Captain Yannis Catamaran Cruises
Yannis's new website: www.captainyannis.com
Tobago Cays, the island of Canouan in the background.
Unless you have your own yacht - or don't mind spending the money on chartering one - the best way to experience the beauty of the sailing paradise of the Grenadines is to go on a day cruise with Captain Yannis out of Union Island! It will be a day trip, and you can be back at your hotel bar in time for whatever you usually do there in the evening!
Here is what you need to do and what it will cost:
Flying to Union will be the bottle neck. So worry about that first!
You make your arrangements and bookings to fly to Union out of St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados or Martinique. At least those are the places from which a day trip is reasonable in terms of time. I cannot give you detailed information on how and who to book with: there have been too many changes in airline services and flight schedules over the last 6 years I experienced in this region. As well, it depends on whether you travel alone (and thus might depend on one of the line flights) or in a group (when you should consider chartering for 5 or 8/9 passengers. BUT, the major players used to be and still are Mustique Airways, SVG Air, Helen Air, Airlines of Carriacou, TIA, and Air Martinique. If you cannot easily ask or find out, I am sure the Captain will help you with a suggestion: yannis@caribsurf.com .
Once you know the day and arrival time (you should arrive before 10 am and may depart as early as 4 pm, better 4:30 pm or later), it is time to contact Yannis: yannis@caribsurf.com and tell them: They will always have room for you. It goes without saying that if you want to come with a large party, you should talk to them earlier. With 20 or more you may book your own catamaran they are running four of them!
On various island the captain has established good cooperation with one or more tour companies: You may find flyers in hotels or call around with tour operators (Grenadine Tours in St. Vincent), and they will make all the arrangements for you booking the flights, arranging pickup etc.
And all this at a most reasonable cost making a Captain Yannis cruise the holiday bargain of the entire region: About 160 EC (US$60.-) or some less for the return flight out of St. Vincent, and currently 120 EC per person for the cruise. (US$45.-).
And here is what you get:
- A whole day (about ten to four) on the water and the most beautiful spots on the Grenadines, including Palm Island, Mayreau (see my separate page on this island) and the Tobago Cays.
- Excellent swimming and some snorkeling.
- Depending on the wind (blowing best between November and April) a swift, enjoyable sail on the spacious catamaran.
- Unlimited drinks including soft drinks and rum punch (careful!) and an excellent buffet lunch prepared and served right on the boat. Actually, you are usually welcomed with a breakfast service when boarding the catamaran and with cookies and tea during the home run in the afternoon.
These people either had too much rum punch or food: they miss seeing the one of the most beautiful anchorages - Saltwhistle Bay on Mayreux!
And here is what you end up with:
An unforgettable day cruise and hopefully lots of memorable pictures and video clips. Maybe a sunburn if you were not cautious, and some T-shirts from the vendors on the island beaches (I like those on Mayreaux colored by local people and cheaper than elsewhere).
A friendly crew will take care of your needs!
Of course you dont have to just come for one day!
There is accommodation on the island, ranging from the deft to the cheap. You could do some hiking (see Mount Tibri), biking, beaching or just hang around at the water-side bars. Or hire a small boat to take you to another jewel the thumb-size sandbank of Mopion, a coral-ringed small spot in the middle of the Caribbean Sea! If you have a larger group, Captain Yannis also will make special arrangements fort you, such as including another routing with Mopion as the highlite of a private day cruise!
