Yacht charter | Caribbean Sailing conditions

The Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are great yacht charter destinations for beginner to experienced level sailors. The best time to charter a yacht and sail is during the winter months December to May, to avoid the hottest time of year and hurricane season. Hurricane season is typically August to November. A sailing license or certificate is not required for bareboat and flotilla yacht charters but you will be asked to provide a sailing resume. If you are on a skippered bareboat or cabin charter, you do not require any experience or certification to sail with a skipper.

Wind and sea

The Caribbean offers consistent easterly winds from December through June, known as the Christmas trade winds. You can expect 10-15mph winds that build in the afternoon and subside at sunset. The seas in smaller protected island chains such as the British Virgin Islands tend to have a wave height of less than one-meter. However, passages between major island groups have the full affect of open Atlantic swell and waves can range from one-five meters. Tides are minimal in the Caribbean ranging between 10-50cm.

Mooring

Along the Bahamas and Caribbean archipelagoes there are many well-organized marinas offering berths and services ashore for yachtsman. There are also thousands of anchorages. In order to protect the marine environment from anchors, some areas provide mooring balls designed for different sized yachts. Sailors can tie off to these mooring balls and make payment to a local representative. Lines ashore are also used sometimes so boats do not swing overnight. In other cases private charter companies have installed mooring balls for their charter guests. The Caribbean operates under region B of the international navigational system - red right return.

For details of weather at this location read more about Caribbean destinations.