“There are wood ships and there are good ships and there are ships that sail the seas, but the best ships are friendships, and may that always be,” proclaims Captain Matt Forgues as we jubilantly raise our welcome cocktails into the air. It’s the golden hour before sunset on the island of St. Vincent, and my husband and I are among eight passengers and two crew members embarking on a seven-day sailing voyage through the Grenadines—an Eastern Caribbean island chain about 90 miles west of Barbados.
Our “good ship” is Hadali, the fourth and newest electric-powered catamaran yacht operated by TradeWinds, a global company offering eco-friendly sailing vacations to destinations less traveled throughout the Caribbean, Europe, the South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. Custom built by renowned French shipbuilders Fountaine Pajot and spanning 51 feet, our luxurious floating home provides both privacy and ample gathering space for up to 10 guests and crew.
Cozy, air-conditioned cabins feature queen beds, en suite baths, and surprisingly generous storage. For sightseers and sunseekers, the large flybridge boasts a partially shaded lounge and sunbathing area, while the spacious foredeck affords unsurpassed views of lush tropical islands, verdant landscapes, and maybe even a friendly pod of dolphins.
The galley and saloon are well appointed with gleaming, high-end appliances, a center island, and comfortable seating, while the aft dining and lounge areas provide plenty of elbow room for guests to enjoy meals, lively conversations, and games. When the craft is moored off an island and Captain Matt announces, “The pool is open,” the aft platform proves to be an ideal spot for dangling your legs in the water or plunging into the sea with your choice of snorkel, scuba gear, paddleboard, kayak, floats, or noodles.
Welcome cocktails in hand, we push off the dock at St. Vincent’s Blue Lagoon Marina to the rhythmic beat of “Electric Avenue” for a short sail to Young Island. There, we drop anchor for the night and enjoy the first of many locally sourced and artfully presented meals prepared by Captain Matt’s wife and first mate, Brookelyn. The next morning, following a delicious tropical breakfast and a short safety briefing, we don snorkels, fins, and masks to meet our underwater neighbors: an abundant and colorful array of fish, sea turtles, rays, starfish, and coral.
Of the 32 islands constituting the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, only nine are populated and, of those, only five have small airports: St. Vincent, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, and Union. Hence, one of the best ways to fully explore the verdant hillsides, white sand beaches, and delicate ecosystems nestled throughout this Caribbean archipelago is by private yacht charter.
Throughout the week, Hadali sails through mesmerizing azure waters to islands inhabited by friendly locals as well as others who leave only traces of human footprints. The first stop on our itinerary includes a visit to Mustique, a tiny private island developed by Colin Tennant, the third Baron Glenconner, and theatrical set designer and architect Oliver Messel,
who teamed up to create an exclusive playground for aristocrats, celebrities, and royals. Watching a spectacular sunset from the legendary Basil’s Bar, I imagine the late Princess Margaret enjoying the same view from her hilltop estate, Les Jolies Eaux. Today, it is one of 84 villas available for rental through the Mustique Company.
From there, we set sail for Mayreau, the smallest and remotest of the Grenadine islands, where we moor in serene Salt Whistle Bay. Home to only 300 residents, the island is recovering from the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl. Yet those of us who venture to shore find a few small shops and toe-in-the-sand restaurants happily open for business.
Adjacent to Mayreau, the 19-square-mile Tobago Cays Marine Park is a snorkeling and diving paradise with four reef systems, including the 2 ½-mile-long Horseshoe Reef and Mayreau Gardens, which houses an abundance of colorful fish, coral, and sponges. Considered the “Jewel in the Crown” of the Southern Grenadines, the marine park is a government-protected sanctuary preserving globally important habitats for sea turtles, coral reefs, mangroves, conchs, lobsters, and iguanas. Here, divers can also explore the wreck of the 140-foot British World War I gunship Puruni.
Moored in front of Petit Bateau, the largest of five uninhabited islands in the marine park, we hike a trail to the summit and enjoy the panoramic view. From there, we spy Petit Tabac, an uninhabited island that served as the location for the desert island scene in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Swashbucklers eager to unleash their inner Jack Sparrow can host a private picnic there.
The next day, beautiful Bequia Island beckons, and Captain Matt unfurls Hadali’s sails for a leisurely cruise and snorkeling stopover at the 3-square-mile island of Canouan. Once a remote, undiscovered home to more turtles than humans, Canouan now has a handful of ultra-luxury resorts and villas as well as a marina for mega-yachts. Quieter than St. Barts and Mustique, Canouan has been described in Fodor’s guide as “the Caribbean island where the billionaires go to escape the millionaires.” While trolling a line in the water, we’re lucky enough to catch a wahoo, which becomes a delectable appetizer and hearty entrée.
Moored in Admiralty Bay on the west coast of Bequia, the second-largest island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we take a dinghy ashore and explore the small shops lining the edge of the marina. One of our favorites, The Salty Girl, offers a tempting array of locally made sarongs and sundresses, jewelry, hair accessories, and unique gifts. That evening we enjoy another beautiful sunset over picture-perfect Princess Margaret Beach while dining onshore at Jack’s.
For travelers wishing to split their time between land and sea in the Grenadines, TradeWinds welcomes guests to its private waterfront Bequia estate, Mimosa House. Surrounded by mature gardens overlooking Admiralty Bay, the British West Indies–style property can serve as a home base between water excursions on a high-speed watercraft.
With Bequia behind us, we sail on to St. Vincent’s Cumberland Bay—a secluded spot so breathtakingly beautiful with lush vegetation and towering palms that you’d swear you landed in Jurassic Park. After snorkeling in this lovely palm-fringed bay, we venture ashore, where a local guide drives us through steep switchbacks up the mountainside of lush rainforest. On foot, we traverse a bamboo bridge and hike to the base of Dark View Falls, two spectacular waterfalls cascading over steep cliffs. On the return trip to the bay, we stop to enjoy panoramic views of the sea below as well as the majestic peak of La Soufriére, an active volcano that last erupted in 2021.
As our sailing adventure winds down with final opportunities to explore the crystal-clear waters surrounding St. Vincent and enjoy dinner with Captain Matt, First Mate Brookelyn, and fellow passengers, it is obvious that this has been unlike most vacations. Rather than rushing to see a bucket list of historic landmarks or attractions, we have practiced the art of living slowly. We’ve connected with the people and places we’ve visited, and we’ve seen firsthand a fragile and beautiful marine ecosystem that deserves to be protected for future generations.
For travelers who value both the journey and the destination with minimal footprint and maximum ease, TradeWinds has raised the sail when it comes to eco-tourism. In 2019, the company halted the addition of new yachts to its fleet until emerging technologies enabled the development of vessels powered by renewable energy sources. “With more than 25 years in the yachting industry, we witnessed firsthand the impact of tourism on our fragile ecosystems, and we wanted to be part of the solution,” says Neil Parsons, president of TradeWinds.
In 2024, this strategy culminated in the launch of Aurora, the world’s first electric-propulsion pleasure yacht, followed by Twenty5 and Ohana before Hadali debuted in 2025. Parsons predicts that by 2036 TradeWinds’ fleet of some 50 yachts will be predominantly low emission, with the majority being electric-propulsion, clean-energy vessels fueled by solar, wind, and hydropower. The result, he explains, is not only good for the planet but also more comfortable for guests, since the noise, fumes, and vibrations of diesel generators are eliminated.
Crews also maintain the yachts with eco-friendly, nontoxic cleaning products and avoid single-use plastics. Galleys, cabins, heads, linens, and towels are cleaned with vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, biodegradable soap, and essential oils.
Veteran TradeWinds travelers appreciate the company’s commitment to sustainability without sacrificing comfort. “It’s an opportunity to see a destination from a unique vantage point—the water surrounding it,” observes Kristie Pomerance, one of the guests on Hadali. “And, of course, there are the friends you meet along the way.”
Exactly what the captain ordered!
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