Grenada – a sailor’s paradise!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2010. (Grenada, W.I.) – Imagine the warm Caribbean sun on your skin, water droplets splashing your face and the sound of waves crashing…this is Grenada, the perfect holiday destination for sailing enthusiasts, boat lovers and anyone looking to get away to a warm, friendly destination with plenty to offer.
Whether you are an amateur or experienced sailor, or simply looking to spend some relaxing time out on the water during your holiday, Grenada is a yachtsman’s paradise. With some of the best sailing in the Eastern Caribbean – Grenada, Carriacou and its smaller island Petite Martinique, are now considered a top yachting destination.
“Our country is home to some of the Caribbean’s best sailing and we are proud that it has become such a popular yachting destination,” said William Joseph, director of tourism for the Grenada Board of Tourism. “We are continually working to provide high-end facilities and services and strive to maintain the highest level of safety for yachtsmen visiting our country,” said Joseph. “With an exciting line-up of regattas and sailing events taking place throughout the year and new marinas, we attract visitors from around the world!”
Grenada presents a variety of options for sailing vacations and it is a destination not to be missed if you are on a yachting trip within the Caribbean. Visitors can hire a crewed yacht while visiting the island, rent a bare boat, or take courses leading up to the American sailing certification. For those looking to relax, while spending time out on the water, dolphin and whale watching cruises, as well as sailing trips to the outer islands, are a perfect option.
Grenada is home to numerous marinas that vary in size and provide a variety of shore-side amenities, where you can stop and put down your anchor. Restaurants, bars, high-end overnight accommodation, shower facilities, laundry, swimming pools, etc., can be found at Grenada’s different marinas. If problems arise, or a boat is in need of maintenance, Grenada Marine and Spice Island Marine Services both provide a variety of yard, mechanical, electrical and storage services.
For those arriving to the island by boat, customs can be cleared at the following marinas: Grenada Yacht Services (GYS), St. George’s; The Moorings, L’Anse aux Epines; Spice Island Marina, Prickly Bay; Grenada Marine, St. David’s Bay; Le Phare Bleu Marina, Port Louis Marina and Grenville. Once boats have arrived at an official port of entry they must display the Q flag, until all clearance procedures are complete. A recently combined Immigration/Customs/Port Authority form is available online. Five copies of this form must be presented to Customs and Immigration; the captain is usually responsible for completing such procedures.
The recently expanded Port Louis Marina provides visitors and locals alike with top-of-the-line facilities. Renovations completed in 2009, increased capacity to 220 berths. Each January, the famous Grenada Sailing Festival is held at the Port Louis Marina, attracting participants from around the globe. For more information, visit www.cnportlouismarina.com
Located on Grenada’s south coast, at Petite Calivigny Bay, Le Phare Bleu Marina & Boutique Hotel is another high-end facility for both locals and visitors. Le Phare Bleu is a full service Marina offering 60 slips, fuel sales and many other services. On site, the marina also has a car rental office, Immigration & Customs Office, Canvass Shop, Yacht Services, Diesel Engineers, serviced laundry and mini market offering freshly baked bread.
This year, Le Phare Bleu will host the 2nd South Grenada Regatta from February 26 – 28, 2010. With 20 boats already registered, the challenge is set for the three races. A few of the yachts look for crew to race during the Regatta and this enables keen sailors visiting the island the opportunity to participate. For more information, visit www.lepharebleu.com or www.southgrenadaregatta.com
Other sailing events taking place this winter include:
Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta (March 4 – 7, 2010): This exciting regatta will take place in the waters between St. David’s Harbour and Petite Calivigny. Food, fun, and great music can all be found at the after racing parties, where visitors can experience the famous Grenadian hospitality.
The 8th Annual Grenada Round-the-Island-Race (March 12 – 14, 2010): Hosted by the Grenada South Coast Yacht Club, this event will take place on Grand Anse Beach. There are many fun activities on the go throughout this event, including a youth sailing exhibition, bathtub derby, beach games and Taste-of-Grenada. For more information, visit www.aroundgrenada.com
About Grenada Board of Tourism – The Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT) objective is to market and promote Grenada as a preferred year round Caribbean tourist destination, while also providing technical and managerial support to the travel trade, industry partners and airlines. For more information on Grenada contact the Grenada Board of Tourism office in Toronto at 416-595-1339 416-595-1339 , email at tourism@grenadaconsulate.com or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com
How to Get to Grenada from Canada – Grenada can be reached via Air Canada Vacations that operates a seasonal direct flight from Toronto to Grenada (11 resorts, Sunday departure with easy connections from major Canadian gateways, and bookings for the 2010 season available at www.aircanadavacations.com ) until April 2010. AC operates daily flights from Toronto to Barbados (Saturday & Sunday departure from Montreal) with connections on LIAT to Grenada. Caribbean Airlines operate regularly scheduled flights from Toronto to Barbados and Trinidad with connections on LIAT to Grenada. GG Tours and Titan Tours operate seasonal charter services (www.ggtours.ca and www.titantours.com ). West Jet operates a flight from Toronto to Barbados with connections on LIAT to Grenada year round. American Airlines operates a non-stop flight three times per week from Miami to Grenada from November onwards.
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