St. Lucia Yacht Charters

The Windward Islands promise lively sailing conditions, with a St Lucia yacht charter experiencing brilliant winds, sizzling sunshine and straightforward navigation.

Forming the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea, the Windward Islands’ north-south orientation means the winds will be on the beam more often than not when traveling south on your St Lucia boat charter. This is ideal for fast cruising on the longer passages between some of the islands and a great option for those considering where to sail in fall. 

Heading north, cruising close-hauled or on a close reach is typical while those that opt for a one-way charter can cover more ground and avoid moving windward. Wind velocities run the gamut from a gentle 10 knots to a more spirited 25 knots, often strengthening off the northern ends of the islands due to land effect. 

Navigation is straightforward, which makes a St Lucia yacht charter ideal for all sailors, whether you have been riding the waves for years or are planning to take the helm for the first time on a bareboat yacht charter. Of course,  plotting courses and keeping an eye on the GPS is still very important during your sailing vacation in St Lucia.
Learn more about the brilliant cruising conditions in St Lucia, from the average annual temperature to tidal range.

From the exceptional cruising conditions to the opportunity to uncover the wonders of islands only accessible by boat, there are countless reasons why you should charter a yacht in St Lucia. Whether you’re enjoying the sights of your St. Lucia yacht charter from the deck of your boat, in the water, or on land, there is no doubt you will be captivated by your surroundings. Historic sites and lush landscapes are the backdrops to beaches suited for swimming, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

If you’re wondering when to experience St Lucia at its finest, April offers ideal sailing conditions, pleasant temperatures, and vibrant island life. Learn more about the best places to sail in April.

Around the island, you will discover natural beauty in places such as Marigot Bay and the stunning Pitons to the south. When you’re not cutting through the surf on your yacht or relaxing on some of the best beaches in St Lucia, you may want to take advantage of the many sightseeing opportunities on land while hiking, shopping, or simply taking in the scene from a table at a quaint shorefront restaurant. St Lucia is abundant with flora, including wild orchids and giant ferns. Look for the tropical birds while hiking the island’s curving trails and pathways. A popular attraction that shouldn’t be missed is the nearby Soufriére volcano where you can hike to the crater and learn about the volcano’s impact on the island.

There are so many ways to explore St Lucia and the sensational surrounding islands that we have created multiple itineraries that you can choose from or take inspiration from when designing your own St Lucia sailing itinerary. 

If you do follow one of our carefully crafted routes, you can expect to sail to and around some of the following places:

• Marigot Bay
• Anse Cochon
• The Pitons
• Pigeon Island
• Bequia
• Tobago Cays (also featured in our Grenada sailing itinerary)
• Mustique
• St Vincent

These are only a few of the beautiful islands, cays and bays you can expect to visit on a St Lucia boat charter with The Moorings.

If this is your first time planning an exciting St Lucia yacht charter, you’ll likely be wondering about the best time to sail, as well as any times of the year to avoid.

In St Lucia, the dry season runs from February to May, while the wet season is classed as June to September. Hurricane season technically lasts from June to November, with the peak being around August and September. 

St. Lucia’s steady trade winds and tropical climate make it an ideal early winter sailing destination. That’s why it’s featured in our guide on best Caribbean sailing locations for November.

The peaking sailing season in St Lucia is between mid-December-mid-April. A prime time for a St. Lucia yacht charter is during the winter months when a cool northeast wind blows across the shores. Although, if you’re looking for a more secluded, quiet yacht charter in St Lucia, you may choose to go between May and June instead.

You can spend your St Lucia yacht charter doing whatever makes you happiest, even if that means spending the entire week in St. Lucia waters, using Rodney Bay as your base to enjoy leisurely sails and sojourns ashore to shop, sightsee, and sample gourmet fare in upscale restaurants. 

However, for most charterers, the attraction of the Eastern Caribbean is the chance to combine open-water, down-island trips in fair winds with pleasant days of short passages between islands to swim, snorkel, and experience the culture and ambience of the smaller isles in the magnificent Grenadines just south of St. Vincent. 

The islands, cays and bays featured on our St Lucia sailing itinerary are easy to sail between, and the wonders you’ll find when you reach each one is well worth it anyway. The longest passage you’ll encounter during your yacht charter in St Lucia is between St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and beyond are myriad islands in a tropical paradise.

From the Windwards to the Grenadines and beyond, a St Lucia yacht charter gives you the ideal opportunity to explore countless Eastern Caribbean destinations. With this in mind, the length of your St Lucia sailing vacation will depend on how many destinations you want to visit, how much downtime you want to have and how many excursions you have planned.

We have a mixture of 7-day, 10-day and 14-day sailing itineraries for St Lucia, each of which bring something unique and exciting. Take a look at our itineraries and decide which one works best for you. It is worth keeping in mind that our itineraries require you to clear customs. Further details will be provided to you during your chart briefing at the base.

• Martinique Rum Experience – This package add-on to your St. Lucia Crewed Yacht vacation includes land excursions, historic factory tours and more
• Soak up the sun, relax on the golden sands and sip cocktails at one of the many exquisite beaches in St Lucia, from Grand Anse Beach to Reduit beach
• Enjoy a day of snorkeling and swimming around the colorful reefs of Sainte-Anne
• A number of St Lucia boat charter operations on the island offer whole and half-day deep sea fishing excursions. Seasonal catches include mackerel, king mackerel, white marlin, barracuda, kingfish and sailfish. If you want to go fishing, no fishing license is required and equipment can be rented through The Moorings St Lucia base at $20 USD per day
• Visit The Pitons, the two twin peaks of Petit Piton and Gros Piton that have become a world renowned landmark

Spend your afternoon swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and splashing around in the crystal clear waters of St Lucia. Check out our water sports options to learn about what you can add to your charter.

St. Lucia has a stunning tropical climate that is influenced by sea winds and the prevailing NE trade winds. The winds are nearly always from northeast to southeast at 10 to 25 knots, and tend to strengthen around the northern ends of the islands. Sea state in the passages between the islands can be moderate, but rarely rough. 

St. Lucia’s temperature ranges from 65 to 85°F (18 to 29°C) from December to May and 75 to 95°F (23 to 35°C) from June to November. The Winter is relatively drier as well. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,500 mm to 1,750 mm (59 to 68 inches) on the north and south coasts to 4,000 mm (157 inches) in the interior rainforest. Water temperature is fairly constant at 83°F (28°C). 

Our St Lucia yacht charter base provides a weather forecast for the following 24 hours upon arrival. There are locations at Blue Lagoon St. Vincent, Tyrell Bay, Clifton Harbor and Bequia where forecasts are posted daily. Please note that radio reception can be very poor in the islands but you can obtain reports during your St Lucia sailing vacation by calling our Moorings base by cell phone.

In the Windward Islands the tide range is very small: 30 cm to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) including the variation of level due to atmospheric pressure and dominant winds. You will experience similar tidal ranges at some of our other incredible Caribbean destinations in the BVI and Grenada, as well as our Mediterranean charter bases in Greece and Italy.

If you’re wondering about the current during your St Lucia yacht charter, the current between the islands is generally setting towards the west at about 0.5 to 2 knots and the swell is mainly northeast to east, but can occasionally be north during the winter months.