Two friends sailing among Caribbean islands
Susanne and Catharina met on a ski slope in the Alps seven years ago. Since then, they’ve managed to sail together in both Greece and Croatia, and last winter they crossed the Atlantic and joined us in the Caribbean. We sat down with them to talk about trade winds, flying fish landing on deck, islands untouched by cruise ships, and not really wanting to return home.
It started with a last-minute trip
Susanne and Catharina got to know each other in Champoluc in the Italian Alps, through their respective partners. It soon became clear that they shared more interests than just skiing, not least sailing. Catharina has the sea in her blood: in a previous life she worked aboard charter boats in the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean has long been on her bucket list. Susanne had been on a sailing course and sailed in the Swedish archipelago, and after trips to the USA and Cuba she was curious to see more of the Caribbean, but from the sea.
The trip happened almost by accident. Susanne saw that there were spaces on one of the winter Caribbean trips and asked her partner first, who wasn’t so keen. But there was another candidate.
“I thought it was a great idea straight away. If you have both the time and the means, you just have to seize the moment,”says Catharina.
Places untouched by cruise ships
Many associate the Caribbean with large cruise ships and packed beaches. What Susanne and Catharina encountered was something entirely different: small natural harbours, bays to anchor in, and villages that are only accessible by smaller boats.
“It’s the small scale that appeals to me. You can fit into bays and harbours that cruise ships never could. Sometimes you anchor almost on the beach, and when you stop for lunch you can just jump in for a swim,” says Susanne.
The contrasts made an impression. Here you’ll find islands like Mustique, where the villas are spectacular and there are ‘private property’ signs everywhere, as well as small islands where life is significantly simpler. On one of them the group hiked up from the bay where they’d anchored, across the island and down to the village on the other side.
“There were lots of children playing and dancing, fishermen cleaning their catch on the jetty, and colourful houses. And then we arrived at an incredible beach. It was truly a photographer’s dream,” recounts Susanne. They hitched a ride on a flatbed truck to get back to the boat, which was an adventure in itself.
Catharina, who stayed on the boat that day, had a long, pleasant conversation with one of the women selling clothes on the beach instead.
Proper sailing – and flying fish on deck
Those who have sailed in Greece or Croatia soon realise that the Caribbean is something different. The distance between the islands is greater, the trade winds are brisker, and the sailing adapts to these conditions. “It was windier than I had expected; it was proper sailing. At the same time, the catamaran was incredibly comfortable, with plenty of space and fantastic areas for socialising,”says Susanne.
And then there was the wildlife. Flying fish landing on deck when we sailed at night. Rays swimming in the evening light. And a leatherback turtle off the coast of Grenada, easily a metre and a half long.
Before travelling home they managed to fit in a guided tour of Grenada: rainforest, monkeys, waterfalls and a guide who knew the entire history of the island, from spice exports to mango cultivation.
Life on board
On board were Ville the skipper and hostess Victoria, who according to both Susanne and Catharina were a big part of the experience.
“Absolutely fantastic in every way. Attentive to our every need. Ville got up at dawn some mornings, just so we could have more time in a beautiful bay,” says Catharina.
The food on board also got top marks: breakfast, lunch and snacks were prepared by the host, and dinners were usually eaten in local restaurants on shore.
“The food on board was quite often even better than at the restaurants on shore. Our hosts were just amazing cooks,” says Susanne. And then there’s the group dynamic. Unlike other trips where groups split into pairs, the group stayed together the whole time.
“We were one big gang, from the time we woke up until we went to bed. It would have been just as good if you were travelling alone,” says Catharina.
The best things about the Caribbean
“The water, the fantastic beaches with coconut palms, and the weather,” says Susanne without thinking twice. Catharina adds the people: happy, warm and welcoming, from the fishermen on the jetty to the woman in the supermarket, who danced with the customers between her work tasks.
Several weeks after returning home, the trip is still very much present.
“I haven’t really returned to normal life yet. I’m still on Caribbean time,” laughs Catharina.
Will there be more sailing trips with More Sailing? The answer comes quickly:“Yes, there will be.” Croatia and Italy are already on the list.
Do you also want to experience the Caribbean?
Here’s how our sailing trips in the Caribbean work:
We sail in the southern Caribbean, around Grenada and the Grenadines, with islands such as Mustique along the route. The season is October to March, when Europe is at its most grey.
You’ll stay on board a spacious catamaran, with a skipper and host. Sailing experience is not required: if you’d like to help with the sailing you’re very welcome to, but if you prefer to simply relax that’s perfectly fine too.
Flights and transfers are included, as well as breakfast, snacks, lunch and all drinks on board. Dinners are usually eaten in local restaurants on shore and are paid for individually.
You’ll travel in a small group, where everyone quickly becomes a friendly gang, perfect for people travelling with a companion or those travelling alone.
Winter departures to the Caribbean are open for booking, and we’re pleased to announce that our Caribbean programme is growing for the 2027 season, with even more boats and trips.
