Coastline and anchorages
The beauty of the coast and sailing from island to island in armchair comfort (the biggest distance is no more than some 7 miles) can make you lazy and even make you forget your navigational skills. However, you should always be alert because there are many coral reefs, the passes are tricky and the currents are often strong. The regular current runs from W to WNW. However, the tidal current runs E. It isn’t a fast set, but it can raise a lively sea in the channels. Don’t sail at night because the lights are unreliable. Given how crowded some of the anchorages are, including the prettiest ones, you have to hunt a bit for a quiet spot. Such places are usually surrounded by reefs and therefore require a careful approach in good visibility, avoiding having the sun ahead. Before leaving for the Grenadines you need to know the following:

• fishing and spear fishing are regulated and mostly forbidden to non-residents. There are protected underwater zones
•watering ship is not possible in all the islands and water is always expensive
• fuel docks are equally sparse and you must plan ahead thoroughly
• apart from Bequia, and to a lesser extent Union and Carriacou, repair and maintenance services are not to be relied on
•provisioning at many of the islands depends on the shops there and the reliability (or lack of) of their supplies
• any boat that is wrecked swiftly becomes public property to the benefit of certain local ‘specialists’
•petty theft from onboard can be an issue in certain anchorages, fortunately there are few such spots.

However, once you’re alert to these potential bothers, provided you take sensible precautions and exercise a minimum of vigilance, you can enjoy peaceful sailing in this micro-paradise for sailors.