BootsnAll Travel Community

i was looking at google earth and saw that the islands of the caribbean really aren't that far apart. you could sail along the chain stopping at each one along the way until you get down to venezuela ("hola chavez!"). does anyone know of a budget (backpackers) sailing company in the caribbean that might do something like this? i found various places that rent boats with or w/o crew, but those are quite expensive. i'm thinking more of a budget tour or even hop on/off cruise.

Wow, if you find such an outfit, we'd be interested. I do know that you can take the St.Vincent to Union mail boat. It is very cheap and stops at some hard to get to places. It makes it's round trip in 2 days.

The only other way I know of, is to hang around some marinas and try to hitch a ride from island to island. We actually did this for someone when we bareboated the southern Caribbean a few years back. Our "passenger" was delightful and greatful. Good LucK

I think cruising the Caribbean and "budget" are diametrically opposed.

However, as a sailor I can agree with Jane about hitching rides with sailors. Often they're looking for someone to help get their boat to their next stop where friends are joining them. Be prepared to stand watch. And sometimes they're looking for help with cooking. Certainly if you are not a sailor you'd need to offer some other skill. If you're a good hand on deck, and can convince the skipper of it, you'll have more luck.

You're less likely to get rides with bareboat charterers because, as you said, chartering is expensive. I've never done a charter where I haven't sold all the slots on the boat to cover the cost. So free berths on that type of trip would be very unusual. Riding along for a day from one island to the next is possible, but generally charter crews won't be looking for more company (unless they're all fighting with one another and want someone to dilute the tension!).

Finally, "de mail boat, mon!" I simultaneously smile and cringe at any mention of that particular vessel. Arriving on a bareboat charter at Union Island I did not understand the local's comments to me about "de mail boat." Then I came out of the customs office and saw it's dirty blue hull bearing down on my rented sloop. I and my sailing companions had anchored our three boats off the end of the mail boat wharf, right where it needed room to turn around.

Fortunately de mail boat did not make plastic kindling of our expensive rentals, but slowed down while we scrambled back into our dinghys and out to the boats, raised anchors, and got out of the way.

My moments of terror aside, I believe there are other interisland boats like de mail boat that you can catch rides on. I suspect there is some fee, but it and the attendant accommodations are probably backpacker level. And short of those, there are many, many ferry services.

Finding them, however, will be a research task. I'm not aware of any centralized resource. I'd love to know if anyone is.