Harbourfront Centre Caribbean Sailing Vacations

Caribbean Sailing Vacations St. Vincent, Bequia & The Grenadines January 27 - February 17, 2019

Private Charters With Captain ⚫ Beginner & Advanced Caribbean Courses ⚫

⚫ Luxury

Mileage Builder & Celestial Navigation Courses

⚫ Coastal

Sailing the Caribbean "Whatever your experience, whatever your chosen pace, we can provide the sailing experience for you."

The Success of Our Caribbean Program Grows Stronger Every Year The key to our success is our ability to provide customized sailing for various levels of experience. Every year we sail a different part of the Caribbean and develop stronger sailing resumes with each trip. Our best references are sailors who return year after year. At the outset, we recommend that you take a course. You will learn from our professional instructors who will take you step by step into the world of big boat sailing. With this knowledge, you will open up a world of new sailing opportunities and friendships, as we sail from one amazing port to another.

The Boats Luxury Monohull Sailing The Sun Odyssey’s are popular boats in the Caribbean. These boats were designed for chartering. The boats sleep 10 people, have 4 cabins, each sleeping 2 people comfortably, 2 heads (washrooms), 2 showers plus a deck shower, hot water tank, fridge, stove, BBQ, mast head rig, wheel steering, spacious cockpit, running rigging run aft to the cockpit, 75hp Yamaha diesel engine, swim platform, and have a beam of 14ft and draw 6ft. These boats also perform very well in big swells and wind.

Jeanneau 49i ⚫ 49ft ⚫ 4 Cabins ⚫ 2 Heads (Washrooms)

Key Dates Sail Canada Intro/Intermediate Course January 27 – February 3, 2019 (Week 1)

Sail Canada Intermediate Course February 3-10, 2019 (Week 2)

Sail Canada Advanced Course February 10-17, 2019 (Week 3)

All are Welcome to Paradise

Our Caribbean trips are open to members and non-members alike!

Our Program Caribbean Intro/Intermediate Intro/Intermediate Boat: Jeanneau 49i (Monohull)

Sunday January 27 – Sunday February 3, 2019 This program provides a great opportunity to gain hours on a larger vessel either as the helm or as crew.

You get to improve your skills, and advance your boating knowledge and boat handling proficiency. You also benefit from the skilled guidance of our certified SAIL CANADA instructors.

You’ll have an enjoyable and productive vacation, and gain valuable experience on bigger boats increasing on-water hours in a bid to gain ‘I-Skipper’ and ‘A-Skipper’ member status. If you prefer not to partake in the course, you can still enjoy this fabulous vacation, and sit back and relax as a passenger!

SAIL CANADA Advanced Cruising Courses Advanced Boat: Jeanneau 49i Monohull Sunday February 10-17, 2019

Are you ready to put all your sailing skills to the test?

Then what better classroom than the Caribbean. Meet the challenge of an overnight sail from Bequia, then after a day on the island, enjoy a great evening dining ashore. Improve upon your current sailing competencies and develop passage making skills, including round the clock sailing in a broad range of weather conditions.

This course is designed to develop your technical and practical knowledge so that you can plan an extended passage, including navigation, standing watches, cooking a meal underway.

SAIL CANADA Intermediate Cruising Courses

By the end of the course, you will feel confident to take on the dream of sailing in whatever paradise you have envisioned.

Intermediate Boats: Jeanneau 49i (Monohulls)

⚫ It is a great opportunity to gain internationally recognized certification on a larger charter vessel.

Sunday January 27 – Sunday February 3, 2019 Sunday February 3 – Sunday February 10, 2019 Go ahead and dream of sailing in any exotic playground. This is the certification you need to charter a boat anywhere in the world. The SAIL CANADA Intermediate Cruising course is the next logical step for sailors with their Basic Cruising Standard or prior sailing experience. A 7-day live-aboard course, it takes you step by step into the world of big boat sailing, including performing controlled sailing maneuvers, preparing meals aboard, and piloting the vessel into unfamiliar harbours and anchorages for an overnight stay.

⚫ Advance your proficiency and gain the ability to bareboat charter by yourself with friends and family. ⚫ You benefit from the skilled guidance of our SAIL CANADA instructors. ⚫ You get to experience a unique, enjoyable and productive vacation! ⚫ You gain experience on bigger boats assisting towards gaining ‘I-Skipper’ and ‘A-Skipper’ member status. ⚫ And you get to do all of this in paradise!

Intermediate & Intro Caribbean Cruising Itinerary Intermediate Boats: 1 x Jeanneau 49i (Monohulls) Sunday 27 January – Sunday 3 February 2019 Sunday 3 February – Sunday 10 February 2019

Sunday Fly out of the snow and into the sun, as we excitedly make our way non-stop from Toronto to St Vincent. A short 30 minute taxi ride from the new airport gets us to the our base at one of the most prestigious marinas in the Caribbean, Blue Lagoon, St. Vincent, where your yacht awaits you. Upon arriving you will have an opportunity to check out your boat before all the luggage and provisioning are brought aboard. TAKE OFF your watch, kick off your shoes, sit back and relax, you are now on island time, leaving the cold and the snow far behind. Tonight, we dine out at a luxurious restaurant!

in their protected refuge. Scuba gear is available at the dive shop on Palm Island. Meanwhile local fishermen maintain a steady supply of lobster and fresh fish.

Thursday We either stay here in the beautiful Tobago Cays for another night and get a 20 minute water taxi to take us to Union Island or we can up-anchor and sail for Union Island and pick up a mooring ball in Clifton Harbour bay. Clifton is a bustling small port with a very active market place in the centre of town where we replenish our provisions. Clifton also boasts having a number of great places to eat and fresh fish daily.

Monday

Friday

We sail for Admiralty Bay, Bequia, a charming and photogenic anchorage, not yet overrun with visitors.

This beautiful area is a secure, quiet and scenic place to drop the anchor or pick up a mooring ball. Dinghy ashore to a rustic waterfront walkway, entering the old picture postcard town of Port Elizabeth, filled with local art, a wonderful local market, exceptional restaurants offering both inventive and delicious cuisines, and some great locations for a drink. Or, dance up a storm at the Whaleboner Bar.

On Thursday after breakfast on board we sail north for Britannia Bay on Mustique, the island hideaway of the rich and famous who can be spotted having coffee at the Sweetie Pie Bakery and is truly a Caribbean and sailor’s paradise. Basil’s Bar is perched on stilts over the water with waves lapping underneath to set the ambiance for watching another beautiful sunset and the “Green Flash”. The water here is crystal clear and perfect for taking an afternoon dip or snorkeling towards shore.

Tuesday

Saturday

We sail for Charleston Bay in Canouan, this picturesque island offers both small & stunning villages with white sandy beaches and a touch of the Riveria. Snorkeling is interesting all along the southern shore between Dove Cay and Friendship Point, with a good anchorage in the north eastern corner of Charleston Bay. At the Pirate Cove Bar & Restaurant they specialize in fresh fish and local cuisine with a beach front view offering a great location to watch the glorious sunset and maybe catch the “Green Flash”.

We head back to base at the Blue Lagoon. By this point you will find yourself wholly content at your achievements in progressing your big boat sailing experience and skills, with warm memories of the friends and great times you have encountered throughout your adventure. We will go ashore for an evening meal to reminisce about our adventures and highlights. You will no doubt be unwilling to leave this paradise, but don’t worry there is always next February and another new sailing escapade to look forward to.

Wednesday We sail for the little group of islands called Mayreau and the Tobago Cays. We anchor between Petit Rameau and Baradel Island (Turtle Island). This location offers a sheltered anchorage within its mile long shores. A short dinghy ride takes you to Turtle Island where you can swim and snorkel with the turtles

We head back to Toronto from the following locations during these course weeks: Week 1 - St Vincent Week 2 - St Vincent Week 3 - St Vincent

Worldwide Boat Charters Bareboat Chartering and Joining our Flotilla Need people to go sailing with? Join in on a fun boat and sail in a flotilla. You will not only get your winter sailing vacation in, you’ll meet sailors from all around the world. The days are well planned out. Sail your heart out during the day and then meet up with the rest of the group in an anchorage for an evening of festivities. Are you ready to charter a boat on your own? Then you are welcome to sail with our fleet, and also welcome to join any of the social gatherings we arrange. Being brokers for all major yacht charter companies, we can arrange your sailing adventure anywhere in the world.

Whatever paradise you dream of, whatever anchorage you’re bound for, our professional staff are waiting to assist you. We can help choose a location, boat, provisions and much more. We have access to the worldwide fleets of all major charter companies. Let us put our knowledge to work for you so that your vacation is everything you dreamed of and much more As a local agent for many of the major worldwide yacht charter companies, we can get you the best price on the market for bareboat charters, whatever your chosen destination.

Please feel free to email csmith@harbourfrontcentre.com or call 416 203 5966 for quotes and further information.

Advanced Caribbean Cruising Itinerary Advanced Boat: Jeanneau 49i (Monohull) Sunday, February 10-17, 2019

Sunday

Thursday

Fly out of the snow and into the sun, as we excitedly make our way non-stop from Toronto to St. Vincent for week 3 and return the boat to Blue Lagoon. A short 30 minute taxi ride from the new airport in St Vincent gets us to the our base at one of the most prestigious marinas in the Caribbean, Blue Lagoon, St. Vincent, where your yacht awaits you. Upon arriving you will have an opportunity to check out your boat before all the luggage and provisioning are brought aboard.

TAKE OFF your watch, kick off your shoes, sit back and relax, you are now on island time, leaving the cold and the snow far behind. Tonight, we dine out at a luxurious restaurant!

From the Tobago Cays, we sail south overnight to Port Louis Marina, Grenada the new yachting centre after clearing Custom’s and Immigration. Along the way we keep a constant vigilance for whales and porpoise which frequent the area at this time of year. We dine ashore at one of the restaurants in the Marina. If we need supplies there is a large supermarket with a dingy dock which makes shopping easy.

Monday We sail for Admiralty Bay, Bequia, a charming and photogenic anchorage. This beautiful area is a secure, quiet and scenic place to drop the anchor or pick up a mooring ball. Dinghy ashore to a rustic waterfront walkway, entering the old picture postcard town of Port Elizabeth, filled with local art, a wonderful local market, exceptional restaurants offering both inventive and delicious cuisines, and some great locations for a drink.

Or, dance up a storm at the Whaleboner Bar.

Tuesday After breakfast on board we sail east for Britannia Bay on Mustique, the island hideaway of the rich and famous who can be spotted having coffee at the Sweetie Pie Bakery and is truly a Caribbean and sailor’s paradise. Basil’s Bar is perched on stilts over the water with waves lapping underneath to set the ambiance for watching another beautiful sunset and the “Green Flash”. The water here is crystal clear and perfect for taking an afternoon dip or snorkeling towards shore.

Wednesday We sail south for the Tobago Cays, we make arrangements for lobster dinner on the beach on the island of Petit Bateau. This location offers a sheltered anchorage within its mile long shores. A short dinghy ride takes you to Turtle Island where you can swim and snorkel with the turtles in their protected refuge.

Scuba gear is available at the dive shop on Palm Island.

Meanwhile local fishermen maintain a steady supply of lobster and fresh fish.

Friday Day of rest in Port Louis Marina to recover from our overnight adventure. This gives us time to catch up on our sleep and to explore St Georges, the capital of Grenada.

Saturday Friday we take the boat back to the yacht base at Prickly Bay Marina which is a short hop around the end of Grenada and sail east to the base. By this point you will find yourself wholly content at your achievements in progressing your big boat sailing experience and skills, with warm memories of the friends and great times you have encountered throughout your adventure.

We will go ashore for an evening meal to reminisce about our adventures and highlights. You will no doubt be unwilling to leave this paradise, but don’t worry there is always next February and another new sailing escapade to look forward to…..

We fly out of St Vincent Argyle Airport – (SVD) back to Toronto.

Base Facilities

Managing Expectations

The base at the Blue Lagoon in St. Vincent is just a short ride from the new airport, called Argyle International Airport (SVD). From here there are a range of bareboats between 35ft and 51ft. The marina is the heart of St. Vincent’s yachting community, set on a beautiful lagoon.

Weather: As we are sailing, weather can be a factor over which we have no control. Although we will always do our very best to ensure sunshine and a good time!

Local Interest You will find superb snorkelling and diving throughout the Grenadines, and especially in the world-renowned Tobago Cays national park. Wherever you go there’s an abundance of colourful coral, fish, squid, eels and lobster. You will often see turtles and at certain times of the year, you may be accompanied by dolphins and even whales while you on the water. Third Party Scuba diving is as popular here as it is throughout the Caribbean and is easy to arrange locally.

PLEASE NOTE: If heavy weather is experienced this can sometimes effect the itinerary.

Socializing: As we are on a boat and often in close quarters, therefore please be mindful of your fellow crew members.

Provisioning There is a small grocery shop offering dry provisioning at the Marina. More extensive provisioning is available in the village, a 10 minute walk away. In addition, there is a large Supermarket close to the base, which offers free transfers to and from the marina for clients wanting to buy more exotic food and drink.

Extending your Time

Restaurants

People often like to extend their Caribbean experience with some on land vacation time, either arriving days earlier or leaving days later. We recommend you do this as, once you get down there, you always wish you had more time!

You will find excellent French Creole cuisines throughout The Grenadines. Seafood includes fresh local crab, lobster and lambi, a large shellfish served from a barbecue or cooked in a delicious spicy sauce. St. Vincent rum is well known in the Caribbean and strongly recommended as the sun goes down - though beware it is much more potent than its flavour suggests!

Flights to St. Vincent (SVD)

What to Bring

Flights are not included, and you are responsible for booking your own flight. Although, Clive will be on hand to assist with flight information. There are various carriers that fly into Argyle International Airport (SVD) with good rates around the $500-600 range.

Email Clive at csmith@harbourfrontcentre.com.

Try and pack light, as there is not much room for luggage on-board.

Currency & Language Both US Dollar and EC (Eastern Caribbean Dollar) are accepted currencies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and major credit cards are accepted in most, but not all establishments. There are also a number of banks/ ATM's on-shore.

English remains the predominant language throughout these Islands also.

Essential items include: ⚫ Passport

⚫ Insect repellent

⚫ Ticket

⚫ Sunglasses

⚫ SPF 45

⚫ Swimming attire

⚫ Casual day and evening wear

⚫ Gravol (just in-case)

As you will all be aware, any liquid items must be max.

100ml, and if you are taking a carry-on they must be placed in a clear plastic bag. We will be on island time, so casual dress is the norm. If we go on shore for dinner, casual dress is acceptable.

Sail Canada Navigation Courses Members can apply their member course credit to Navigation classes (up to $300).

Coastal Navigation

Celestial Navigation

This course is a must for anyone who wants to be able to explore their sailing surroundings with confidence and there are two parts to it. Basic Coastal Navigation is now a prerequisite for Intermediate Cruising.

Moreover, it is challenging and fun. You will learn how to use charts to plan your adventure, plot your way to your next destination with purpose, and maybe even stray off to a little hideaway!! The Intermediate Coastal Navigation course is a prerequisite for the Advanced Cruising course. Learn your basic navigational skills here at HCSP and put them to the test in Bequia and the Grenadines.

In the Caribbean you are guaranteed beautiful sunrises, sunsets and of course a spectacular display of breathtaking night skies. You might even see the “Green Flash”, if you are lucky. This amazing course enables you to step back into a time when mariners used the sun, moon and stars to navigate their passages from one port to another. Celestial Navigation is the Art of Navigation, utilizing ancient navigational techniques that are not solely reliant upon batteries!

The complete course standard has two modules: Basic (19 hours) and Intermediate (19 hours). Based on the start dates below, the first weekend is the Basic module, and the second weekend in the Intermediate module.

Start Dates: Friday 21 September, 2018 (25C) Friday 12 October, 2018 (25D) Friday 4 January, 2019 (25E) Friday 15 March, 2019 (25F)

Start Dates: Friday, November 9, 2018 (26A)

VHF – DSC Radio Licence (highly recommended) Monday & Wednesday 6–9pm (6 hours) Start Dates: Monday 28 May, 2018 (22D) Monday 17 September, 2018 (22E) Monday 12 November, 2018 (22F) Monday 3 December, 2018 (22G)

We are able to accommodate further course dates if there is demand, please contact hcsp@harbourfrontcentre.com

2019 Caribbean Program Pricing Dates

Caribbean Program

Type of Boat

January 27 – February 3, 2019

Intro/Intermediate (SO)

Jeanneau 49i

$3,890

Intro/Intermediate (DO)

Monohull

$2,690

February 3-10, 2019

Intermediate (SO)

Jeanneau 49i

$3,890

Intermediate (DO)

Monohull

$2,690

February 10-17, 2019

Advanced (SO)

Jeanneau 49i

$3,990

Advanced (DO)

Monohull

$2,790

(SO) Single Occupancy; One person in a cabin

Per Person Pricing

(DO) Double Occupancy; Two persons sharing a cabin

Tax is INCLUDED in the price shown. Pricing shown is per person. If you sign-up before August 31, 2018 you will be entitled to a $200 discount. A 25% deposit is required to book your spot. Space is limited.

Please call 416 203 3000 or email cwilliams@harbourfrontcentre.com to make your booking.

Free Caribbean Info Nights If you are interested in these great opportunities and would like further information, please join us at one of our Caribbean Info Nights. This night of valuable insight commences at 6:30pm on the following evenings.

Thursday June 21, 2018 - 6.30pm

Friday September 14, 2018 - 6.30pm

Thursday July 26, 2018 - 6.30pm

Tuesday October 9, 2018 - 6.30pm

Friday August 10, 2018 - 6.30pm

Terms & Conditions Upon registering for your course, a minimum of 25% is required. The balance of your course is due by December 1st.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations made 91 days or more of your course commencement date will be subject to the retention of your course deposit of 25%. For cancellations made within 90 days of your course date, we retain the full 100% of your course fee, and all outstanding fees will be due. No refunds will be issued for early departures from the course.

Factors to consider before booking: ⚫ Your booking includes the cost of your course, your stay on the boat and mooring fees. ⚫ Please pack lightly. ⚫ Please be mindful of your other crew members. ⚫ Weather can be a factor and may affect the itinerary. ⚫ Provisioning is extra at approximately $200 per person. ⚫ Please ensure you bring the proper currency. ⚫ Flights are not included in the price. You are responsible for booking your own flight. ⚫ You are responsible for transfers to and from the airport. ⚫ Any excursions outside of your Caribbean course are at your discretion. You are responsible for any excursions or meals at each port. ⚫ Please purchase the necessary travel and health insurance needed from your provider. ⚫ There are some recommended courses to take prior for some of the Caribbean courses.

These include VHF-DSC Radio Licensing and Coastal Navigation. Please check with your instructor.

275 Queens Quay West Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1A2 T 416 203 3000 F 416 203 8000 hcsp@harbourfrontcentre.com harbourfrontcentre.com/boating