WINTER 2012I sea&iI61aboardashoreGrand Cru (a wine bar and Mediterranean restaurant) and FatTurtle (a Caribbean roadhouse). With the BVIs and their stunning beaches next on theitinerary, you may wish to give St Thomas' beaches a miss butthose looking for some beach activity could try Magens BayBeach as it is said to be one of the best in the US Virgin Islands,with calm waters and white sand. Virgin Gorda, BVI Reclining to the east of the British Virgin Islands' chain, VirginGorda is the third largest in the group. The island is most widelyknown for The Baths on the southwest coast - a Stonehenge-esque collection of boulders amid pools of turquoise waters.With their colourful fish and coral, they are a delight to discoverby kayak or snorkelling. Close to The Baths is Spring Bay. The white sandy beach islapped by some of the clearest waters to be found in the BVIsand the beach merges into a vast lawn that is great for picnics.Also nearby is the quiet Devil's Bay Beach, which is only acces-sible by boat or by walking The Baths' trails. On the island's west coast, Little Dix Bay is another perfectspot for snorkelling and swimming; it is also where you will findthe Little Dix Bay Spa set on the hillside with panoramic viewsfrom the treatment rooms over the island. Savannah Bay, alsoon the island's west coast, is a beautiful stretch of secludedbeach, and north of this is Mahoe Bay Beach, with picturesquereefs and a tropical landscape. The interior of the island has lots to offer, including Spanishfortress ruins at Little Fort National Park, and National Parks atGorda Peak, Devil's Bay, Spring Bay and North Sound. There are also many first-class restaurants and resorts. Theaptly named Top of the Baths has an American-inspired menuand serves the island's famous Painkiller cocktails. Don't missthe weekly barbecue and live steel bands on Sundays. Further north, the Bitter End Yacht Club combines seafaringtradition with glamour, thanks to two restaurants and bars, anEnglish-style pub, boutiques and a spa. Alternatively, BirasCreek is known for international cuisine. The open-air restauranton the northern tip of Virgin Gorda overlooks the North Soundand your yacht anchored below. For a fine dining experience,book a table in the over-water lounge of Saba Rock. VIRGIN ISLANDS' ITINERARY When it comes to the Virgin Islands, you don't have to choosebetween the US and British groups - both can easily becombined in one charter.DAY1 St Thomas - Trunk Bay, St John (11nm)DAY2 St John - Soper's Hole, Tortola (5nm) DAY3 Tortola - Peter Island (9nm) DAY4 Peter Island - The Baths, Virgin Gorda (15nm) DAY5 The Baths - North Sound, Virgin Gorda (8nm) DAY6 Virgin Gorda - Anegada (15nm) DAY7 Anegada - Beef Island (20nm) DAY8 Beef Island - Norman Island (10nm) DAY9 Norman Island - Cane Garden Bay, Tortola (15nm)DAY10 Tortola - Jost Van Dyke (15nm) DAY11 Jost Van Dyke - St John (13nm) DAY12 St John - St Thomas (10nm) THE EXPERT'S ADVICE.Captain Emile Coetzee recommends the BVIs for family charters orfirst-time charterers as the distances between the islands are shortand the waters are calm. ?Opposite page:red-roofed houses and lush landscapestypify the Virgin IslandsAbove: The Baths atVirgin Gorda

62Isea&iIWINTER 2012St Lucia &Mustique Made up of rainforest landscapes and sheltered bays fringed with white-sand beaches,the Windward Islands are strewn down the eastern Caribbean. Within this island grouplie the larger islands of St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenada, all of which are volcanic, lush andmountainous, while the Grenadines, which lie in between, are small islands with melodiousnames the likes of Bequia, Mustique and Canouan. Best discovered by yacht, Canouan'speace and solitude is unsurpassed, while Bequia and Mustique, though laid back, offer aplethora of activities and high-end resorts. ST. VINCENTYOUNG ISLANDBEQUIAKingstownSt George'sCelesteMUSTIQUECANOUANMAYREAUUNION ISLANDCARRIACOUTOBAGO CAYSPALM ISLANDRHODE ISLANDGREEN ISLANDGRENADAPETIT ST. VINCENTPETIT MARTINIQUESt Lucia Fringed by volcanic and white-sand beaches and with an interiorthick with rainforests, the volcanic island of St Lucia is one of themost popular in the Caribbean. Over the years it has attractedsailors of all types, from pirates nestling in the safety of the