A Week Sailing in Tobago

Just 11 degrees North of the Equator, Trinidad and Tobago (pronounced tree-nee-dad and to-ba-go) are the two most southern Caribbean islands, lying just off the coast of Venezuela, South America. The distance between Trinidad and Tobago is only about 21 miles. Directly South East of Grenada and South of Barbados, Tobago is about 100 miles from these.

Trinidad and Tobago are completely different islands. Trinidad is large, industrial and sweaty and Tobago is tiny, postcard pretty, quiet, warm and breezy. To put it in perspective, Trinidadians holiday in Tobago.

The capital is Scarborough, with a population of about 17,000. While Trinidad is multiethnic, the population of Tobago is primarily of African descent, although with a growing proportion of Trinidadians of East Indian descent and Europeans (predominantly Germans and Scandinavians).

Tobago is primarily hilly and of volcanic origin. The southwest of the island is flat and consists largely of coralline limestone. The hilly spine of the island, the Main Ridge. The highest point in Tobago is the 550 metre (1804 ft) Pigeon Peak near Speyside.

Trinidad and Tobago used to be part of South America and is home to wildlife usually only found on the geographical mainland. The central part of the island is covered with the oldest rain forest in the western hemisphere.

The wildlife in Tobago won't kill you. There are no poisonous snakes, no man eating sharks, box jelly fish or pole jumping, bird eating spiders.

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Itinerary / Highlights

This is a sample itinerary (and also an introduction to the Trinbagonian dialect!). Weather or other outside factors may mean that your skipper sets an alternative course.

Arrival Day
Embarkation is possible from 5PM. You can check in and drop off your luggage at our office in Pigeon Point when you arrive though. Your catamaran will be moored at the jetty in the magnificent setting of the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. Upon arrival at our office in the Pigeon Point Heritage Park, you will be greeted by our Operations Manager who will go through the check-in procedure with you. Then you'll be introduced to your crew, your fellow sailors and your TradeWinds yacht whilst you enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail. After being shown to your cabin and your new home for the week, take a little time to settle in. Enjoy a delicious dinner aboard, your yacht remains in the harbor for the evening to allow you to acclimatize.

Cruising Day One
Breakfast is served followed by a first look at the proposed itinerary for the week. To put you in the mood “one time”, get your snorkeling gear and the captain will take you with the dinghy to the “Coral garden”, a beautiful reef inside the Bon Accord Lagoon. Back on the boat to set sail on a short journey to Mount Irvine, the surfer's bay. If you like to participate in the handling of the yacht and sails, you can do so but, if you prefer, just lie back and relax. It is all up to you. Once in Mount Irvine, if the swell is up, you can try yourself on one of the cleanest “right” waves in the Caribbean. Otherwise, it is possible to dive the “Wreck” or snorkeling is also available just off the boat... Before dinner, enjoy the sunset onshore sipping a rum & coke while “liming” with the locals.

Cruising Day Two
Following a scrumptious breakfast, we will sail to “Cotton bay”. Only accessible by boat, this bay offers one of the nicest snorkeling on the Island. After lunch, you'll be sailing in Paradise on your way to Heaven: arriving in Englishman's Bay should make you feel that way! There is of course the possibility of snorkeling there but you can also start to explore the rain forest that fringes the beach... The day will end with another wonderful sunset followed by a dinner onboard inclusive sometimes of fresh fish that we may have caught earlier in the day. In this location there is virtually no light pollution whatsoever and your captain may invite all guests up on deck for a night cap and an evening of the most amazing stargazing.

Cruising Day Three
The best time in the Caribbean is early in the morning:
Today, you should be up at dawn, enjoy your breakfast and get ready for a little hike through the rain forest. This tour is an absolute must when visiting Tobago. At your request (price not included), 4X4 vehicles can take you to the best track of the Rain Forest which is the oldest reserve in the Caribbean and hosts an incredible amount of bird species. After the “sweat”, the vehicles will take you back to the bay of Castara, where the captain would meet you with your yacht. Castara is a quaint little village on the leeward coast of Tobago.
When you arrive in Castara Bay, jump in to the crystal clear waters for some reef exploration before lunch is served: We often see turtles, sting rays and the harmless nurse sharks. A digestive walk through the village is highly recommended but you should be ware when having a drink at the tree house as the rum punches are lethal... It's now time to set sails towards Man of War Bay where you arrive before sunset to find the picturesque Charlottesville's village. Sunset drinks are being prepared onboard while you get ready for an evening ashore at one of the nearby restaurants. In Tobago, we actually offer the choice of having dinner ashore on the Tuesday or the Wednesday night. The crew will explain the different possibilities.

Cruising Day Four
While you are still asleep in your cabin, we may move off across the bay to Anse Hermitage, a small cove on the other side of the bay. For the novice, SCUBA trial dives can be arranged here through the local dive operator. For the others divers, it's time to gear up and make some bubbles! After an early lunch onboard, it's time to get ready for the what's supposed to be a little rough sail around the North of the island, passing Saint Giles Rock on your way to Anse Bateau, located near the village of Speyside. There is a small resort in this bay which offers lovely food so, if you haven't had dinner onshore the night before in Charlottesville, you can do so at the Blue Waters Inn in Anse Bateau.

Cruising Day Five
Motoring 10 minutes across the the Bay will take you to Little Tobago: Welcome to divers paradise! This area is reputed for it's largest brain coral in the World, its shoals of Manta Rays but also, be aware, strong currents... While the divers enjoy themselves, the snorkelers also have a unforgettable time as the reef around Little Tobago is fantastic perhaps you might just want to hike around this tiny island. Lunch is served onboard, followed by the digestive siesta before sailing around to nearby King's Bay. A sheltered horseshoe bay with excellent ½-mile (800m) dark-sand beach, shaded by coconut trees and calm, warm water. The site was once a large Carib settlement. Kings Bay Waterfall can be reached by a trail on the opposite side of the Windward Road, but be warned that the falls are often dry when there hasn't been much rain. Once again, the captain will mix one of his secret & delicious cocktail while the first mate prepares a sumptuous dinner.

Cruising Day Six
After breakfast and and a swim into the ocean (or vice-versa!), it's unfortunately time to sail back to the point of departure but, your holidays are not over yet. As you reach Store Bay, lunch will be served onboard and then you will have time to do some shopping onshore. Maybe walk along the seaside to meet with the boat at Pigeon Point where the cocktails will await onboard. It's time to exchange addresses, fill-in the guest book before having dinner ashore followed by the sometimes too famous last night party!

Departure Day
After breakfast onboard, it is time to gather your belongings and memories. Your crew will arrange transport back to the airport before exchanging fond farewells. You will already be planning your next cruise.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Yachts:-

Privilege 51:
The Privilege 51 Catamarans are designed by the French, a nation of mariners and master boat-builders. They sleep only 10 people including the crew so you feel you have plenty of room aboard.

Marquise 56:
Expansive, wide and ultimately comfortable,the Marquise 56´s are, apart from Explorer, our biggest and most luxurious catamarans. Over 4 years of design and building experience have gone into the Marquise line and it shows in every detail.

Royal Cape 45:
The Royal Cape 45 Catamarans are built in South Africa. They are 14 meters long and 8.30 meters wide and displacing 18 tons.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

* Winter cabins (November-June): US$4,950.
* Summer cabins (July-October): US$3,750.
* Winter whole boat (4 cabins): US$17,820.
* Summer whole boat (4 cabins): US$13,500

(Prices are subject to change)

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