We have often been asked, “What is your favorite island in the Caribbean?” This is a very difficult one for us to answer because we love many different islands for many different reasons. Some islands have great cultural and historical interest, others have great shopping and restaurants, some are great for exploring because of the natural wonders both above and below the sea, and yet others are just a peaceful getaway. So we struggle to find just one answer. But for us, there is no doubt that our favorite beach in the entire Caribbean is Barbuda, a tranquil island that is [View Full Entry]

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There was a break in the weather and it looked good for traveling, so we set sail for Antigua- the yachting capital of the world. On our first day of the trip we decided to stop in Dehais, a small anchorage on the north end of Guadeloupe, to rest for the night. Then we awoke at dawn the next day and continued our journey. We arrived in the southern end of Antigua by late afternoon and had to decide where to anchor, either Fallmouth Harbour or English Harbour. These two harbors sit side by side and are separated only by a [View Full Entry]

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We decided to spend more time exploring Dominica but wanted to see the sights of the north end of the island, so we moved our boats up to Portsmouth. As we approached the anchorage we got a call on the vhf radio. Someone was hailing the “Boat entering Prince Rupert Bay” which is the anchorage we were heading to. So following proper radio etiquette we answered. We soon found out that it was just a local boat boy welcoming us to Portsmouth and letting us know that we can contact him if there is anything we need during our stay. We [View Full Entry]

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After our hikes thru Dominica’s Morne Trois Piton National Park we needed a few days of rest, of just hanging out on the boat, and maybe going for a snorkel or two to work out our sore muscles. Luckily Scotts Head Marine Park is just south of the anchorage in Roseau and it is known to have some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. Unfortunately we were not allowed to bring our big boats over there because it is a protected marine park. So one day we decided to pack up our mask, fins, and swim gear and [View Full Entry]

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Our next stop along the Caribbean chain was Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominica Republic which lies over 400 miles away and is close to 20 times bigger in land mass and population). This tiny island is the southernmost island in the Leewards and is an independent country. It is very green and lush, an unspoiled country filled with spectacular natural beauty, and has the most dramatic landscape of any Caribbean Island with mountains, valleys, gorges, and pinnacles. This often makes Dominica a favorite stop amongst many cruisers. However it is also not as developed as the other is [View Full Entry]

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We left the southern end of Martinique and sailed up the coast, stopping at some of the anchorages along the way for a night or two. What always amazes me is how very European this island is; it reminds us of being in France. And in fact it is France, because this island has never been independent. So every town along the coast looks and feels like a quaint French village, complete with an Anglican church at the center of the town square. From the anchorage you can hear the church bells ringing from the steeple on the hour and every [View Full Entry]

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Once again the Rum Runners are in Martinique. And what do the Rum Runners do in the one of the most abundant areas of sugar cane and rum? We do rum tours! This time we set out from Marin to visit the rest of the rum factories we missed on our last visit here on our tour of the Caribbean. Martinique is a very manicured island, not disturbed by the slowdown in sugarcane production. Most of the other islands in the Caribbean have either reduced or stopped growing their own sugarcane for rum, and use molasses imported from South America instead. [View Full Entry]

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Our next stop is one of the most picturesque and famous anchorages in the Caribbean, and in fact a favorite amongst cruisers and celebrities alike. On the very southern end of St. Lucia are the two Pitons, which are both a World Heritage Sight and a National Park. If you are lucky enough to grab one of the 12 mooring balls there (which we did), then you can stay the night in the anchorage between the Gros Piton and Petit Piton. It is truly an amazing experience! I don’t know what it is about these two volcanic spires, but they certainly [View Full Entry]

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After enjoying Rodney Bay for a couple of weeks we decided to sail down to Marigot Bay, just a quick 8 mile trip south along the St. Lucia coast. According to the Doyle guide this is one of the most beautiful anchorages in the Caribbean- and we couldn’t agree more. We worked our way into the inner harbor and anchored the Rum Runner just behind a swath of beach that is lined with palm trees, absolutely gorgeous! We spent a few days here, just hanging out with friends and having fun. There are lots of great restaurants, bars, and boutiques to [View Full Entry]

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St. Lucia is one of the many islands that we had to skip on the way down to Trinidad last year and as we sailed by the Pitons we wished we hadn’t. St. Lucia is so lush and beautiful- we could tell that it is worth exploring as we passed by. So now that we are on our way back up through the Windward Islands we made it a priority to stop and spend some time on the island. Our first destination was Rodney Bay Marina, on the very north end of St. Lucia. Not only did we have some necessary [View Full Entry]

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