CARIBBEAN - CALYPSON CRUISING

As well as discovering the world wasn’t flat, Christopher Columbus also discovered the stunning islands of the archipelago that forms the Caribbean. This region wasn’t always the tranquil sailing grounds it is today – it was also the haunt of Blackbeard and Sir Francis Drake who anchored, plundered and squandered their treasure here.

In fact, if there is any truth to a local rumour, you would be well advised to pack a shovel with the snorkel and sunglasses, just in case you happen to discover the spot market ‘X’. the Caribbean is an arc-shaped archipelago stretching from the British Virgin Islands in the north to Grenada, 500 miles to the south.

The beauty and easy sailing of the Virgin Islands have made them popular among yachtsmen from many far flung nations. There are very few hazards under water to worry about and navigating is by sight, with island hopping a breeze on the easterly trade winds. The water is clean and crystal clear with the bottom visible as much as 15m below. Brilliant fish and other marine life and coral colours flash as the waters move.

It is an inspiration to many from a myriad walks of life: Robert Louis Stevenson used the Bight and the caves on Norman Island as the scenario upon which he based the classic novel Treasure Island. Don’t forget the shovel.

The Leeward Islands stretch like gems on an invisible chain from St. Martin in the north through Antigua and Guadeloupe to Dominica in the south. St. Martin is a French/Dutch island and is party of the Leeward group, known as the Lesser Antilles. The contrasting national traits of the two European settlers makes the island an interesting place to visit.

You can anchor off the French Island of St. Barthelemy (Barts) and enjoy diving and snorkelling over the rich coral reefs while on deck it will be shorts and T-shirt weather most of the time.

From there you meander along to the nearby British island of St. Kitts, named by Colombus after his favourite saint. St. Kitts is a volcanic island with black sandy beaches and tropical rainforest and a definite West Indian flavour to food, lifestyle and culture. There are 45,000 inhabitants, human that is, with, it is believe as no census has been taking, a corresponding number of greenback monkeys in the mountains.

Both islands have well-stocked supermarkets for quick and easy shopping, reasonably-priced restaurants and bars, and, for those with loose change and time to spare, a choice of legal casinos to try your luck and while away the hours.

A further day’s sailing away is English Harbour, in Antigua. This was Britain’s main naval station in the Lesser Antilles and was completed around 1745. Horatio Nelson was stationed here in 1784 under Sir Richard Hughes, who has recently blinded himself in one eye while chasing a cockroach with a fork. This dockyard is generally known as Nelson’s Dockyard in deference to Britain’s favourite naval son.

Nelson’s Dockyard is also the home on Antigua Race Week, an annual event held in April. The Race Week is more like a giant aquatic carnival, sailing in the races is the easy part. It proves harder to survive the active English Harbour social scene than to avoid offshore reefs. Drinking and eating competitions, three-legged running races, swimming events and wet T-shirt competitions are backed by a constant beat of reggae and calypso. This is the backdrop of six days packed with fun, laughter and, of course, competition.

Further south, the Windward Islands begin at Martinique and continue through St. Lucia and Mustique to Grenada. Cosmopolitan Martinique is the largest of the Windward Islands. The birthplace of Napoleon’s empress, Josephine, this volcanic island contrasts urban hustle and bustle with rolling, placid plantations and lush, green mountains in the mist.

St Lucia is a fascinating island steeped in history, finally gaining independence after changing hands many times between the French and the British. On the south side of the island are the famous Pitons, a spectacular setting for a quiet night at the anchorage in one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

With its mixture of volcanic islands, tropical forests, picturesque harbours and sundrenched beaches, and where life moves at its on laissez-faire pace times by the samba rhythm, the Caribbean has plenty to offer.