ABOUT THIS CHART

This chart has been compiled by D M Street Jr using official sources and additionalinformation acquired over more than 50 years of cruising, racing, exploring, charteringand charting the Eastern Caribbean on his 46’ engineless yawl Iolaire built in 1905. He isthe author of many yachting books and articles, first of which was ‘Going South’,Yachting September 1964. His first guide Cruising Guide to the Lesser Antilles is regardedas ‘the book that opened the Caribbean to the cruising yachtsman and made bareboatchartering possible’. It is worth reading for its nostalgic view of the Caribbean in the 50sand 60s. Through the years the guide has been expanded to cover all of the easternCaribbean, from the western end of Puerto Rico east and south through the islands toTrinidad, then westwards along the Venezuelan coast and the offshore islands to Aruba.Use Street’s Guides for interisland sailing directions, harbour PILOTING directions andinteresting anecdotes of people, places and history. Street’s Guides are the only guidesthat cover all the anchorages in the Eastern Caribbean. Patience Wales, editor of Sail,once said, ‘Circle in red all the anchorages that Street describes that are not in the otherguides and you will have a quiet anchorage’.Shoreside information dates but PILOTAGE information in Street’s Guide is timeless.Where harbours have changed or been dredged, the latest information is shown onImray-Iolaire charts, which are constantly referred to in Street’s pilots.Street has also been in the marine insurance business placing insurance for yachts of allsizes and ages sailing in all areas of the world with Lloyds since 1966. Visit www.street-iolaire.com. Email streetiolaire@hotmail.com.The author and publishers believe that this chart is the most accurate and up to dateavailable for the area it covers. It can, however, only remain so if mariners notify thepublishers of any inaccuracy or need for correction of which they may be aware.The pilotage information on this chart is taken from Street’s Martinique to Trinidad to whichpage numbers refer. It is available from Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd www.imray.comInternet sales for current and out of print editions can be found at iuniverse.com,alibris.co.uk and Amazon.comFive popular sailing videos made in the late 80s early 90s featuring DM Street Jr are nowavailable at www.thesailingchannel.tv. One of these concerns cruising the Grenadines.The most popular one is Transatlantic with Street, the story of Iolaire’s 1985 Transatlanticvia Vigo, Madeira, Canaries, Cape Verdes. It was highly praised by Tom Cunliffe in hisreview in Sail, and Herb McCormack in Cruising World.TheSailingChannel.TV offers all five videos in one digital package, The Complete Street,online at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thecompletestreet

B Martinique to Trindad

Edition date: 2016

Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson LtdWych House The Broadway St Ives Cambridgeshire PE27 5BT England

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TRINIDAD

VENEZUELA

Barbados

Martinique

St Lucia

St Vincent

Grenada

The

Grenadines

Bequia

Canouan

Carriacou

Gulf of Paria

Tobago

WINDWARD

ISLANDS

San Fernando

Port of Spain

Scarborough

Castries

St. George's

Kingstown

Fort-de-France

Bridgetown

Imray-IolaireCHARTS FOR THE

EASTERN CARIBBEANCompiled by DM Street Jnr

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B Martinique to TrindadGENERAL CAUTIONSYachtsmen navigating this area arereminded that whilst most of the region hasbeen resurveyed in the last 50 years, much ofthe data is of 19th century origin. Since then,topography above and below the water maywell have been altered by natural causessuch as volcanic eruptions, movement ofsandbanks, the growth of coral etc. Thischart must, therefore, be used with caution.Inshore navigation should only beundertaken in good light, when the sun ishigh. Navigational aids (buoys, beacons andlights) are notable for their absence and/orunreliability.It is important to read the sailing and pilot

directions for the area concerned the nightbefore, in order to plan the next day's run,and to calculate your departure toguarantee arrival at the next anchoragewhile the sun is still high.It is also important on interisland passages

to allow for the set of the current. Stay towindward of the rhumb line. Take backbearings until you can see the island ahead.Take GPS readings every half hour and plotthem on the chart, make sure you stay towindward of the rhumb line between yourstarting point and your anchorage. Allcourses given in the text are rhumb lines.Do not enter strange harbours at night. Many lights are unreliable.Norie and Wilson Sailing Directions to theCaribbean (1817) state, ‘When passing toleeward of the high islands stay within twopistol shots distance of shore or sevenleagues (21 miles) off.’ Still as true today asit was in 1817.

Tides and Currents Heading north or south, the current is on thebeam, setting you off your rhumb line coursean appreciable amount. When headingnorth or south, the Equatorial current issetting you to the west. It is negated (andoccasionally, with spring tides, eliminated) bythe tidal current. You must remember thatthe flood tide sets to the east, the ebb tidesets to the west. Current (knots)Boat Speed 1.5 1.2 1.0 0.8(knots) 2 37º 31º 27º 22º 3 27º 22º 18º 15º 4 21º 17º 14º 11º 5 17º 13º 11º 9º 6 14º 11º 9º 8º 7 12º 10º 8º 7º 8 11º 9º 7º 6º 9 9º 8º 6º 5º 10 9º 7º 6º 5º Degrees of set leeway

It is extremely important to allow for theset of the current which is made up of theeasterly wind blown Equatorial current,reinforced by the ebb tide or partially (andoccasionally completely) negated by theflood tide. Taking advantage of a weather-going current can change a passage frombeing a real hard slog, to a glorious reach.

With tide and current setting you toleeward, you will have to sail 010° to 015°above the rhumb line, but if it is setting youto windward you will be able to sail a course010° to 015° to leeward of the rhumb line.This makes a difference of 020° to 030° oftenchanging a dead beat to an easy close reach.This often makes the difference betweenslamming into it, or an eased sheet reach,really flying. This is particularly true from StVincent to St Lucia, Martinique to Dominica,Deshaies (Guadeloupe) to English Harbour(Antigua). If you plan your passages so that you have

the flood tide helping you it can make alarge difference to your sailing time. Thedifference from setting off on a lee-goingtide to a weather-going tide is generally020°, often as much as 030°. There is a briefrule of thumb method. The tide startsrunning to the east soon after moonrise,continues to run east until about an hourafter the moon reaches its zenith (overhead)then it runs westward, reinforcing thewesterly current. Then as the moon sets, thetide starts running again to the east, turningwestwards again about an hour after themoon passes its nadir (directly underneath),see sketch. In the Eastern Caribbean during the

winter months, the wind will vary from east-southeast to east-northeast, occasionallygoing all the way around to north. Thecurrent sets generally west at a knot or more.Thus the greatest problem encountered bythe yachtsman new to the area is that ofallowing his boat to sag below the rhumbline course. At the end of the day, hesuddenly realises that the anchorage is wellto windward – a hard slog against wind andtide. To avoid this situation keep a hand-bearing compass handy and take continualbearings or GPS fixes; if you cannot see theisland ahead, take stern bearings or GPSfixes. The tides trom Antigua south are semi-

diurnal (twice a day) but from Antiguanorth, the tides are diurnal (one tide a day).However, if you check very accurate tidalgauges you will discover two tides, onemajor, a second one so small to be barelynoticeable, thus the tide tables refer to it asdiurnal. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands area is

further complicated by the fact that on thesouth side of Puerto Rico and St Thomas,there is one tide a day, while on the northside of both islands there are two tides a day;east coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques andCulebra have two tides a day. At one part of the year, the highest tide is

during the day, at other times of the year the

highest tide is during the night. Schomberg,the Danish naturalist, explained that duringthe equinox, September and October, Marchand April, the evening tide is the highest, therest of the year the daytime tide is thehighest. In periods of spring tides especially if the

trades have not been blowing hard, theflood tide will overcome the Equatorialcurrent and give an easterly set. In normalcircumstances in the passages the tide runseight hours west, four east. However withinthe Virgin Islands in Pillsbury Sound andDrakes Passage which are largely shelteredfrom the Equatorial current, the tide ebband flood is six hours each direction.

WarningThe Caribbean is 0.4m to 0.6m lower in May,June, July and early August than it is inwinter this was noted in the 1867 Norie andWilson Sailing Directions in these monthsshoal channels into various harbours shouldbe used with caution. Nanny Cay - Tortola,Manuel Reef marina, Wickhams Cay, FatHog/East End Bay, Jolly Harbour AntiguaRodney Bay Marina, Blue Lagoon - StVincent, do not have tide gauges and requireparticular care. Yachts are increasing in sizewhilst shoal channels can be used safely inwinter, in summer, at low water springs;there have been incidents when large yachtshave grounded completely blocking thechannel for others. The author hascampaigned for many years for gauges to beintroduced to prevent these incidents.

HIGH WATER FULL AND CHANGE

The time of High Water at each locationduring full and new moons (full & change)occurs at a set time after the meridianpassage of the moon for each location.The time of the meridian passage for eachday can be found in Nautical Almanac, andin Compass magazine.eg Location X – HW F & C 2h30m (from thetable on the chart) Meridian passage at X for Y date is, say,0200hrs (from Nautical Almanac or Compassmagazine)Thus HW on Y date will be at 0430hrs. HWwill be approximately 50mins later eachfollowing day.

WIND

In the eastern Caribbean during the wintermonths, the wind will vary from east-southeast to east-northeast, occasionallygoing all the way around to north when abig winter cold front from the states worksits way eastwards to Puerto Rico.It generally blows 15 to 18kn, but at times

it will drop off to 8 to 12kn for days at atime. It can also pipe up to a steady 20 to25kn with higher gust and stay this way fora week or ten days. Be prepared for heavyweather.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration’s National Data Buoy Centeroperate a variety of stations throughout theworld. Eight such stations exist in the EasternCaribbean recording a wide variety ofmeteorological information. Much of thisdata is available to the yachtsman via theNOBC website. Go towww.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Caribbean andclick on the station you wish to access.Wind velocities from shore stations in theEastern Caribbean give little indication ofwinds expected offshore. The weather buoys

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EAST TIDE

WES

T T

IDEW

EST

TID

E

EAST TIDE

NADIR

ZENITH

1Hr

1Hr

1Hr

1Hr

Pilotage notes by DM Street, Jr

to the east of the islands will give a goodindication of weather and sea conditions tobe expected in the islands 24 hours later.Buoys to the north will give you indicationsof the approach of a ground swell conditionbut remember that the ground swell willapproach at 25 to 30kn per hour, so lock onto buoys well north of the islands.Every year Caribbean Compass puts out anupdated version of their list of radio stationsthat give weather information of interest tothe sailor.

GROUND SWELLSWhen ground swells are expected on thenorth coast of Puerto Rico, they arepredicted quite accurately on El Oso SanJuan, Virgin Island news. Add roughlytwenty-four hours for the ground swellpredicted to reach the southern end of theCaribbean.On any beach open to the northwest as far

south as Antigua, there is the danger of theground swell, especially if the beach ashoreis quite steep and the sand really soft. Istrongly advise either a Bahamian moor ormoor bow-and-stern when anchoring off it.If the ground swell comes in during the

night when on a single anchor it will pivotthe boat around in the surf and within a fewminutes the boat is driven on shore.Ground swells are completely

independent of the Caribbean weathersystems; they are generated by storms in thenorth Atlantic. The season is mid-October tothe end of March though very occasionallyground swells will appear in April.For cruising therefore, May is fine: no

hurricanes; no ground swell. June the same,though there is a risk of hurricanes. July isgood but watch out for hurricanes.

BAHAMIAN MOOR

Bahamian moor is useful if you are anchoredwhere there is a reversing tide that willovercome the wind when the tide is runningeastwards, or anchored off a beach that isexposed to the ground swell. If you are on aBahamian moor you will swing in a circlethat is equal to the length of the boat. Once anchored, back down with the

engine, slacking the anchor line or chainuntil you have veered (eased) plenty of scope(line) then take a second anchor, carry it backto the stern, drop it, shorten up on bowanchor until you have the correct amount ofscope, then take a strain on the anchor youhave dropped off the stern (but lead therode through the bow chock), and secure.Now that you have moored between twoanchors there is no danger of swingingashore when the wind dies out at night.

RIG FOR DOWNWINDTake a spare line (spare sheet or dock line) atleast the length of the boat, secure it to theend of the main boom, pull it tight andsecure the line to the goose neck, coil and

hang up the excess. Once underway andrunning downwind, broad off, free it fromthe goose neck, take it forward outside allthe rigging through a bow chock and secureit to mooring cleat or anchor windlass. It isthen almost impossible to jibe. Rig theheadsail to a spinnaker pole of the oppositeside, sail down wind wing and wing. If youdo not have a spinnaker pole and thepreventer is rigged really tight, a goodhelmsman can sail slightly by the lee andkeep the headsail filled. A useful rig whenheading westward in the Virgins, Puerto Ricowestwards from Antigua. The above is a jury rig that can be done

with the material found on a bare boat. Ifyou own your own boat do a proper job asdescribed below.If heading westwards from the eastern

Caribbean to Columbia or Panama rig aproper easily rigged and unrigged mainboom preventer.

MAIN-BOOM PREVENTER/FOREGUYEvery year, numerous sailors are injured andsome even killed, as a result of inadvertantjibes. These accidents can be avoided withthe use of a preventer/foreguy on the mainboom.For downwind sailing, the first and most

essential piece of gear is a strong preventeron the main boom that can be easily riggedand unrigged.To set up an effective preventer, you need

a strong bail on the end of the main boom,preferably angled forward at about 45°.If you don’t have a suitable bail, you can

use a loop of line to make a strop. Make theloop long enough that you can wrap it twicearound the boom, tuck one end of the loopthrough the other, and work it tight. (Thetwo wraps will ensure the strop doesn’t slipalong the boom.) To make the loop, take apiece of line of the appropriate length, tiethe ends together with a sheet bend, andmouse the tails of the knot with electricaltape.Secure a wire (or a length of high-tech line

like Spectra or Dyneema) to the bail or strop.This is the permanent part of the boompreventer. It should be about a foot shorterthan the distance from the bail to thegooseneck and have a thimble spliced intoits gooseneck end. A lashing line tied intothe thimble will allow you to snug thepreventer up to the gooseneck and tightunder the boom when it’s not in use.Lead two spinnaker-pole foreguys, one

each side of the boat, through blocks at thestemhead or the end of the bowsprit. Clipthe snap shackles to lifeline stanchions

abreast of the mast and run the other endsaft to the cockpit.To set up the preventer when you’re

sailing, all you have to do is untie the lineunder the boom from the gooseneck and clipthe snap shackle of the leeward foreguy intothe thimble eye. Make the lashing line longenough that you can tie it loosely to thelifeline and use it as a retrieval line when it’stime for a jibe.Once the wind gets on the quarter and the

boom is well eased, connect the preventerand set it up tight using a winch. If no winchis available, over-ease the mainsheet, take upon the foreguy, then re-trim the main tomake the foreguy tight. A jibe is now all butimpossible.

Key to the diagram1. Main boom2. Mainsheet3. Bail or strop4. Wire preventer5. Light line

Downwind rig with jib and mainThis rig is for normal downwind sailing withthe mainsail secured to leeward with apreventer on the boom and the jib poled outto windward.

Key to the diagram1. Main boom preventer2. Lee spinaker pole foreguy3. Light line4. Headsail5. Lazy sheet for headsail6. Working headsail sheet7. Foreguy

3

Arc of Swing

BAHAMIAN MOOR

BOW AND STERN MOORING

The working sheet (#6) is run through theend of the spinnaker pole. If the wind goestoo far forward for the headsail to be poledto windward, this sheet is eased and the sailtrimmed to leeward with the lazy sheet (#5).

Proceeding southMARTINIQUE TO ST LUCIAFrom the east coast of Martinique, you canpass to windward or leeward of St Lucia, aneasy reach either way. From Fort de Franceon the west coast, it is still not too rough asail to Castries. Do not be discouraged if,when you clear Cap Salomon, you are almosthard on the wind. Usually the wind hooksaround the southern end of the islands,coming in south of east, backing to the eastas you sail offshore and to the northeast asyou approach Pigeon Island. Thus, as youleave Martinique, especially in the region ofMorne du Diamant, do not fight your way uponto the rhumb line course; frequently thereis a tide-against-the-wind situation that canmake it very rough. Better to ease sheets andalter course to south or even slightly west ofsouth until you are clear of Rocher duDiamant. Then start to work your way up tothe rhumb line but don't work too hard tolay a course to Pigeon Island. As youapproach St Lucia, the wind tends to backand lift you; if you are below the rhumb line,you'll be able to work your way back up toit. Being hard on the wind the last six oreight miles is not all that bad, since you'reunder the lee of St Lucia and in calm water.Cap Salomon to Pigeon Island – course 176ºmag, 26MLe Marin to Pigeon Island – course 206º mag,22MLe Marin to east coast of St Lucia if you wantto pass to windward of St Lucia.Le Marin to Cape Marquis Abeam 2M off,course 182º mag 23M, then the course downthe windward side of St Lucia is 195º mag,21M to C Moule à Chique abeam.Abeam, bear off jibe over, and head west toVieux Fort and enter.

ST LUCIA TO ST VINCENTIn proceeding south to St Vincent, rememberthat there is usually wind on the lee side ofSt Lucia from 1000 until about 1700 hours,but it is likely to be calm the rest of the time.It is a long sail down to Kingstown, the entryport of St Vincent, or to Bequia, thereforeplan your departure to make sure you areclear of the Pitons by 0900.Most yachtsmen sail from the Pitons to the

west coast of St Vincent on course 205º mag,which normally gives a very easy reach.However, they usually run out of wind in thelee of St Vincent and then from thesouthwest corner of St Vincent have either ahard slog against the wind and current upinto Kingstown Harbour or a fairly closefetch across to Bequia and then a beat upinto Admiralty Bay.It is sometimes preferable to pass

windward of St Vincent, setting a coursefrom the Pitons of 190º mag withadjustments for leeway and current. In mostconditions it is an easy reach; at worst, aclose fetch. Sail down the windward coast ofSt Vincent on an easy reach, enjoying thebeautiful scenery. If it really pipes up, staywell offshore, as a heavy Atlantic swell willcrest in 6m and break in 4. When you get tothe southeast corner of St Vincent, run deaddownwind, to the various anchorages: BlueLagoon; the northeast corner of Calliquia;Young Island anchorage (pick up a mooring,

do not try to anchor); and Carenageanchorage to leeward of the Young Islandslot or Admiralty Bay, Bequia. Some adventurous types who want quiet

anchorages from the Pitons head southeastup the coast of St Lucia to Laborie (Street’sGuide – Martinique to Trinidad). From thereit is a short sail on to Vieux Fort, then roundthe corner to Point Sable Bay.

MARTINIQUE TO THE GRENADINESDIRECT FROM MARIN.This is a glorious 90M reach. Course fromMarin to south end of St Lucia is 195º mag40M, then it is a screaming broad reach 220ºmag for 50M into Admiralty Bay. If making aday light passage time your departure toarrive in Bequia channel no later than 1600.If making a night time passage time yourdeparture so that you arrive in BequiaChannel no earlier than 0600.

ST VINCENT OR BEQUIA DIRECT TOGRENADAFrom St Vincent, course of about 220º mag,9M to West Cay, Bequia. From Admiralty Bay,dead down wind to West Cay, then a courseof approximately 220º mag, 34M to theSisters Rocks off Carriacou. At this point adecision has to be made. If heading for StGeorge's, logically continue onapproximately 220º mag for 30M. However,if heading to the harbours on the south andsoutheast coast of Grenada, the quickestroute is down the windward side ofGrenada. Once past the southwest point ofCarriacou, come up to a course ofapproximately 204º mag, normally a goodfast reach with plenty of wind (if you godown the west coast it will get flukey andsometimes there is no wind), at the end ofabout 27M, when the south coast bearsapproximately west magnetic, bear off andrun down the south coast to whicheverharbour you are heading for. The bestharbour is Clarks Court/Woburn harbour.Proceed to WP23 on B3, then eyeball yourway into the harbour.From Sisters Rocks, Carriacou, to Secret

Harbour via the east coast it is 36M, wind allthe way.If you head for the south coast via the

west coast of Grenada it is 34M to PointSaline followed by a 5M dead beat up to theanchorage. This is a very poor way to end a long day’s

sail. Go the easy way and sail down thewindward coast.

BARBADOSWhen sailing to Barbados, head to Port StCharles in the northwest corner of the islandwhere clearing customs is quick and simple.Avoid clearing customs in Bridgetown.

MARTINIQUE TO BARBADOSCourse 148º mag. Distance 92M. WP3 toWP12A tough sail, if leaving from Fort de Franceround Cap Salomon. Work your way eastalong the south coast and, once clear of IletCabrits, head for Harrison Point on Barbadoswhere you should pick up a little lee. Enterat Port St Charles on the NW corner ofBarbados and clear, then sail the 15M toBridgetown. If the wind is north of east, itshould be possible to lay the course, but ifsouth of east it won’t. Instead, take tacks tothe northeast to stay to windward of thecourse. Harrison Point light (F.R.59m3M), atthe N end of Barbados is easy to spot at nightand 250m high.

ST LUCIA TO BARBADOSCourse (North Point) 139º mag. Distance90M. WP7 to WP12. Course (Vieux Fort) 121º.Distance 77M. WP10 to WP12.The old schooner skipper's direction is: standnorth on starboard tack until the light on IletCabrits on Martinique is aft of abeam, thenhead for Barbados. These sailing directionsare basically correct, but if you clear thesoutheast coast of Martinique, continuenortheast 20M before tacking to obtain abetter angle.

ST VINCENT OR BEQUIA TOBARBADOSCourse 105º mag. Distance 92M. WP19 to WP13.Put your head down, sheet her hard on thewind, tack every four hours, take advantageof the wind shifts and good luck!

GRENADA TO BARBADOSCourse 076º mag. Distance 142M. WP30 to WP13.Again, a real tough beat. Navigate carefully,as it’s very easy to miss the island.

MARTINIQUE TO TOBAGOCourse 195º mag. Distance 192M. WP3 to WP33.Tobago, like Barbados, is out to windwardand hard to reach. From Fort de France, workeastwards to Ilet Cabrits, then 195º mag toCape Marquis, St Lucia 19M, then samecourse for 173M. Navigate carefully as thecurrent will be on the beam, make allowancefor it and remember as you approach Tobagothe current may increase to 3 kns.

NORTH ST LUCIA TO TOBAGOFrom St Lucia, stand north, beat around thenorth tip of St Lucia, then head south. OnceCape Marquis is abeam, directions are asabove.

SOUTH ST LUCIA TO TOBAGOCourse 113° mag. Distance 156M. WP10 toWP33 (see navigation notes above).

ST VINCENT TO TOBAGOWP19 to WP20 to WP33. 007° mag. 109MFrom St Vincent or Bequia pass over the topof Bequia to |WP6. Warnings as above.

SOUTH COAST OF GRENADA TOTOBAGOCourse 147º mag. Distance 70M. WP30 to WP33.Hard on the wind on port tack. It isimportant to stay northeast of the rhumbline as if you sag off to the south of it youwill run into much stronger currents, at timesreaching 3kn and always at least 2kn for thefinal 10 to 15M to the west.

BARBADOS TO TOBAGOCourse to 219º mag. Distance 120M. WP13 toWP36.St Giles light on the northeast corner ofTobago (Fl.7·5s16M) is a very reliable light asit is used as the turning point for majorshipping. A decision must be made on where to

anchor. Charlottesville, Man o’ War Bay, isnot a good anchorage if the ground swell isrunning. If anchoring in Charlottesville, clearcustoms and immigration immediately. Ifthey are closed, get your papers stamped inthe police station.To avoid the swell, sail

4

down the south coast to Scarborough whichis unaffected by the winter ground swell.

BARBADOS TO TRINIDADCourse 235º mag. Distance 184M. WP13 to WP38.To the eastern most Boca. Plan for a dawnarrival. Make sure you time your arrival inChagaramus during working hours (even ifthey do not clear you), if not you will haveto pay the overtime fee for clearance. A nice broad reach but if the wind is in the

north, rig for downwind.

BARBADOS TO GRENADACourse 256º mag. Distance 142M. WP13 to WP30.Plan your arrival after daylight as the southeast corner of Grenada is not lit. Once youhave made landfall proceed along the southcoast. See Street’s Guide to the EasternCaribbean, and chart B32. Extreme care mustbe exerted when sailing downwind downthe south coast of Grenada.

GRENADA TO TRINIDADCourse 190º mag. Distance 75M. WP31 to WP38.The sail from Grenada to Trinidad is usuallyan easy beam reach. The only difficulty is anoccasionally strong current, along with sometide rips that sometimes set up between thetwo islands. The normal procedure for mostyachts making the passage is to leaveGrenada at about 1800 hours, steer 170º mag(or 165º mag if your boat makes a lot ofleeway) until you spot the Chacachacarelight, and alter your course accordingly. Thisis a very powerful light, which can be seen asfar as 25M away on a clear night. You willprobably spot the light for the gas rig aboutthe same time. Do not head right forChacachacare light, as it marks thewesternmost boca (mouth) of the Bocas delDragon, and the current will be pulling youin that direction anyway. The 10M light onthe gas platform, 20M north of the Bocas,makes a good check. Pass close to leeward ofthis and you will be on course. Most boatsfavour entering the Golfo de Paria throughthe easternmost boca in order to save a lotof windward effort. This should put you inChaguaramus early in the morning. The current is always flowing out of the

Golfo de Paria through the Bocas. When thetide is rising, the current is partially negated,but it is reinforced when the tide is falling. Itis possible but difficult, to sail through theBocas. Once through, turn eastwards toChaguaramus and clear.

GRENADA TO LOS TESTIGOSCourse 257º mag. Distance 80M. WP31 to WP40.Leave Grenada early evening so you have amorning arrival, broad off or deaddownwind. If the wind goes northeast, rigfor downwind. Approaching Los Testigosbeware of the strong northerly current oftenexperienced.

LOS TESTIGOS TO TRINIDADCourse 129º mag. Distance 86M. WP40 to WP38. Unless you are very lucky you will not be ableto sail this course. Sail as close to the wind aspossible, see where you end up on theVenezuelan coast, consult Street’s Guide andChart D11.

LOS TESTIGOS TO GRENADA Course 076º mag. Distance 79M. WP40 to WP31.Unless the wind is well in the south,something that may happen late in thespring or the summer, it will not be possibleto lay this course.If you can almost lay it, stand on towards

Grenada, and on up into the Grenadines.Once you are well north of Grenada, tacksouth, as you will be getting some shelterfrom wind and sea from Grenada. Do nottack south of Grenada because the currentthere is extremely strong.In the winter, especially if the wind is

north of east, stand south to the coast, thenfollow the sailing directions Los Testigos toTrinidad. Once you reach Unsa Uquire orEnsa San Francisco, with luck, on a course of023º mag 78M to Grenada (allow for currentand leeway made good), follow the sailingdirections for Trinidad to Grenada (below),Street’s Guide, and chart B32.

TOBAGO TO TRINIDADDistance 64M. WP34 to WP35 to WP38.Unless the wind is in the northeast, it shouldbe a broad reach, check back bearings onCrown Point light as the current may besetting you westwards at a great rate. As youapproach the bocas check Street’s Guide.

Proceeding NorthTRINIDAD TO TOBAGODistance 64M. WP38-WP35-WP34.In winter the coves on the north coast ofTrinidad are open to the northerly groundswell and do not provide an anchorage.InTobago, all the anchorages on the northcoast will most likely also be untenable. OnceMay has arrived, the wind is usually south ofeast, the chances of a northerly ground swellare minimal. Leave Chagaramus early in themorning, pre-dawn. Once through the Bocas,work your way eastwards, short tackingalong the coast to avoid the westerlycurrent. Work your way eastwards along thecoast until Crown Point, is laid. A 3kn currentwill set you 33º if you are doing 5kn. Workyour way east along the coast until you reachGalera Pt, then take off for Tobago.

TRINIDAD TO LOS TESTIGOSCourse 309º mag. Distance 87M. WG38 to WP40. Fast broad reach unless the wind goessoutheast. If it does, rig for downwind.

WARNINGAs you approach Los Testigos you mayencounter a very strong north-flowingcurrent, consult Street’s Guide and chart D14.

TRINIDAD TO GRENADACourse 009º mag. Distance 75M. WP38 to WP31.It is best to depart Trinidad in time to arriveat Point Salines, Grenada, by dawn. Soonafter you pick up the lights on the hills ofGrenada, airport lights appear. If entering atPrickly Bay, keep these high lights fine on thestarboard bow but do not approach thecoast till dawn, or you may come to a suddenstop on The Porpoises. If going to StGeorge's, head for Point Salines and roundclose aboard. Hug the coast and short-tackup the beach, passing close to QuarantinePoint (the local name for Long Point). This

way, you will avoid Long Point Shoal, whichis very difficult to spot.

GRENADA TO ST VINCENTEither go up the east coast of Grenada andpass to leeward of Carriacou, or go up thewest coast. The decision should be madeafter referring to the information on chart B32. Once Carriacou is reached, the course to

West Cay on Bequia is 032º mag, distance34M. If you start sagging off to the west,tack back to the islands and stay up to therhumb line until Canouan, is reached. Northof Canouan, hold high on starboard tack, ifyou are not laying the course do not tack tillyou have Isle à Quatre abeam, then tack tothe east in the comparative calm waterbetween Bequia and Isle à Quatre.Once West Cay is reached if going into

Admiralty Bay, tack up into the harbour.

*TOBAGO TO GRENADA Course 327º mag. Distance 70M. WP33 to WP30.Should be a broad reach, but if the windgoes southeast you will be dead downwind.If so rig for downwind. Plan a dawn arrivalas the southeast coast of Grenada isunbuoyed and, apart from Glover I., unlit,with dangerous reefs.

TOBAGO TO EAST END OF BEQUIACHANNEL AND ST VINCENTCourse 007º mag. Distance 109M. WP33 to W20.This should be a glorious reach but makesure to time your arrival for about noon, asyour landfall will be the unlit islands southof Mustique. Mustique has no navigationallights.

TOBAGO TO VIEUX FORT, ST LUCIA Course 012º. Distance 156M. WP33 to WP10.Again a glorious reach, no problems C.Moule à Chique light visible 22M.

TOBAGO TO MARTINIQUECourse 015º. Distance 192M. WP33 to WP3.Another glorious reach, with a scenic tour upthe windward coast of St Lucia.

ST VINCENT TO ST LUCIAThere are two routes to St Lucia from thesouth coast of St Vincent. The more usual isto proceed up the west coast in easy stages,stopping off at Wallilabou Bay, a customsentry and clearance port. The lee of StVincent is frequently becalmed, so you maybe forced to start up the engine. Hold highthe course across St Vincent Channel, as thecurrent sets strongly northwest; off thesouthwestern corner of St Lucia, it becomeseven more sever. If you fall four or five milesoffshore when Gros Piton comes abeam, youare going to have a rough beat inshore.It is extremely important that you stay east

of the rhumb line between the lee side of StVincent and Gros Piton Point (the rhumb linecourse is 015º mag, 27M). To be certain youare staying to windward of this course andnot sliding off to leeward, take backbearings continually. Frequently St Lucia will not be visible from St Vincent, thus the necessity of stern bearings. Take GPSfixes every hour, plot them on the chart and,if at all possible, stay to windward of therhumb line.When you get discouraged about the sea

conditions, remember that Vieux Fort, out towindward, tends to break the sea. Once you

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are halfway across, the seas should ease up.The last quarter of the trip will be incomparatively smooth water, with the seashooking around the south coast of St Luciaand coming much more on the beam.Similarly, the wind frequently hooks aroundthe southern end of St Lucia, lifting you towindward and enabling you to ease sheetsas you approach the coast of St Lucia. Thiseffect is generally only felt to windward ofthe rhumb line. To leeward of the rhumbline, you will not be getting the lift and willhave to fight your way up to the Pitonsagainst wind and current.The other way to St Lucia is to head

southeastward from Young Island or BlueLagoon until you are off soundings. Checkthe tidal section on this chart and leave theanchorage on the first of the weather goingtide. It flows northeast up Bequia channel,then north up the east coast of St Vincent.Thus you should be well on your way with afair tide for the first four hours of the trip ifyou leave on the FIRST of the weather goingtide. When the swell eases up, tack and headdirectly for Vieux Fort, or the Pitons, adistance of about 45M. This is a course forboats that are able to sail to windward andshould be commenced when the tide isrunning eastward. This is an excellent sailwhen the wind is south of east, as it is likelyto be from April onwards; it is less thanexcellent if it veers north or east. See chartB5 for courses, distances and WPs.

ST LUCIA TO MARTINIQUEPigeon Island to Fort de France is one of thefinest sails in the Caribbean. The first 5M aresheltered by Pigeon Island and the northeastcorner of St Lucia, creating smooth waterand plenty of wind. On leaving PigeonIsland, head direct for Rocher du Diamant(Diamond Rock). The course is 006º mag,usually a splendid close reach across 26M ofopen water. The wind swings farther aftunder the southeast corner of Martinique. Itis quite likely that you will become becalmedbriefly under Cap Salomon, but a goodbreeze resumes once you enter Baie de Fortde France.If heading for Le Marin, again check the

tide. Time your departure so that you pick upthe first of the weather going tide as youleave Pigeon island. This will mean a fair tidefor the whole crossing and a close reachinstead of the beat to windward if you leaveon a lee going tide. Once past Pigeon Island,come hard on the wind until the north endof St Lucia is abeam then head for Le Marin,course rhumb line 026º (allow for thecurrent), 19M to Pta des Salines, where youwill find calm water. Then use chart A301 fordetailed sailing instructions to this area.

*BARBADOS TO ST VINCENTCourse 285º mag. Distance 92M. WP13 to WP19.Plan daylight arrival as Baliceaux, Bequia andMustique are unlit. Battowia is lit Fl(2)20s8M.This may be dead downwind. Rigaccordingly.

BARBADOS TO ST LUCIACourse (Vieux Fort) 301º mag. Distance 77M.WP12 to WP10.Course (North Pt) 319º mag. Distance 90M.WP12 to WP7. You have two choices - either head for VieuxFort, enter then proceed up the south andwest coast of St Lucia, or bypass Vieux Fortand do preliminary entering at Soufrière and

final entering at Marigot or Rodney Bay. SeeChart B1 for piloting information.Alternatively, you can steer a course to the

northeast corner of St Lucia. Deaddownwind, jibe over, around the top end ofSt Lucia and head south to Pigeon Island,Rodney Bay. See Chart B1.This should be a glorious broad reach but

if the wind goes southeast it will be deaddownwind, rig accordingly. Plan daylightarrival as the northeast corner of St Lucia isnot well lit.

BARBADOS TO MARTINIQUECourse 328º mag. Distance 92M. WP12 to WP3.The southeast corner of Martinique is well litby the light of Ilet Cabrits (Fl(4)15s17M). Ifyou arrive at night, sail up in the lee ofMartinique to Sainte Anne. Anchor well offshore in a suitable depth as soon as you areout of the swell. Proceed to Le Marin in themorning once daylight has arrived. Do notattempt to enter Le Marin at night.

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