| Grenada offers an extensive choice of yacht | | | | vital part of life on Grenada. Its centuries |
| charter including both sail and motor yacht | | | | old spice plantations and rum distilleries |
| charter, bareboat yacht charter, skippered | | | | still use time-honoured methods, emphasizing |
| yacht charter, luxury crewed yacht charter | | | | quality rather than quantity. Although the |
| and both monohull and catamaran charter. | | | | tourist industry has become more significant |
| | | | in recent years, the island's easy way of |
| Average temperatures range from 25°C | | | | life and the friendly people recall an |
| to°30 C, accompanied by the steady and | | | | atmosphere that has long since vanished |
| cooling trade winds make for a perfect yacht | | | | elsewhere. |
| charter. The lowest temperatures occur | | | | |
| between November and February. Because of | | | | English is spoken widely. But Grenadian |
| Grenada's remarkable topography, the island | | | | Creole is considered the lingua franca of the |
| also experiences climate changes according to | | | | island. French Patois or Antillean Creole is |
| altitude. The driest season is between | | | | still spoken by about 10%-20% the population. |
| January and May. Even during the rainy | | | | Although French influence on Grenadian |
| season, from June to December, it rarely | | | | culture is much less visible than in some |
| rains for more than an hour at a time and | | | | other Caribbean islands, surnames and place |
| generally not every day. | | | | names in French remain as well as the every |
| | | | day language is laced with French words and |
| Christopher Columbus first sighted Grenada | | | | the local dialect or Patois. Stronger French |
| in1498 and named it firstly Conception Island | | | | influence is found in the well seasoned spicy |
| and later called it Granada. At the time the | | | | food and styles of cooking similar to those |
| Island Caribs lived there and called it | | | | found in New Orleans and some French |
| Camerhogue. The Spaniards did not permanently | | | | architecture has survived from the 1700s. The |
| settle in Camerhogue and the English failed | | | | African roots of most of the population of |
| their first settlement attempts. The French | | | | Grenada heavily influence island culture but |
| fought and conquered Grenada from the Caribs | | | | Indian influence is also seen with dhal |
| around 1650 and named the new French colony | | | | puree, goat and chicken curry in the cuisine. |
| Grenade. The Treaty of Paris ceded the colony | | | | |
| to the United Kingdom in 1763. Grenada was | | | | Grenada is developing rapidly with new |
| made a Crown Colony in 1877. | | | | haul-out facilities in St. Davidxs and |
| | | | Prickly Bay. Marinas can be found in St. |
| In 1967, Grenada attained the position of | | | | Georgexs, Clarkexs, Court Bay, Prickly Bay, |
| "Associated State of the United Kingdom", | | | | and Mt. Hartman Bay. |
| which meant that Grenada was now responsible | | | | |
| for her own internal affairs, and the UK was | | | | Carriacou is known as the x Land of Reefsx. |
| responsible for her defence and foreign | | | | Carriacou will give visitors a glimpse of a |
| affairs. Full independence was granted in | | | | more leisurely way of life. Coral reefs |
| 1974 under the leadership of the then Premier | | | | surround the island providing a base for |
| Sir Eric Matthew Gairy, who became the first | | | | beautiful sandy beaches. The main town and |
| Prime Minister of Grenada. Gairy's government | | | | port of entry is Hillsborough and there are |
| became increasingly authoritarian, prompting | | | | several smaller villages dotting the island. |
| a coup in March 1979 by Maurice Bishop. | | | | With a mix of Scottish and African ancestry, |
| Bishop's failure to allow elections, coupled | | | | the island boasts a wealth of cultural |
| with his Marxist-Leninist socialism and | | | | traditions. Carriacouans are renown for their |
| cooperation with communist Cuba did not sit | | | | sea faring skills and many locally made |
| well with the country's neighbours, including | | | | vessels are still in use today from small |
| Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Dominica, as | | | | fishing sloops to large trading schooners. |
| well as the United States. 1983 saw a further | | | | Hillsborough is the largest town on Carriacou |
| coup by the PRA that brought a new pro-Soviet | | | | was established at the end of the 18th |
| Cuban government under General Hudson Austin | | | | century. It is a developing port and landing |
| to power. At the time of the coup there were | | | | point for inter island ferries. It is a hub |
| about 50 Cuban military advisors and 700 | | | | for shopping and socializing and home to the |
| armed construction workers on the island. Six | | | | annual Regatta festival and Carnival |
| days later, the island was invaded by forces | | | | celebrations. Hillsborough Bay features a |
| from the United States purportedly at the | | | | beautiful sandy beach that stretches the |
| behest of Dame Eugenia Charles, of Dominica. | | | | entire length of town and is just steps from |
| Five other Caribbean nations participated | | | | the lively scenes of Main Street. |
| with Dominica and the USA in the campaign, | | | | |
| called Operation Urgent Fury. | | | | Anse La Roche Beach is one of the most scenic |
| | | | beaches in the Windward Islands. A striking |
| Grenada's premier airport is Port Salines | | | | rock formation protrudes just a hundred feet |
| International Airport and there are flights | | | | or so off shore and exhibits the interesting |
| from the USA. English is spoken throughout | | | | marine life below. The sandy beach is superb |
| Grenada. US Dollars and the Euro are used. | | | | and with a little luck you may have it all to |
| Major credit cards may be accepted in hotels, | | | | yourself. Snorkelling is very good off the |
| restaurants and some shops. | | | | point. |
| | | | |
| Grenada is the largest in an archipelago of | | | | Petite Martinique, a dependency of Grenada, |
| the same name. Smaller islands are Carriacou, | | | | has a very strong culture and one of the |
| Petit Martinique, Rhonde Island, Caille | | | | highest per capita incomes in the Eastern |
| Island, Diamond Island, Large Island, Saline | | | | Caribbean. Petite Martinique is volcanic in |
| Island and Frigate Island. Most of the | | | | origin, having a cone shape, with the highest |
| population lives on Grenada itself, and major | | | | hill the 'Piton', rising to756 feet above sea |
| towns there include the capital St. George's, | | | | level. The Caribbean Sea laps the shores on |
| Grenville and Gouyave. The largest settlement | | | | the western side of the island and the |
| on the other islands is Hillsborough on | | | | dramatic Atlantic swells break on the eastern |
| Carriacou. The islands are well known for | | | | coast. Petite Martinique is small and |
| their spectacular clear waters. Grenada is | | | | intriguingly authentic. The main beach is |
| technically located outside of the hurricane | | | | located on the western side of the island and |
| belt the islands provide smooth sailing and | | | | includes two docks. One is privately owned |
| safe anchorage year round. However, in recent | | | | and the other belongs to the Government of |
| years the hurricanes have become more | | | | Grenada. An anchor the yacht overnight here |
| frequent and are sometimes experienced | | | | or a real treat. There are several small |
| outside of the previously designated | | | | quaint restaurants that are within walking |
| hurricane area. In 2004 Hurricane Ivan did | | | | distance. It is also a great place to take on |
| hit the island followed by Hurricane Emily in | | | | water and fuel and look for bargains on |
| 2005. | | | | alcohol. The residents live by boatbuilding, |
| | | | seafaring, and fishing and in the old days, |
| The landscape of Grenada is one of the most | | | | smuggling. There are usually several cargo |
| beautiful and diverse environments in the | | | | vessels at anchor. The many fancy new homes |
| Caribbean, including crater lakes as well as | | | | are recent, but some of the older wooden, |
| an amazing variety of plant and animal life. | | | | pitched-roof houses are photogenic, |
| The forests change to mangroves at the coast, | | | | especially at the eastern end of the island. |
| giving way to dramatic white sand beaches, | | | | |
| brilliant blue water, and exquisite coral | | | | One way yacht charters are available to Union |
| reefs. Grenada's beauty is complemented by | | | | in the Grenadines islands, Saint Lucia and |
| its rich history and energetic, living | | | | Martinique. Ask the yacht charter company for |
| cultural heritage. There are many local | | | | more details. |
| festivals, fairs, and markets that remain a | | | | |