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