St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Time Zone

UTC (-4)

Yachting Essentials

Electricity

Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz

Fuel

Fuel at Port Elizabeth (Bequia), on St Vincent at Blue lagoon, Kingstown and Ottley Hall. On The Grenadines at Canouan.

Money

East Caribbean dollar (EC$)

Effective 1 July 2015, the I cent and 2 cents EC coins will be withdrawn from circulation. The coins will no longer be valid either as consumers will not be able to conduct transactions using these coins. Persons can present the coins at any of the commercial banks which operate within the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) to receive face value.

A price rounding system will be implemented within the ECCU countries for the settlement of cash transactions only, whereby the total payment, inclusive of duties, fees and taxes, will be rounded symmetrically to the nearest five cents. Non-cash payments using cheques, debit and credit cards will not be impacted and therefore will not be rounded.

Communications

International Dialing Code for St Vincents the Grenadines is +1 784.

Digicel operates here. SVG Digicel no longer has data only plans, but they do offer a combo plan of unlimited phone calls and 3GB data for $90 EC per month. They also have larger combo packages. These are ideal if you want data and phone calls, but not if you just want data only.

SVG sims with data, only roam to St Lucia and Grenada now.

Anyone cruising through the islands using Digicel should be aware that you cannot top up a sim from one island in another as used to be able to. So if for example, you want to use your Grenada sim while cruising north you should either put on a large enough sum to cover your needs or you can set up an account and do it online, but you cannot get it topped up in another island.

You can top-up Digicel at https://online-top-up.digicelgroup.com/

Cruisers report that Digicel connection works fine nearly everywhere (3G) with only Isle de Ronde and Tyrrel Bay, Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Union and Canouan getting 2G.

Remember to follow your Gb usage, or the money runs out quickly.

The 3G internet in SVG is reported by cruisers to be “very expensive”, as data gets used up very quickly, so beware.

Bequia Local Radio Net: VHF Channel 68 every morning at 08:00

Last updated: May 2017.

Transport

Renting a Car

To rent a car you need to have a local driving permit which you can get from the Revenue Office in Port Elizabeth. You will need to show a valid national or international driving license from your own country. There is a fee of EC$100 (around US$40).

Diplomatic Missions

Foreign Embassies in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Events

January 22: St Vincent & the Grenadines Day

Bequia Easter Regatta

Carnival

Sports Fishing Competition

Emergencies

Fire – Dial 911
Police – Dial 911 or (784) 457-1211

Advice is to avoid overnighting in Chateaubelair. However, if you decide to stop there anyway useful phone numbers are:

Police Emergency: 911 / 999
Coast Guard Operations: Tel: 457 4578 / 457 4554
Chateaubelair Police: Tel: 458-2229

Mayreau Harbor Patrol (MHP) is a non-governmental organisation and non-profit group, funded partly by Tobago Cays Marine Park and the four constables who work the patrols. MHP’s main mission is to patrol the harbours of Mayreau and make it safe, especially at night. Volunteers and sponsors are always needed. For more information contact MHP on telephone number 17844975322.

For any emergencies between Mayreau and the Tobago Cays telephone 17845302752/17844952380 or 17845278412.

Publications

EXCLUSIVE BOOK DISCOUNTS FOR NOONSITE USERS

Imray & Adlard Coles Pilot Books can be purchased with an exclusive Noonsite discount of up to 15% by visiting our Imray store if shopping from the UK or Europe.

For North America and the rest of the world visit Bluewater Books & Charts. When ordering through Bluewater be sure to enter the coupon code NOON during checkout to save 10%.

Grenada to The Virgin Islands

By Jacques Patuelli

Published by Imray (3rd Edition 2014)

DISCOUNTS available through Imray and Bluewater Books (see details and links above)

See www.imray.com/publications

Fully illustrated with plans and photos, many of which are new for this third edition, the guide is packed with interesting and useful background information on the Caribbean; its history, tourism, geography and details on sailing in the islands.

A Cruising Guide to the Lesser Antilles 2.0 (Volume III: Windward Islands)

Available through Imray and Bluewater Books & Charts

Author: Frank Virgintino

Published by www.freecruisingguide.com (March 2016)

Available at Kindle as well as all other EPub bookstores

A Thinking Mans Guide to Voyages South – the many facets of Caribbean Cruising

Available through Imray and Bluewater Books & Charts

Author: Frank Virgintino

Published: 3rd Edition January 2013

Available as a Kindle version at www.amazon.com as well as other EPub bookstores.

The latest edition of this route planner is larger than ever. For more details see this report

Sailors Guide to the Windward Islands: Martinique to Grenada (2019-2020)

By Chris Doyle in partnership with Lexi Fisher

Publisher: Cruising Publications

19th Edition

This guide features detailed sketch charts based on the author’s own surveys and aerial photos of most anchorages with clear and concise navigational information. Lexi Fisher, a Grenadian and scuba diving instructor as well as a cruiser, has worked with Chris on this revised guide adding some perspective from a younger person’s point of view. Covers the islands from Martinique to Grenada, with dazzling scenic photography, unsurpassed onshore information, sections on exploring, provisioning, water sports, services, restaurants and photography. Information is linked to the author’s website where you can download town maps, GPS waypoints from the sketch charts, and obtain links to local weather, news and more.

A Cruising Guide To The Windward Islands: Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Carriacou, Grenada, Barbados

By Stephen J. Pavlidis

Publisher: Seaworthy Publications Inc. (June 1, 2005)

ISBN-13: 978-1892399182

With 80 sketch charts, this is the most comprehensive guide covering The Windward Islands. The Windward Islands Guide contains GPS waypoints, approaches and routes, anchorages, dive sites, an extensive appendix, photos and a bibliography

Routes and Waypoints

Available through Imray and Bluewater Books & Charts

By Captain Pieter D. Brown

Publisher Baico Publishing Consultants Inc., Ontario, Canada (2011)

ISBN: 978-1-926596-83-9

A Navigational & Piloting Guide of Suggested Routes with Waypoints from Eastern Canada to Grenada including the Canadian & USA E. Coasts, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Leeward & Windward Islands.

Read Review here