The Caribbean Charter Season

When the season runs

The Caribbean charter season runs broadly from December to April. Much of the fleet crosses the Atlantic in November, works the winter in the Leeward and Windward islands and the Bahamas, and returns to the Mediterranean in spring. Outside that window many yachts are simply not in the region.

Christmas and New Year

These are the most contested weeks in yachting. Demand in St Barts, Antigua and the Virgin Islands exceeds the available fleet and the available berths, terms are usually firmer, and enquiries are made many months in advance. Anchoring off and tendering in is normal rather than exceptional.

January to April

The settled heart of the season: reliable trade winds, warm water and easier availability than the holidays. February to April is often the most comfortable period for sailing itineraries in the British Virgin Islands and the Grenadines, and the spring regatta weeks in Antigua bring the classic and racing fleet together.

Where to go

The Leeward Islands — St Barts, Antigua, St Martin and Anguilla — suit guests who want short passages and a social calendar. The British Virgin Islands are the most sheltered and the easiest cruising ground anywhere. The Grenadines are quieter and further south. The Bahamas is a separate, shallower world, closer to Florida.

• St Barts and Antigua for the winter season and events
• British Virgin Islands for short, protected passages
• The Grenadines and St Lucia for a quieter southern route
• The Bahamas and Exumas for shallow water and sandbanks

Weather and hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June to November, which is why the charter season sits in the winter months. Winter cold fronts can still bring windy days, particularly in the Bahamas, so captains keep itineraries flexible about which side of an island to use.