ST. LUCIA AND THE WINDWARD ISLANDS FLOTILLA CRUISE
SAILING WITH COLGATE SAILING ADVENTURES® IN THE BEAUTIFUL WINDWARD ISLANDS
November 9-16, 2024 — A Beautiful Cruise with New Friends
There’s just no better place in the Caribbean to see amazing sites and experience open-water sailing than St. Lucia and the Windward Islands. Known for picturesque hamlets and harbors, exciting sailing in deep blue seas, white sand beaches lining azure anchorages, and volcanic peaks, St. Lucia and the Windwards are truly a tropical paradise for sailors. READ THE CRUISE BLOG HERE!
A CARIBBEAN JEWEL
Mountainous and lush with a tropical rainforest and wonderful reefs to snorkel and explore, Colgate Sailing Adventures® is returning to this eastern border of the Caribbean Sea for an exciting winter getaway under sail. Abundant with fragrant flora and tropical birds, each island stop on this cruise has so much to see and do ashore. You can hike to a volcanic crater in the Pitons, swim in the cool waters of a 60’ waterfall in St. Vincent, enjoy incredible snorkeling in the Tobago Cays, visit artisans building small and large vessels the old-fashioned way in Bequia, join a Jump-Up and dine under the stars in Mustique, and so much more.
WHO PARTICIPATED
These trips are hands-on activities that require absolute, unaided mobility getting on and off docks, boats, and dinghies. All participants completed a Sailing Resume (see link below) before being confirmed on the trip, including answering questions regarding existing medical conditions that could hinder an individual’s full participation. From those who signed up, a Skipper and Mate were assigned to each boat based on the completed Resumes, but all aboard are expected to participate in handling each yacht.
SAILING RESUME FOR FLOTILLA CRUISES
GREAT SAILING IN OPEN WATERS AND ALONG PROTECTED SHORES
The cruise started in Rodney Bay on the north side of St. Lucia on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Our chartered fleet of four Moorings 4500L catamarans were boarded at noon. That evening the flotilla group gathered for a Welcome Orientation Party and Dinner in the marina area. The cruise ended back at The Moorings base the following Saturday morning, November 16, 2024. Here are some of the places the group visited.
The Pitons
A World Heritage Site, the twin conical peaks of Petit Piton and Gros Piton rise more than 2,000 feet from the sea. You might want to hire a guide to drive you right into the crater of the dormant volcano, take a guided hiking tour in the rain forest, indulge in hot sulfur springs, visit tropical gardens, dine in an old-world setting, or just lounge aboard after great snorkeling behind nearby reefs.
Admiralty Bay, Bequia
Port Elizabeth in Admiralty Bay is known for its quaint village with many dining options, nautical bars, and boat builders using old-world techniques. A fun place to explore, you might want to rent a jeep, scooter, or bike or hike along the beach on hilly trails, visit the Bequia Heritage Museum and Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, or just hangout on deck taking in all the action and views in the harbor.
Tobago Cays
Tobago Cays Marine Park is actually five deserted islands, with some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. Horseshoe Reef nearly encircles the four main cays, with Petit Tabac just beyond. Spending a full day here at least is a must! The fish, turtles and multi-colored coral you’ll see while
snorkeling are truly amazing. Sea turtles can be watched in a special area on Baradel. Locals will happily set up a beach barbecue providing fresh lobster. If you are going to buy t-shirts anywhere, get ready for the many small boats that visit each yacht with fun souvenirs, ice, bread, and lobsters!
Mustique
In 1958 this island was sold by its original owners to a wealthy Scottish nobleman whose grandfather invented bleach. He bought the island as a present for his wife, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, who received a 5-acre peninsula on the island from the lord as a wedding present in 1960. Today, the place to go is Basil’s Bar, a must-stop for yachties offering great food, an eclectic range of live music, guest DJ nights, and themed parties. There are many unique shops and exceptional views of the surrounding seas you can view with a taxi ride or rent mountain bikes or a motorbike. Before leaving, a must-stop is Sweetie Pie Bakery and Cafe for delectable French pastries.
Young Island and St. Vincent 
One of the smallest islands in the Grenadines, Young Island is just off the southern tip of St. Vincents. There is much to do here including a visit to Montreal Gardens high in Mesopotamia Valley, the Grenadines Botanical Gardens which is the oldest botanic garden in the Western Hemisphere, 60’ Falls of Baleine, British Colonial era Fort Charlotte, and hike to the active volcano, La Soufrière at 4,049 feet.
Wallilabou Bay, St. Vincent
This is where Pirates of the Caribbean with Johnny Depp was filmed in 2003. The remains of the original set ashore, lovingly restored (constantly) by its owner, are fun to explore. You can have a nice meal at the restaurant and bar and don pirate costumes for a souvenir photo. Or you might want to hike up to the small town, where you might find ladies making baskets.
Marigot Bay
On the west side of St. Lucia is a beautiful secluded anchorage with charming, red-roofed homes overlooking the sea. Marina Village has a variety of interesting stores and boutiques, great waterfront restaurants serving Creole, French and Caribbean cuisine, and jaw-dropping sunset views. It’s a great place to just hang out but if you want to explore, you can take a sightseeing tour or head to St. Lucia’s marina park for picturesque views of numerous shallow reefs near shore.
THE COLGATE SAILING ADVENTURES® ST. LUCIA FLOTILLA FLEET
The yachts reserved for this cruise were four Moorings 4500L catamarans. All with four cabins with ensuite bathrooms, a large main saloon, galley and navigation area, elevated lounge with wrap-around seating and sunbed, raised helm station, big aft cockpit, and another forward lounging area. As always, our cruise leader assigned crews and chose a designated skipper and mate from the most experienced for each boat based on the Sailing Resume required for participation in any Colgate Sailing Adventures® flotilla cruise.
CRUISE PACKAGES AND PAYMENT TERMS
Category 1: Offshore Sailing School Graduates with US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification, US Sailing IPC, and willing to be a Designated Skipper if asked
- $5,000 single in a private cabin
- $4,300 per person, sharing a cabin
Category 2: Offshore Sailing School Graduates with US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification Only (No US Sailing IPC or unwilling to Skipper if asked)
- $5,200 single in a private cabin
- $4,500 per person, sharing a cabin
Category 3: Other Qualified Sailors
- $5,500 single in a private cabin
- $4,800 per person, sharing a cabin
If there were two or more in a party, only those with the designated certifications above qualified for a discount. 30% deposit per person required when signing up. The balance or full payment due no later than July 13, 2024. All are required to sign the cruise Terms & Conditions, which spells out cancellation and transfer policies. No refunds or changes allowed after July 13, 2024.
Included in the Above Package Rates:
- Single or shared cabin for two, with ensuite bathroom
- Welcome Orientation Party and Dinner first evening (cash bar)
- Group dinner or beach barbecue ashore during the cruise (cash bar)
- Provisions include a starter pack of water, all breakfasts and lunches, snacks, and three dinners for dining aboard
- Ice, full water, and fuel tanks when you embark, no need to refuel on return
- Commemorative St. Lucia Cruise shirt and cap
- Damage waiver fee
- Comprehensive handbook with all the details you need to plan your trip
- Your Cruise Leader guiding the group throughout the cruise
Other Costs:
Each boat put a kitty together (usually starting at $100 per person in local currency) to cover mooring and docking fees, extra provisions, and other costs that all on the boat share. The currency in the Grenadines is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC), one EC = 0.37 USD. Visa, Mastercard, cash, and traveler checks accepted. Other costs incurred but not limited to included Travel to and from the St. Lucia airport, taxi transfers from the airport to the base and back to the airport, hotel stays ashore, alcohol or other beverages including extra water if wish to have aboard or consume ashore, meals ashore other than the group dinners, customs fees, boat boy tips, park and excursion fees; jeep, car, motorbike, kayak and other rentals.
HOW TO GET TO ST. LUCIA
There are two airports in St. Lucia. International flights go through Hewanorra International Airport (UVF). The flotilla cruise starteds at noon on Saturday, November 9, and ended at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024. We suggested all come in a day early to relax from travels and explore Rodney Bay. A link to local hotels in that area recommended by The Moorings was provided in the comprehensive handbook, sent in advance. A valid passport, with an expiration date no less than 6 months after departure from the islands was required. That comprehensive handbook sent after signing up had plenty of links for where to stay, dining out, things to do, travel, and more. We strongly suggest for all our cruises with The Moorings or Sunsail, you call 866-649-2003 (The Mooring’s in-house flight specialists) as they successfully book flights for thousands of their charter customers.
