Tall Ship Voyages from Guadeloupe, French Caribbean

Tall Ship Voyages in the French Caribbean 

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New Sailing Base in Guadeloupe

British barque Tenacious has sailed across the Atlantic several times to spend the winter based in the Caribbean, usually based in Antigua. Last year she was invited to a new base in Guadelope, which opened up a whole new area to explore. 

Guadeloupe, the centre of the Caribbean's Creole culture, boasts a spirited blend of French and African Influences.  The island archipelago consists of Grand Terre and the 1467m steaming volcanic peak (La Soufriere) on Basse Terre, and offshore islands of Les Saintes, Marie Galante and La Desirade.

The average daily high temperature in January is 28 degrees Centigrade (83 F) with lows of 19 degrees centigrade. The 3 voyages in January and February are well outside the wettest months (July-Nov) with the driest period being Feb- April. 

Route de Rhum

Guadeloupe is actually an overseas department of France.  Bananas, sugar and rum are her main exports, and tourism is relatively stylish. Pointe De Pitre is the race finish for the famous singlehanded French yacht race 'Route de Ruhm' from St Malo in France to Guadeloupe.

Humming birds, mangroves & rainforest waterfalls

There is an extensive national park on the rugged slopes of La Soufriere with verdant rainforest and magnificent waterfalls, with mangroves and fine beaches. There are humming birds on Guadeloupe, as well as mongooses, racoons and on La Desirade and Les Saintes you may even see an iguana.  The ships crew are well used to planning shore excursions and hiring minibuses so you can enjoy a mix of tall ship sailing and the occasional 'day safari' ashore.

Dominica - for Marine Nature Reserves

Some of the best dive sites in the Caribbean are on Dominica, only 60 miles sailing South from Guadeloupe to the capital Roseau. The coast of this lush, green island has many Marine Nature Reserves that attract divers from all over the world but you don't have to be a diver to enjoy them. In Scott's Bay, Dominica you can swim off the beach with a snorkel and face mask and swim from shallow coral and 12ft of water to a sheer underwater wall of coral and cliff - descending 1000ft. Alive with fish and coral and up-welling plankton, this sunken volcanic crater is also deep enough for Sperm Whales to swim close inshore.  Whilst Tenacious cannot anchor in the marine reserves, she does have large ships boats to go where the mother ship cannot.  Frigate birds with their huge wingspan often swoop the beaches, and the local fishermen still use canoes dug out from a single tree.

Martinique - Volcanoes, flowers & Josephine Bonaparte

Martinique's most famous colonial daughter married Napoleon Bonaparte and became Empress Josephine. The island towns have shops full of Parisian high fashion, every village sells bagettes but nearly a third of Martinique is forested and other parts are given over to pineapples and sugar cane.  The coastline is cut by deep bays and coves and the steep volcanic interior feeds many rivers. You can still anchor off sleepy fishing villages and remote beaches untouched by development. When Columbus sighted Martinque, the local carib indians called the island Madinina or 'island of flowers'

St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines

In 10 days you may reach as far South as the Grenadines in your tropical island hopping by tall ship, passing St Lucia or St Vincent on the way down or back. With North East trades sailing back to Guadeloupe on a square rigger would definately be the harder direction, but the downwind blast may be worth the struggle back. Bequia has a rich seafaring tradition of boat building, whaling and sailing and Mustique is a get away haven for the rich and famous. The attraction of the Grenadines for sailors are the stunning white sand beaches,  crystal clear seas and extensive coral reefs. 

Caribbean style Itinerary

As with all our sailing holidays the Captain has many considerations to plan for when chosing the weeks itinerary so these islands are only an informed guess at where you might sail.  Weather, swell from unusual directions, customs clearance regulations and new marine wildlife reserve anchoring restrictions or even booking an alongside berth to change crews, fuel or water the ship can all affect the plans for the 10-15 days. Even the time of day and whether the sun it ahead or behind you can influence pilotage in these coral reef strewn coastlines - but it is all fascinating stuff the Captain or mate will brief you each day to explain the latest plan !

>>Read more about  Antigua based voyages

>>Read more about Turks & Caicos & North to Bahamas

>>Ocean Passage Bahamas to Bermuda

PDF Download or print our 10 page Caribbean mini brochure

Photo by Debbie: Fishermen in Dominica