Hemisphere are freezing... You have never crewed on a sailboat charter? Do not worry you can cruise around while we sail the boat. This yacht will be skippered by experienced Instructors of the Manhattan sailing club. Most of the crew are experienced sailors and have skipper experience. So if you feel like just taking care of your tan we will be fine. This is a sailing charter. No passage making or intense sailing involved.

In addition to the sailing vacation, Thierry will be giving sailing courses during the trip. Taking a class is not mandatory. Classes will be conducted with humor and a zest of French flair.

How to declare your interest and register for the sailing charter?

Declare your interest or register by clicking the links on the right side of this page. If you are not quite ready to sign up but would like more information, please fill out the declare your interest form on the right and Kelly or Thierry will contact you by email. Please remember that we have worked out a special packaged deal with an Air line to get the cheapest possible rate and that there is a time limit to it. After that you will have to deal with much more expensive airfare at a very busy period. In other words the earlier you register, the better it is.

The Boats

So far we have booked a Catamaran Bahia 46 from Sat. 11/18 9.00 am to Sat. 11/25 12.00 pm noon 2006 From Grenada, the southern Island of the Grenadine. This yacht is great. I have sailed her before.

Itinerary of the sailing vacation.

This is a 7 nights sailing vacation with 8 days of sailing in the Superb Grenadines Islands starting and returning to Grenada (GND), one of the most luscious places in the Caribbean. This sailing itinerary is only tentative. Thierry and the skippers like to discuss options with the crew depending on the weather and the interests of each others.

What to do? There is so much: From sailing the magical Caribbean waters and regular trade winds, to snorkeling or diving in Canouan or on unique coral reefs in Tobago Keys, sun tanning under the coco trees on the white sand beaches on your own "lost island" in "Mopio", showering in the fresh water falls, visiting the nutmeg plantations and Oyster farms, discovering the local villages, open air markets in Saint Vincent, the mangroves and/or the luxury resorts and ancient archeological sites, getting lost on deserted hard to access by land islets, drinking at the most remote bars in the middle of nowhere and eating at superb restaurants...

Let us know what you would like to do and we will adjust the sailing itinerary accordingly.

Day 1 Sat. Nov. 18th

Departure from JFK at 10.30 am with Air Jamaica and arrive in Grenada (GND) at 5.00.pm

There you will be picked up by our mini bus and taken to the boat.

Cocktail and briefing.

Day 2 Sun. Nov.19th

From the southern part of Grenada we sail to the west Northern part in Sauteurs.

Caribbean lobster dinner at the Fendue Plantation...

Day 3 Mon. Nov. 20th

To Carriacou Tyrell bay, a beautiful sail to one of my favorite spots in the Caribbean. Visit of the Mangrove Oysters farm, of the mangrove and oyster dinner.

Day 4 Tue. Nov. 21st

Cariaccou to Union Island in Clifton harbor where we will pick up a mooring just the time to re-provision and to clear. Then sailing to Chatham Bay in Mayreau and its Beach BBQ with Shark attack.

Day 5. Wed. Nov. 22nd

Sailing to Tobago Keys and its coral reef.

Day 6. Thu. Nov. 23rd

Sailing to salt whistle bay back on Mayreau. Bar on the Beach and restaurant possible.

A real Caribbean mood

Day 7. Fri. Nov. 24th

Sailing to Carriaccou in Hillsborough Bay, port of entry of Grenada to clear and then if weather permits anchoring in Sandy beach one of the best snorkeling spots around.

Day 8. Sat. Nov. 25th

Sailing back to Grenada and a 5 pm departure to JFK. Then a little nap, a quick shower and let's keep the party going!

Flights and Airfare. Book it ASAP!

As of Oct. 20th, 2006 airfare are still available with Air Jamaica starting at $375.00 non-stop from JFK departing at 10 am conveniently on Saturday and returning non-stop from Grenada to JFK at 5pm. Book your flight now as if you don't rates will double and then triple... We know it, we have done it...

Hotels and Accommodations prior and after the charter

No need for hotels if you take the Air Jamaica flight above.

If you wish to arrive or to stay longer email Thierry and he will give you options ranging from $35.00 to $375.00 a room...

Weather, Tides and Currents and the crew

Check out this link for local weather information in the Grenadines

In brief the weather is warm and dry, although we might encounter few localized showers. The water temperature varies between 80 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit.

The outside temperature is between 78 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

There is very little tide of less than 1 foot.

We have no specific currents except at the tip of the islands and between coral reefs.

Winds are mainly from E-NE at this time of the year between 15 and 25 kt during the day. Katabatic winds also occur close to islands covered with mountains.

Day light is 13 hours per day! Sunrise is roughly at 5.30 am and sunset at 6.30 pm. We will have a waning crescent to a new moon and up to a 1/2 a first quarter of moon for our departure.

The crew? It's you. This is a skippered yacht charter but there is no good skipper without a good crew. This means that your skipper will make sure that each yacht is adequately crewed to allow for relaxing times, farniente and sun tanning. This is a vacation before all. And even if you never have crewed or skippered, or even sailed, we will have time for you. This is a sailing vacation, no passage making, nor blue water. We will take our time to discover the beauty of these islands and to allow for snorkeling and other activities on shore.

Sailing courses available for this trip.

ASA Basic Sailing Class

ASA Coastal Cruising Class

Cost of a Sailing Vacation - Provisioning and menus.

The charter Cost with one or two classes is $1,550 + classes cost.
Sailing charter cost without class is $1,650
All classes are available at a special price of $300 per person (discounted of $300.00 versus normal rates at the school in New York).
Packaged classes (2 classes) are available at a special price of $550.

Skipper fee, food and drinks, airport transfers from the airport to the boat and back at the destination, mooring and harbors costs are also included in the carter cost.

In the cost of the charter are included 7 breakfast/lunches and 4 dinners.

It is called split provisioning. It is organized 1 weeks before departure and you need to tell us about your preferences and food allergiesprior to this date. Thierry or the Skipper in charge of your yacht will prepare the provisioning before your arrival.

Alcohol + liquids (water and juices) and ice are also included. Although the cost doesn’t include bier and wine (except for the first day) that each crew will have to buy separately.

Why? Because not everybody drinks 12 biers a day, because not everybody drinks red wine or white, because some don’t like what Thierry buys… Because we don’t like to throw things away, because it’s much nicer to go to a restaurant after a long day of sailing allowing us to discover together OR independently (people do need a break sometimes) the areas AND the people around… Because we have done it … and it works.

For more information check provisioning and typical menu information

| Links