Navigating St. Vincent and the Virgin Islands

(Corbis)

Almost all of the Caribbean is sailable, but the prime destinations have to be the Virgin Islands and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The Virgins are quintessential Caribbean: sail among the saints—St. Johns, St. Barthelemy, St. Thomas—dive off St. Croix, or leave your footprints on Virgin Gorda's pristine beaches. St. Vincent & the Grenadines offer a less developed, more rustic alternative, largely because most of the archipelago can only be reached by boat. Thirty-two islands over 45 miles of ocean, renowned for unblemished white-sand beaches, secluded coves, spectacular reefs, northeasterly winds, and an insight into the true Caribbean. Whether you opt to skipper your own yacht, board a 52-foot windjammer, or join a flotilla group as the lead ship navigates, sailing has one unbeatable advantage over land-locked resorts: complete mobility. Beach combing and sun bathing? Reef diving? Throw-down partying? Off-shore isolation? Easy. Just let your whim and the winds carry you there.