Baltimore area sailors bareboat charter in Grenada
In February, a group of nine sailors from Peninsula Sailors, a sailing education center in Baltimore, embarked on a seven-day bareboat charter through NSS Grenada out of St. George’s. Crew member Abe DeFeo answered SpinSheet’s questions:
How did you choose this particular charter boat and location?
Abe: We chose this course area for its stunning natural beauty and great sailing conditions. Due to the size of our crew, we felt it best to charter a catamaran. We booked through NauticEd, a combination sailing education program and charter company. They were incredibly helpful and got us a great price on our Lagoon 42!
Did your charter include a captain, cook, or other crew?
We were completely self-reliant when it came to sailing, provisioning, and cooking.
Who was onboard for the vacation?
We had two boats working as a flotilla for this trip. The crew on my boat was comprised of my partner and a wonderful group of friends (some of these friendships go as far back as kindergarten). There were nine of us in total; let’s just say it’s a good thing we all get along well! Sailing experience within my crew ranged from coastal deliveries to first-time sailors. The other boat in our flotilla had four members. Their crew was captained by my sailing mentor, Ali Soylu, and included a group of sailors I have learned beside for the past five years.
Can you summarize your trip and favorite anchorages?
Our route extended from St. George’s, Grenada, to the Tobago Cays in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a marine park and turtle sanctuary. Here, we enjoyed several days of spotting turtles on the hour, taking the dinghy to different snorkel spots, and playing spike ball on the beach. We even joined the local boat boys for a lobster BBQ. On the return leg, our flotilla enjoyed a beautifully isolated anchorage in Anse La Roch Bay, on the west side of Carricou.
Was the sailing exciting?
I would describe the conditions as challenging. Wind persisted at 25 knots around the clock. The wind direction had northerly components, which meant motor-sailing in rough seas on the first half of the trip. These conditions did not agree with some members of the crew. However, the return sail was one of the best days I have had on the water. Sailing broad reach on a cat, flying past beautiful white sand beaches, surrounded by dolphins at eight knots is the stuff of sailors’ dreams. Did I mention the rainbows? There were too many to count!
Tell us about your excursions.
The Tobago Cays are akin to an adult playground. For those of us who were aqua-inclined, there were multiple dingy mooring balls stationed around the park that made snorkel outings incredibly easy. We saw Caribbean reef squid, green sea turtles, flounder, porcupine fish, trumpet fish, needle fish, and barracuda. Those who felt like staying dry took a nice hike up the cliffs of Petit Rameau for stunning views of the water below and several spottings of the local iguanas. The northeast end of the island, while touristy, did offer small lunches of fried rice and cold beers, which the crew found quite pleasing. On the way back, just before our home port, we stopped at an underwater snorkel garden. This is a really interesting experience, a little spooky but not to be missed. The craftsmanship of the underwater sculptures is exceptional.
Three highlights on sea or land?
For me, the sail from the Tobago Cays back to Grenada was the highlight. The conditions were perfect for an easy broad reach, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful location to hoist up your sails. Another was the number of turtles at the Tobago Cays: they were everywhere!
The ultimate highlight was being able to share this experience with some of my closest friends. Since I was in high school, I have dreamed of sailing the Caribbean with this group of friends. I never thought I would accomplish this dream by the time I was 27 years old! This experience was made possible by the wonderful people at both the Downtown Sailing Center and Peninsula Sailors.
My friends and mentors at these organizations convinced me to give cruising a try and proceeded to provide me with access to sailboats, training, and mentorship. This opportunity eventually culminated in me gaining my International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC) through the accredited school at Peninsula Sailors. This certification is one of two that is internationally recognized for skippering bareboat charters. If you are interested in skippering your first bareboat charter, I could not recommend a better place to learn and take your exam than Peninsula Sailors.
Did anything surprise you about the trip?
Having so much fun can be tiring; I’ve been sleeping since our flight landed.
Would you do anything differently if you could do it over?
From a logistical perspective, I would consider doing a one-way charter from St. Vincent to Grenada to avoid the upwind leg. This would have given us more time with the sails up, allowing me to more easily share my love of sailing with the crew. I strive to continue the wonderful example that Peninsula Sailors have provided, working to make sailing exciting and accessible to more people in our local communities.
