Sailing Martinique and the Windward Islands

Martinique is the beating heart of French-Caribbean sailing. Its huge charter base at Le Marin is one of the largest in the world, which means a vast fleet, competitive prices and a superb springboard for the Windward Islands — the southern arc of the Lesser Antilles where the trade winds blow hardest and the islands are tall, green and volcanic. This guide covers the base, the classic route south to St Lucia, and what makes the Windwards a step up from the sheltered grounds further north.

The short answer

Charter from Le Marin on Martinique's south coast, and you have Europe's favourite Caribbean base at your feet: a colossal fleet, easy provisioning and a natural route south to St Lucia or a looser wander around Martinique's own coast. Expect steady 15–20 knot trade winds, longer open-water hops than the compact Virgins or Grenadines, and a strong French flavour — baguettes, rhum agricole and euros. As everywhere in the Caribbean, catamarans dominate.

Le Marin: the base

Le Marin sits in a large, protected bay on Martinique's south coast and is one of the biggest yacht-charter hubs on the planet. That scale works in your favour: a huge choice of boats, keen pricing, chandlers, and a big well-stocked supermarket for provisioning. Nearby Sainte-Anne offers a lovely first-night anchorage just around the corner, with a white-sand beach and turquoise water to ease you into the trip.

Browse the Martinique fleet or compare Caribbean catamarans.

Cruising Martinique

You could spend a whole week on Martinique alone:

• Sainte-Anne & Grande Anse des Salines — the classic south-coast beaches.
• Grand Anse d'Arlet & Anse Noire — reef snorkelling and sea turtles on the leeward west coast.
• Saint-Pierre — the "Pompeii of the Caribbean", destroyed by Mont Pelée in 1902, now a fascinating historic anchorage.
• Rum distilleries — Martinique's rhum agricole is world-class; distilleries like Clément and Depaz welcome visitors, and many anchorages put one within reach.

The leeward (western) coast is sheltered and calm; the windward east coast is wild, reef-strewn and for experienced crews only.

The classic hop to St Lucia

The signature Windwards passage runs south from Martinique to St Lucia — a crossing of roughly 20–25 nautical miles of open water, often a brisk trade-wind reach across the St Lucia Channel. It's a proper passage with real swell, which is exactly why the Windwards suit confident sailors. St Lucia rewards the effort:

• Rodney Bay & Marigot Bay — sheltered, picturesque anchorages in the north.
• The Pitons — the twin volcanic peaks near Soufrière, with dramatic moorings beneath them and world-class diving on the drop-off.

You can also range further — St Lucia to St Vincent and the Grenadines — but that's a longer, multi-week ambition.

The trade winds and the sailing

The Windwards earn their name. The easterly trade winds blow 15–20 knots through the season, gusting harder in the December–January Christmas Winds and accelerating between the islands where the channels funnel the breeze. Hops are longer than the short skips of the BVI or Grenadines — inter-island passages of 15–25 nautical miles are typical — with open Atlantic swell on the exposed sides. Great sailing, but plan your channel crossings for the morning and reef early.

When to go

The Windwards sail best in the Caribbean dry season, December to April, when the trades are steadiest and the skies driest. Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking in September; most days are fine but treat the forecast seriously. See our best time to sail the Caribbean guide for the month-by-month detail.

Frequently asked questions

Is Martinique good for beginners? Cruising Martinique's sheltered leeward coast is manageable for confident intermediates. The open channel crossing to St Lucia is a step up and better suited to experienced crews or a skippered charter.

Why is Le Marin so popular? It's one of the world's largest charter bases, which means a huge fleet, competitive prices, excellent provisioning and an ideal launch point for the Windwards.

Do I need euros? Yes — Martinique and Guadeloupe are French territory and use the euro. St Lucia uses the East Caribbean dollar.

---

Ready to explore? Browse Martinique charters, compare catamarans, or open the full fleet map.