Sail Grenada.

Grenada sits at the bottom of the Windward chain, around 12°N. That position does two things. It puts the island below the track most Atlantic storms take, which is why boats that leave the rest of the Caribbean in June often stay south and keep sailing. And it puts a string of small islands — Carriacou, Petite Martinique, the southern Grenadines — within a day's sail to the north, so you get real passages instead of short hops between crowded mooring fields.

The island is green and steep, nutmeg and cocoa country, with a working harbour rather than a resort strip. St George's is a horseshoe of red roofs around the Carenage, tankers and fishing boats included. The south coast is a run of deep, mangrove-lined bays with good holding. Very little here has been tidied up for visitors, which is most of the point.

Three areas, and a week can mix them.

The south coast: Prickly Bay, Mount Hartman, Clarkes Court, Woburn, Hog Island. Sheltered, 10 to 15 minutes apart, deep enough to anchor in 5-8m over sand and mud that holds. Good for shaking down a new boat or sitting out a squally afternoon.

The west coast, north from St George's: Dragon Bay, Flamingo Bay, Halifax Harbour, Gouyave. Flat water in the island's lee, light and fluky under the hills, then a hard acceleration off every headland.

North to Carriacou and the Grenadines: about 30 nm from St George's to Tyrrel Bay, open water for most of it, with the Kick 'em Jenny submarine volcano exclusion zone to leave well clear — check the current radius before you sail, it changes with the alert level. Beyond Carriacou lie Sandy Island, Petite Martinique, then Union Island, Mayreau and the Tobago Cays, which are St Vincent and the Grenadines: a different country and a separate clearance.

North-east trades, near enough all year. December to April is the dry season and the steady one: 15-20 knots most days, 25 in the reinforced spells, and swell on the beam once you clear the lee of the land. Strongest sailing, busiest anchorages, highest prices.

May and June soften to 10-15 knots, more east than north-east, warmer water, fewer boats. July to November is the wet season. Still sailable, often lighter, with squalls that arrive fast and clear in 20 minutes. Rain here is heavy and short, not grey.

On hurricanes, plainly: Grenada lies south of the usual track and most insurers treat it as a summer berth. It is not immune. Storms have crossed the mainland and flattened Carriacou within living memory. Charter between June and November and you should watch the forecast properly and accept that the base may move boats if something develops.

Bareboat, all year, monohull and catamaran, handed over at Port Louis Marina in the lagoon at St George's. Catamarans suit families and anyone who wants to lie in the Cays without rolling; monohulls make the beat north easier to sail and cost less to charter.

No crewed yachts on this base. If you want someone aboard, we put a local skipper on for the week or for the passage north only, and you feed him. Worth it on a first Caribbean trip or when the crew is short-handed. Day rate: price on request.

One-way charters north to St Vincent or Martinique can sometimes be arranged for a delivery fee. Ask early — it depends where the boat is needed next.

Ranges only, per boat per week, not per person.

A 40-45ft monohull is roughly EUR 2,800-4,500 in the quiet months and EUR 4,000-6,500 from December to April. A 42-46ft catamaran is the bigger step: roughly EUR 6,000-9,000 low season, EUR 9,000-15,000 over Christmas and the peak weeks. Skipper: price on request.

Then the things people forget. End cleaning EUR 250-400. A damage deposit of EUR 2,000-5,000, or a waiver around EUR 350-700 for the week. Dinghy and outboard are usually included — confirm it. Fuel and water on return. Grenada clearance and port fees are modest and paid locally in EC dollars; a St Vincent cruising permit and Tobago Cays Marine Park fees are extra and charged per person per night. Provisioning in Grand Anse for four: EUR 400-700, more if you drink well.

Day 1 — Board at Port Louis, provision in Grand Anse, eat on the Carenage, sleep in the marina. Do not try to leave the same evening.

Day 2 — North up the west coast. Snorkel the sculpture park at Molinere, anchor in Halifax Harbour, or carry on and shorten tomorrow.

Day 3 — The long leg to Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou, 25-30 nm and mostly close-hauled once you leave the lee. Clear out of Grenada at Tyrrel Bay. Afternoon at Sandy Island.

Day 4 — Short hop to Clifton, Union Island, and clear into St Vincent and the Grenadines. Chatham Bay on the west side if Clifton is full.

Day 5 — Tobago Cays. Anchor behind Horseshoe Reef, turtles off Baradal, lobster on the beach if the vendor boats are working.

Day 6 — Salt Whistle Bay or Saline Bay at Mayreau, then back south to Carriacou and clear out.

Day 7 — Run home to Grenada with the trades behind you. Usually the best sail of the week. Anchor in Prickly Bay or off Hog Island.

Day 8 — Short leg round to Port Louis and disembark.

Honest note: that is a full week with two international clearances in it. Ten days is the better length. With seven, stop at Carriacou and leave the Cays for next time.

Right for sailors with some sea time who want passages rather than a mooring crawl, for families happy to take a 3-hour beat to reach somewhere quiet, and for anyone sailing in summer when much of the Caribbean has shut. Less right for complete beginners on a bareboat, for crews who want a marina berth every night — there are few — and for a week with no slack in it. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we will tell you whether the plan fits.