The Horizon Group
The Horizon Group
St. Vincent & the Grenadines is a sailor’s paradise—clear waters, consistent trade winds, and a stunning chain of islands waiting to be explored. From practical sailing tips to local insights, we’ve compiled everything you need to get accustomed to our waters and plan your perfect SVG yachting adventure.
During the winter months, expect steady northeast winds of 15–25 knots, while in the summer, gentle southeast breezes usually blow between 10–20 knots.
Seas are normally around 5 – 7 feet in the winter months and 3 – 5 feet in the summer.
Easy to navigate passages for both leisurely cruising and adventurous passages between islands.
There's likely to be a mix of anchoring and mooring throughout your charter. Throughout the islands, local crews will assist with mooring, making it easy and stress-free.
Before setting sail, every Horizon Yacht Charters guest receives a comprehensive chart briefing at our base. One of our experienced captains will guide you through the local waters, explaining navigation routes, anchorages, and any important safety considerations. You’ll also get invaluable local insights on hidden coves, must-visit islands, and the best spots for swimming, snorkeling, or dining ashore—ensuring you’re fully prepared to make the most of your St. Vincent & the Grenadines adventure.
Whether you're planning your first charter or you're a seasoned skipper, Horizon Yacht Charters is here to help you make the most of your time on the water. Use this page as your starting point to explore the resources that will help you get familiar with our waters.
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Temperatures in The Grenadines vary little during the year with highs of 28 C, 82 F between December and March and 31 C 88 F in the summer months. Dry season extends from Jan – May, but even in the “rainy season” the weather in the Grenadines is normally very sunny with only brief showers during the day. Being so far south the islands are very rarely affected by storms during the hurricane season.
There are plenty of weather websites which provide useful information for planning your yacht charter, including sea states, wind and current directions, and wind speed (with gusts):
These weather resources are especially useful if you prefer to set-up your charter yacht each morning before getting underway. For example, you may choose to reef the mainsail prior to departure if wind speeds are forecast to be in reefing range. It’s much easier to do it on your mooring than underway!
Anytime is good to charter! Some guidelines:
The most popular time is mid-December to the end of April – the “traditional” Caribbean season. Dry season runs from January – May, but expect a quick shower at any time. It is coolest from Jan – March. Anchorages can get busy, but are never crowded out. Winds are normally from the NE between 15 – 25 knots but can occasionally reach 30 knots, as in what is known as the “Christmas Winds”.
Between May and December is the rainy season caused by periodic tropical waves crossing the islands. This brings showers and thunderstorms but does not normally last more than a few hours. Temperatures are slightly higher than the winter months, but the breeze keeps things cool, especially on a boat. Anchorages can be very quiet with small numbers of yachts – perfect for getting away from it all. June – November is hurricane season but the chance of being affected by one in the Southern Caribbean is very low.
Yes, we offer one-way charters starting at our base in St Vincent and finishing in Grenada or Union Island. We recommend a minimum of 10 nights for this trip. Our current fees for one-way charters are (in addition to the charter fee):
With every bareboat charter, you'll be required to submit a sailing resume for our review. With our decades of experience, we will be able to determine whether you need a skipper or not and will happily provide you with a skipper. If we, or you, feel that you may only need a skipper to help you refresh, we can provide a checkout skipper who will happily spend an extra couple of hours with you on a one-to-one basis. Before your charter, you will have an in-depth chart and boat briefing to familiarize you with your cruising grounds and yacht.
Absolutely! We are an American Sailing-accredited sailing school offering learn-to-sail liveaboard charters.
We offer Captained and Captain & Chef charters in the beautiful Grenadines! Their fees do not include food and beverages, and optional gratuity. Crew gratuities are usually based on 10 to 15% of the charter fee.
Only if you are sailing between Grenada and St Vincent territories. We print all the required paperwork for you and will guide you through the process. Only the captain or representative needs to present themselves at customs and immigration, which gives the remainder of the crew the chance to stock up on ice/ provisions or enjoy a drink ashore while the process is going on.
There's a reason St Vincent has been our home for over two decades – it is one of the loveliest, most unspoiled Caribbean islands! It is one of the very best cruising areas anywhere, and has a tremendous amount to offer in terms of nature, history, and what the real Caribbean is like. St Vincent also has almost all the facilities that you would expect of a Caribbean tourist destination – excellent hotels, restaurants, spas, and good shopping.
Moorings are available in certain locations including:
Moorings normally cost around EC$50/ US$20 per night. Mustique charges around EC$200/ US$75 but you are allowed to stay 3 nights for this fee if you wish. Please note there are moorings in other locations also, but of doubtful quality and ownership (especially Clifton Harbour, Union Island). You will be advised during your chart briefing. In any event, you should always check the mooring for damage before trusting it.
Boat Boys are pretty common throughout the Grenadines, while you may not find any in St Vincent, they are around in Union, Tobago Cays, and Bequia. Generally, they are courteous and polite and move on quickly if you do not require their services. It is a great way to get warm, fresh bread in the morning when anchored in the Cays!
Yes, of course – all fish is safe and delicious to eat! The tried-and-tested best method is to trail a line using either a hand line or a rod. You can rent rods from our base for US$55 per week, subject to availability.
Luckily, you can find good-quality snorkel equipment (mask/ snorkel/ fins) available for rent at our base at US$15 per week!
There is excellent diving in St Vincent and some incredible locations throughout the Grenadines! We recommend getting in contact with a reputable diving company such as LumbaDive, Deefer Diving in Carriacou, or Dive Bequia.
Bottled water is widely available and recommended, as we do not advise that you drink water from the taps ashore or onboard.
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