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To The South

St Martin to Grenada

Mar 7th to March 14th 2026 / Duration 7 Days

500 Nautical Miles

PN042026

$4,550

Bunks Available: 2

Passage summary

This passage offers a classic southbound transit of the Lesser Antilles, traveling from Sint Maarten to Grenada with a focus on French-influenced islands along the way. The itinerary is built around both offshore and inter-island skills, active watch rotations, and practical navigation, with planned stops in Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, Martinique, and St. Lucia. The schedule includes a combination of day sails and overnight passages, providing exposure to varied conditions and navigation scenarios. This route is ideal for sailors interested in developing their passage-making abilities while experiencing the culture and harbors of the French Caribbean.

To The South

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

 

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