Day 1–3
Climb aboard in Anse Marcel, St. Martin. First tasks: provisioning,
settling into quarters and getting to know the yacht and
your shipmates. Phase One of our journey begins with intensive sail
training in the Renaissance Islands of St. Martin and St. Barts.
We start with the basics — jibing, tacking and the points of sail.
The distances to be covered and the nature of the sea demand perseverance,
respect and hard work. Discover that the sea is a whole new world
with its own language, traditions and rules.
Day 4–8
Already getting your sea legs, you discover your vessel’s
personality...how her sails handle the wind, how her hull slices
through the waves, the music of her rigging and her moods.
Training drills intensify as the crew practices man-overboard drills
and learns to safely navigate from island to island. Sailing Lasers
helps us perfect our small boat handling and understanding of wind shifts,
and a regatta with the other Arc boats provides a little friendly competition.
Take a well deserved break to hike the Quill in Statia, up and over
its volcanic crater and down into the lush rainforest below. Back on
the water, it’s time to finally put your knowledge to the test.
Day 9–12
Congratulations! You've earned the first of your IYT sailing
certifications, one of our key goals. Celebrate your accomplishments
with a traditionally cooked island meal on the beautiful shores
of Nevis. You’re ready to begin Phase Two of the voyage when we shift
our focus from rigorous sail training to island adventure,
cultural immersion and community service. First mission: the Montserrat
service project, a unique opportunity to truly experience Caribbean
culture by helping its people. The recent volcanic eruptions here created
great hardships and the locals truly appreciate our help.
Day 13–22
Continue bearing south, exploring the Archipelago of the
Lesser Antilles. Marie Galante and Iles des Saintes exemplify
tropical beauty. Dominica is a spectacular land of towering mountains,
huge waterfalls and dense rainforests. Paddle up the Indian River and
hike to the “boiling lakes” through bountiful ecosystems. You won’t
find much tourism here... The country is poor, but the culture is rich.
Night sail to St. Lucia and hike up the dramatic jungle covered
peaks of the Pitons. Volunteer at the Oldhegg Turtle Sanctuary in Bequia
and help “Brother King” in his quest to save endangered sea
turtles.
Day 23–27
Sailing is second nature and the crew is ready to start Phase
Three of the trip. The program leaders step back now to become silent
observers. It’s up to you and your shipmates to chart and plan the
remainder of the voyage. Sweep south through the Windwards. As you
hop to and from the tiny unspoiled islands of the Grenadine Passage,
you find the most beautiful anchorages of the journey. Take in the
festive sights and sounds of Carnival in St. Vincent. Snorkel or scuba
dive on the shallow reefs of Tobago Cays, have a scavenger hunt on
Mustique and learn how local fishermen craft their boats on the beaches
of Carriacou.
Day 28–32
Our picturesque anchorage in Grenada is surrounded by a pastel
rainbow of dockside houses and shops. Head ashore to relax
on the fine white sand of Grand Anse Beach, where local ladies
sell fresh fruit and share stories of the revolution. Overnight sail
to Trinidad, an island unlike any other we have visited. South America
looms on the horizon as we navigate through “The Dragon’s
Mouth” between Venezuela and Trinidad. Sailing into our final port
is a joyous arrival but sentimental departure from the yacht we’ve
grown to love and respect.
*A yacht delivery extension is available for participants who are interested in extending their sail training experience for four to five days after the end of the program. Extension participants make the return sail back to St. Martin along with staff and other interested Broadreachers. The extension offers participants yacht delivery experience and the opportunity to hone their sailing skills with longer sails and a smaller crew. If you are interested in the yacht delivery extension, please contact our office at 888-833-1907 to discuss the details.