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Caribbean
– Get away from it all… meet paradise!
- Caribbean
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/ MY=Motoryachts / Cat=Catamarans |
We are looking at the Caribbean as a huge bow, from
Florida to the Bahamas to the Greater and Lesser Antilles down to Venezuela. The
Caribbean – the paradise. There is no other sailing area in the world where
beauty, the variety in colours as well as perfect weather conditions are better
combined than on the Antilles. Particularly around the Grenadines, Lesser Antilles,
the ocean is especially idyllic and will give you an excellent cruise. You should
take your time in order to enjoy the unhurried and relaxed way of life on these
islands. All of them have their own history, their individual and cultural identity
and the form of sovereignity that corresponds with each single of them –
ranking from what is perhaps the last real socialistic refuge of Cuba to the island
states, which have simply slept away the decline of the British colonial power
in the shade of palm trees. You might be welcomed to this paradise in best Queen´s
English or Pidgin English with a hint of Calypso and Reaggae, in old French`s
Patois with many words of what had been the language of the slaves, in Dutch and,
of course, in Spanish and be invited to the most beautiful beaches, the best sailing
areas and the most fantastic natural settings – always on new, different
islands in the Caribbean | The
Greater Antilles,
consist
of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Aside a number of smaller islets (“Lesser Antilles”), it had particularly been
the principal islands, the Greater Antilles that Columbus headed on. Owing to
Columbus`s mistake, the entire area was called “West India”. Together with the
land bridge in the west, West India forms the subcontinent of Central America.
There are almost no natives (Caribes, Aruac people) living on the Greater Antilles
anymore. Originally, Hispanola had had a native population of about 1 million
when Columbus arrived. Spanish conquerors reduced the population within 50 years
by 50 percent through slavery, forced labour and by introducing illnesses. |
| back | | SY=Sailingyachts
/ MY=Motoryachts / Cat=Catamarans |
 CUBA,
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean
but differs in many aspects from other charter areas in the Caribbean. Cuba still
has its original state and has little been affected by tourism so far. Here, you
still can anchor on deserted bays without restaurants, beach bars and much of
a hype. The vegetation is lush with quite a diversity of species. You will experience
the atmosphere of colonial times and the pulsating life in the “Plazas” and the
tangle of narrow, winding streets in the metropolis of Cuba. The people are endearing,
open minded and helpful. Cuba surpasses all desires you could have for sailing
– favourable, warm weather throughout the year, consistant winds, magnificent
natural setting. To the yachtsman, almost the entire stretch of coast and islands
are accessible, there is only one single restricted area off the infamous Bay
of Pigs you should be careful in. The navigation in the offshore reef belt is
involved and tricky and demands elevated concentration of every single crew member | |
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WIND
AND WEATHER | |
Throughout the year the trade winds are blowing consistently with 3 Bft to 6 Bft
and, therefore, make the Caribbean an ideal sailing area. In winter, north-eastern
wind directions are predominant, whereas from July to October, short changes between
the north-east and the south-east are likely to occur. During this time, there
are more tropical rain showers which ensure pleasant cooling down and which never
last long | | |  |
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The
Virgin Islands | | SY=Sailingyachts
/ MY=Motoryachts / Cat=Catamarans |
|  The very first visitors on the Virgin Islands
were Arawac and Carib Indians succeeded by English adventurers, Dutch, French
and Spanish discoverers, marauding pirates, owners of plantations, Quaker and
other settlers. Nowadays, visitors prefer coming by plane or ship and primarily
want to relax. But for every visitor, these islands have always held a timeless
fascination particularly because of its magnificent natural setting. On his voyage
of conquest in 1585 to Hispanola, Sir Francis Drake and his fleet crossed the
Atlantic-Caribbean waterway now bearing his name. According to historians, this
had been both a personal act of caprice and a strategical plan. At the beginning
of the 16th century, pirates made Tortola their main hideout of the whole Caribbean.
The Virgin Islands are spread over just 30 sm in an east-west direction and 15
sm in a north-southern direction. They are the perfect setting for beginners and
family cruises. As short as the distances as short are the beats. Almost every
hour you can find new grounds again and again in the turquoise water. Now you
should no longer have to think about if you will take your children on the cruise
– just do it! Pleasant climate throughout the year, consistant wind that is not
too strong nor too weak, about 4 Bft – You will find an open anchorage and a new
beach behind every cape.
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WIND
AND WEATHER | | The
Greater Antilles have perfect winds nearly throughout the year and are, therefore,
an ideal area for sailing. It has a pleasant, subtropical climate with temperatures
of 25°C up to 30°C in winter and 27°C to 30°C in summer. The water temperature
are never under 24°C. The Greater Antilles are an area you can sail in the whole
year and have high season from December to April. | |
Licences:
In
the Caribbean the following are accepted: official motor boat licence, DSV – BR-BK-C
– licences.
References:
Only topical references
are of value for you. If you wish to we are pleased to let you have references
from clients who have already chartered with us this year | |
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The
lesser Antilles,
including
Leeward Islands and Windward Islands The island world of the Lesser Antilles had
once been the habitat of the Carib Indians who are thought to have come from the
South-American mainland in the 13th century to these islands. They had had far
more knowledge about soldiering than all of the other Indian tribes. Hence, they
were the ones who withstood the longest the European conquerors who had come to
the New World after Christopher Columbus`s discovery in search of gold and spices.
It was, however, a collision of different people, vigors and notions – on the
one hand naked kids with tattoos growing corn, manioc, peppers and tobacco, living
in palm-thatched huts and embracing animism and cannibalism. On the other hand
white soldiers and priests, adventurers and missionaries only having visions of
wealth and Christianization. As soon as the islands turned out not to hide the
expected treasures, the Europeans started settling and clearing the rain forest,
began to build houses and to cultivate the land. The role of the natives merely
was that on farm workers. But most of them were not prepared to serve the white
as slaves. If they did not die of the introduced illnesses, they fled into the
mountains, starved or committed suicide. This resulted in a lack of labourers
with the European settlers beginning to bring black slaves from Africa. After
the ban on slavery at the beginning of the 19th century, Asian contract workers
had been recruited for the plantations | SY=Sailingyachts
/ MY=Motoryachts / Cat=Catamarans | |
Entry Regulations:
Cuba:
Tourists have to have
a passport valid at least further 6 months and a white tourist card from their
travel agency
Guadeloupe and Martinique:
For
German citizens a valid passport or children`s ID is sufficient in which there
has to be a photo and the nationality “German” recorded.
St.
Lucia:
For German citizens a valid passport or children`s ID is sufficient,
but has to have a photo even of children under 10 years. You also have to have
the return flight ticket. You get visa if you stay longer than 28 days.
Tortola:
Passport and visa are compulsory for visitors not from the United States
St. Martin Valid passport or children`s ID |
| Wind
and Weather | | The
north-eastern trade wind is blowing consistently with 15-20 knots from December
to April. It can significantly increase in December and January and weather is
likely to deteriorate. From June to the end of October it is hurricanes season |
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© KlaRo-Charter, Dipl.-Ing. Peter Bahn
Albert-Schweitzer Str. 16, D-93073 Neutraubling, Tel.: +49 9401 9380783
Fax: +49 9401 9380784, Email: klaro-charter@klaro.com
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