Sailing in the Caribbean: Moonlit Melodies

For anyone who has experienced it, there is no better way to relax than sailing in the Caribbean! Crusty old sailors, vacation brochures, and charter booking agents rave about the brilliant sunshine, balmy trade-winds, clear turquoise blue waters, and incredible beaches.

Yet, because charters are usually not allowed to sail at night, few descriptions exist about what it is like to be on a Caribbean sailing charter once the sun sets and the stars come out.

During the day, you are bombarded with the visual spectacle that makes the Caribbean so special, but at night the other senses take over, creating a moonlit melody of sensations. Until you enjoy the wonderful thrill of being aboard in an anchorage at night, you simply cannot fully appreciate the beauty, quiet, and peacefulness of a Caribbean sailing charter.

Full Moon Parties: A Nighttime Celebration in the Caribbean

When you put the words “sailing” and “moon” together, Full Moon Parties are usually what comes to mind. Many islands celebrate this phenomenon with parties under the bright, white light of the Caribbean full moon.

Two of the more popular parties exist in the British Virgin Islands. On Tortola, Bomba’s Full Moon Party is legendary throughout the Caribbean. Locals and vacationers drink, mingle, dance, and drink.

Although little more than a shack, Bomba’s serves a very potent rum punch as well as a mushroom tea. A more family-friendly Full Moon Party takes place at Trellis Bay. Live local music, Mocko Jumbies, fire jugglers and twirlers, flaming balls of fire that light up the beach and a great Caribbean BBQ buffet make for family-oriented fun while on a sailing charter.

The Enchanting Beauty of Moonlit Waters

Although these parties are entertaining, there is a certain soothing of the soul that occurs on a Caribbean sailing charter in a nighttime anchorage. Even without daylight, Mother Nature is beautiful.

Contrary to what you might think, it is never totally dark. As the sun sets, you will experience a full range of intense hues that are unique to the Caribbean. Gradually the colors fade to purple and then a velvet black, and the moon bathes everything with a soft, bluish glow.

If there is a full moon, you will see a shining white path on the water, and you can actually see it for miles. Away from the artificial light of the cities, air pollution, and fog, there is no better place (or more romantic) for stargazing than in the Caribbean.

Stargazing in Paradise: Celestial Delights of the Caribbean

Whether gazing from the deck of your sailing charter or through your open hatch as you lay in your stateroom, you will be amazed to see so many stars. In fact, because of their abundance, it can be difficult to pick out common constellations.

One particular treat, however, is seeing the Southern Cross. This constellation is not visible in North America, but it clearly hangs low in the evening sky of the Caribbean. In addition, it is common to see shooting stars, especially in the summer.

Another visual treat is the bits of phosphorescent microorganisms that flash by your boat and then disappear, and the other sailboats in the anchorage also provide a visual feast.

Anchor lights atop masts twinkle like some nearby celestial body. Fire from charcoal grills dance in the gentle trade winds, and the warm, inviting golden-orange glow of cabin lights shining through portholes flicker on and off like fireflies as sailors retire for the night.

Symphony of the Senses: Moonlit Melodies and Fragrances

Sailing in the Caribbean also provides a moonlight melody for the ears. If you are sharing the anchorage, you might eavesdrop on bits of conversation or laughter that carries across the water, or hear the occasional hum of a dinghy engine bringing cruisers back home from an evening ashore.

Strains of Jimmy Buffet, Enya or reggae music eventually fade to silence. The rhythmic clanging of a halyard against a mast, the squeaking of a loose boom or the gentle slapping of your dinghy, as it rocks with the waves, are common night sounds that soon become white noise.

Mother Nature also plays her part in this symphony. In the cabin, you can hear the crackle of tiny shrimp as they swim against the hull. The bleating of goats or the chirping of tropical night birds ashore is an island lullaby. And, if you are truly fortunate, you will be graced by the sound of water escaping the blowhole of a dolphin as it surfaces near your sailboat.

These soothing sounds, along with the gentle rocking of your sailboat, will ensure the best night sleep you have ever experienced! Finally, a Caribbean sailing charter at night will tickle your sense of smell. The faint whiff of kerosene is usually followed by the tantalizing aroma of food being grilled somewhere on shore or from one of your fellow cruiser’s sailboats.

Sitting on deck or in the cockpit, you will inhale the fresh salt-tinged air that may have just a fruity hint of after-sun lotion. In addition, the evening trade winds carry the intoxicating scent of tropical flora and pungent island spices.

Sailing in the Caribbean is a delightful, relaxing way to spend a vacation, but there is a special magic that occurs at night. The sights, sounds, and smells of the Caribbean will surround you in a moonlit melody. Let’s start planning for your own luxury bareboat or all-inclusive moonlit Caribbean melody.