Grenada or BVI for powercat charter?

[Harleyboy]

Evening, some mates and I are planning a bareboat powercat this winter and could use some advice on which location.

The trip is a pre-cursor to a wives trip in a year or two. Suitable boats are available in Grenada or BVI. Grenada is easier to get to with direct flights but BVI looks more varied.

Anyone been there and care to offer some advice? We're 40's and early 50's

Cheers

[dmitsi]

We had a powercat with moorings in Grenada last year. Lots of great islands to visit. The boats are very comfy, ours had four double berths, bbq etc, trips up to St Vincent and all islands in between. Can't compare to bvi as never been but Grenada and all the islands around there are beautiful. Try to get as far up as bequia if you can.

[Harleyboy]

Thanks for the feedback. We're looking at using Moorings too so good to know the boat was decent.

I like the idea of less time travelling just to get there so will run it past the group.

Cheers

[Stephanie Plum]

Haven't done power boating around the BVIs but did a fortnights sailing there a few years ago. There was a stiff breeze all day every day which was great for us in sail boats, but not sure whether that impacts powerboats at all? Lots of lovely bays to visit, people very friendly, food universally ste everywhere we went. Loved it and would go again, but the food was bad. Not just disappointing, actually bad. And expensive.

Did I mention the food?

[Harleyboy]

So, not keen on the food then?

Thanks for the info. Interesting regarding the breeze. The boat we're thinking of is a really wide catamaran so I'm hoping it will be relatively stable. Was the food in BVI worse than elsewhere in the Caribbean?

[Stephanie Plum]

I've never been to anywhere else in the Caribbean tbh. But when I discussed it with friends who have they expressed some surprise. Most food is imported apparently, so comes in frozen. They grow very little locally. Don't let it stop you, just be aware.

[RumRunner]

Hello as X cat carib charter skipper (even for moorings for 2 years) , simple BVI if the girls are not big yachties its the way forward. Yes the flights are more painful, but its worth it. I have done 100's of laps of the BVI and it caters for all.
However I run a certain boat sales company on St.Lucia and have a house there and prefer it to all to live ( land based ) on and off. St.Lucia also is Moorings Sunsail base. Lene is great who runs it. Different to Grenada in the sense that it is further away from Grenadines with bigger passages 29miles max, however the Island offers plenty of anchorages and lots to do. It is also only 20mile to Martinique and all the French Carib culture. Given St.Lucia and Martinique are big island long ways north south they offer calm and settled waters along there vast leeward west sides so again good for the none seasoned sailor, however the passage can be lumpy at times.
Thomson have just started a new flight only service on the dreamliner, and Thomas Cook also fly Nov - March
I you are thinking of a stay and sail contact me direct or any other questions..Anyway all good..much better than med..ha

Edited by RumRunner on Tuesday 6th June 22:24

[RumRunner]

Sorry forgot to say, most Islands import a lot of food. But don't worry BVI has some great suppliers, they have to cater for the hotels and busy crewed yacht / superyacht fleets. Place your order online and its delivered to your boat...easy
Superb U.S spec meats.
Its all quite expensive given the exchange rate however.
If go to BVI provision all in Road Town and then small stock up in Leverick bay Virgin Gorda and agian in Sopers hole. Mooring used to run a pre provision service from memory as well....not sure if that still happens.