Motor Yacht Charter Windward Islands
From Martinique's volcanic ridgelines to the pristine anchorages of the Tobago Cays, the Windward Islands reward those who arrive with range, comfort, and time. A motor yacht charter strips away the compromises and lets the arc of islands unfold on your terms.
Motor Yachts Available in Windward Islands
Browse our selection of motor yachts available for charter in Windward Islands.
Other Vessel Types in Windward Islands
The Windward Islands stretch roughly 500 nautical miles from Martinique in the north to Grenada in the south, taking in St Lucia, St Vincent, the Grenadines, and Carriacou along the way. Unlike the more frequented Leewards, this chain retains a lived-in authenticity: fishing pirogues share anchorages with charter yachts, nutmeg and cocoa still drive local economies, and the French and British colonial layers give each island a distinct culinary and architectural character.
Sailing conditions here are predominantly dictated by the North-East Trade Winds, which blow at a reliable 15 to 25 knots for most of the year. The prevailing swell runs from the Atlantic on the eastern, windward coasts, while the leeward western shores offer the sheltered anchorages and calmer passages that make island-hopping genuinely pleasurable. For a motor yacht, the ability to run south with the trades or push north against them on schedule gives an itinerary flexibility that sail-dependent charters simply cannot match.
Why Charter in Motor Yacht charter in Windward Islands
The Grenadines corridor, running between St Vincent and Grenada, is arguably the most compelling stretch of cruising ground in the entire Caribbean. The Tobago Cays Marine Park alone justifies the journey: four uninhabited islets enclosed by Horseshoe Reef, with hawksbill turtle habitats, coral gardens in 3 to 8 metres of water, and the kind of clarity that makes snorkelling feel almost theatrical. Mooring balls are required within the park, but outside its boundaries, white-sand anchorages at Palm Island and Petit St Vincent are within easy reach.
Martinique and St Lucia give the northern end of the chain genuine urban substance. Le Marin in Martinique is the largest charter marina in the eastern Caribbean, with serious provisioning infrastructure, a competent fuel dock, and a weekly market that supplies the galley with ripe mangoes, christophine, and fresh-caught mahi-mahi. Rodney Bay Marina in St Lucia offers IGY-standard facilities and easy customs clearance, making it a logical embarkation point for southbound itineraries.
Grenada, at the southern terminus, deserves more than a cursory stop. St George's harbour is one of the most photogenic working ports in the region, ringed by 18th-century British fortifications. The island's interior, accessible on a half-day excursion from the anchorage at True Blue Bay, produces some of the finest nutmeg, mace, and single-origin chocolate in the world. Grand Anse Beach, a 3-kilometre sweep of pale sand immediately south of the capital, is the kind of afternoon ashore that makes a charter feel complete.
Motor Yacht charter in Windward Islands Highlights
Tobago Cays Marine Park: Four uninhabited islets inside Horseshoe Reef, with hawksbill turtles resident in the shallows at Baradal Island and snorkelling across healthy coral heads in exceptional visibility.
The Pitons, St Lucia: Moor in the shadow of Gros Piton and Petit Piton at the boutique anchorage of Anse des Pitons, with hot sulphur springs at Soufrière a short tender ride away.
Mustique: A private island with a controlled visitor quota, accessible by mooring arrangement. The Basil's Bar Wednesday night jump-up is a legitimate institution, not a tourist construct.
Bequia, Admiralty Bay: A deep, well-sheltered anchorage with a genuine maritime culture. The boatbuilding tradition here is centuries old, and the turtle sanctuary at Park Beach is an instructive afternoon.
Mayreau, Saline Bay: One of the smallest inhabited islands in the Grenadines, with a population under 300. The anchorage off the salt pond is tranquil and the single hilltop village has restaurants that operate entirely on fresh catch and goodwill.
St George's, Grenada: A working Caribbean capital with a well-stocked chandlery district, the National Museum in a former French barracks, and the Carenage waterfront for lunch on freshly caught red snapper.
Martinique, Le Diamant: The volcanic rock formation off the south-west coast offers compelling dive and snorkel conditions, and the surrounding coastline feeds into some of the island's best rum distilleries for an afternoon visit.
When to Sail
The Windwards sit south of the main Atlantic hurricane track, giving them a more forgiving weather profile than the northern Caribbean. The dry season from January through May offers the most consistent conditions, but the summer months remain broadly sailable with manageable squalls.
High Season (Jun-Sep)
Counterintuitively, June through August sees reliable trade winds and warm, clear water, though afternoon convective squalls become more frequent from July onwards. Grenada and the southern Grenadines are statistically the safest zone during the nominal hurricane season; the islands sit below the main hurricane belt. Anchorages are noticeably less crowded than in peak winter months, and provisioning markets are flush with tropical produce. Water temperature sits around 29°C and visibility at dive and snorkel sites is frequently excellent. Charter rates at this time of year often reflect the lower demand despite the conditions remaining genuinely good.
Shoulder Season (May, Oct)
May is arguably the single best month in the Windwards: the dry season is winding down, humidity is rising but not oppressive, trade winds are steady at 18 to 22 knots, and the cruising fleet has thinned. Mooring balls at the Tobago Cays are available without the pre-dawn scramble common in January. October represents the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season and requires careful monitoring of weather systems, but for a motor yacht with range and flexibility, re-positioning to shelter on short notice is a realistic contingency. Most experienced charterers treat October as a calculated trade-off between lower pricing and modest additional risk.
Choosing the Right Yacht
A motor yacht is particularly well-suited to the Windward Islands because the chain's geography rewards range and schedule control. The prevailing north-east trades run at 15 to 25 knots across the beam or slightly forward, meaning a sailing yacht tacking between islands loses meaningful time on certain passages. A motor yacht covers the 90-nautical-mile run from Martinique to Grenada in a single, unhurried day, leaving full afternoons free at anchorage rather than arriving at dusk. The Horizon FD90 available in this region exemplifies the type: a raised pilothouse design with flybridge, volume for up to 11 guests, and a range suited to the southern extension towards Grenada and Carriacou without provisioning anxiety.
Seven Days Through the Windwards, Martinique to Grenada
A suggested week-long charter route
Embark at Le Marin, Martinique in the afternoon. Settle aboard, conduct a full provisioning run at the marina's chandleries and market stalls, and brief the crew on the week's programme. Anchor overnight in the lee of the Sainte-Anne peninsula.
Depart at first light for the 40-nautical-mile passage south to Rodney Bay, St Lucia. Customs clearance at the IGY marina is efficient and well-organised. Afternoon at leisure on Reduit Beach. Dinner ashore at one of the Rodney Bay village restaurants, where fresh grilled kingfish and Piton beer are the default order.
Transit south to Anse des Pitons. Arrange a mooring through the local boat boys well in advance, as the anchorage is small. Afternoon visit to the Sulphur Springs volcanic drive-in crater and the botanical gardens at Soufrière. Dinner aboard under the silhouette of the Pitons.
Cross the St Vincent Passage to Bequia's Admiralty Bay, roughly 40 nautical miles. Browse the boatbuilding yards at the south end of the bay. Late afternoon cocktails at the Frangipani Hotel veranda, which functions as the social centre of the island's charter community. Anchor overnight.
Depart mid-morning for the Tobago Cays. Secure a mooring ball inside the Marine Park. Spend the balance of the day snorkelling the Horseshoe Reef circuit and the turtle habitat off Baradal. The captain arranges a fresh-fish barbecue on the beach through the park's registered operators.
Morning at Mayreau or Palm Island before an afternoon passage down to Carriacou, stopping at Sandy Island off Hillsborough for a final Grenadines snorkel. Check into Grenada customs via Carriacou to simplify the next morning's arrival in St George's.
Final morning passage to St George's, Grenada. Tour the nutmeg processing co-operative at Gouyave if time permits, or take the tender into the Carenage for a last lunch. Disembark at Port Louis Marina, where secure berths and good provisioning support a straightforward end to the charter.
Local Tips
- •Customs and immigration clearance in the Grenadines operates across multiple ports and the requirements differ between St Vincent and Grenadine waters and Grenada. Carry full ship's papers, passports for all guests, and a courtesy flag for each jurisdiction. Your captain should handle the formalities, but awareness prevents delays.
- •Provisioning at Le Marin is the most reliable re-stocking point in the chain. The Monday and Saturday morning market adjacent to the marina supplies genuine local produce; the chandleries stock spare parts at competitive prices compared to Rodney Bay or St George's. Front-load provisioning here and top up opportunistically.
- •The Tobago Cays mooring field fills entirely by mid-morning in the December through April high season. Position to arrive before 09:00 or arrange the mooring through a local agent the previous evening. Anchoring inside the park boundaries is prohibited and the wardens enforce the restriction.
- •Mayreau, Union Island, and Canouan all have small airstrips or are served by small aircraft from St Vincent's E.T. Joshua Airport, which makes a mid-charter guest change feasible for the right group. Discuss logistics with SelectYachts at the planning stage.
- •Grenada's Immigration and Customs at Port Louis is smooth but closes at 16:00 on weekdays and does not operate reliably on Sundays. Time your final arrival accordingly or use the Carriacou clearance to buy flexibility.
- •Cuisine across the Windwards rewards the curious: oil-down in Grenada (breadfruit, callaloo, and salted meat slow-cooked in coconut milk) and accras de morue (salt cod fritters) in Martinique are both worth sourcing ashore. Ask your chef to seek out local vendors rather than importing from the marina shops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a cruising permit to sail between islands in the Windwards+
How far in advance should I book a motor yacht charter in the Windward Islands+
Is the Windward Islands region suitable for families with children+
What should I expect from the sea conditions on inter-island passages+
What is included in the charter fee and what should I budget beyond it+
Speak with a SelectYachts specialist to confirm availability on the Horizon FD90 and begin planning your Windward Islands itinerary.
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