Ever wonder what sailing to the Caribbean Island of Saba might be like? Heck, have you ever heard of the tiny 5 miles long Dutch island of Saba? Join us on our journey to experience a very lumpy sea and our struggles to pick up a mooring ball in the pitch black. Find out what to do when water is flowing into your bilge. And most impressively, experience the sheer pleasure of waking up next to an indescribably beautiful view (that you didn’t know was there)!
We’ll also take you for a bus tour of the island in addition to climbing to the very top of Mount Scenery, Saba’s volcano AND we’ll show you the world’s smallest commercial runway. It might make you realize that sailing to Saba is probably a better choice than flying.
Sailing to the Caribbean Island of Saba Video
You Might Also Be Interested In These Other Articles/Videos
- Sail Puerto Rico – Drop A Hook or Pass it by?
- Sailing the Spanish Virgin Islands
- 5 Places To Visit Sailing St John Virgin Islands
- Top 16 reasons why sailing the British Virgin Islands is bittersweet
- 8 Best Anchorages in the British Virgin Islands
- Sailing St Kitts & Nevis
If you’d like an overview of all the places we’ve visited in the Caribbean please read our destination overview: Caribbean
Sailing to the Caribbean Island of Saba Tips & Tricks
When sailing from the BVI to Saba it’s a rather difficult passage – you’ll need to pick your weather window. Even when it’s a good window the journey will still be uncomfortable at best. With the trade winds and a current against you, the ride is bumpy. So the first tip is to watch the weather as it might take a couple of weeks for a good time to leave.
That aside, there’s only so many mooring balls and even if you can get a ball the chances are high that it will be too bumpy to get off the boat. Your best bet is to plan to sail to St Kitt’s and if conditions permit, visit Saba. At the time of our visit, there were mooring balls lined up for the full length of the western shore but spread very far apart.
Getting a mooring ball at night is scary (as shown in the video). My top tip to Saba is to arrive during the day! If possible, add a chafe guard to your mooring lines as the mooring ball painter is full of barnacles and other rough edges. The moorings appeared to be very sturdy and solid but, as always, make sure to scope things out for yourself.
The dinghy ride from the moorings to the dinghy dock is most likely going to be rough and wet. Prepare accordingly!
Any other comments or suggestions, please leave them below 🙂
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I have really enjoyed watching your travels on your sail boat. There is NO way I would ever get the wife to go that route. It is hard enough to get her into our motor-home (SUMRHOM). We have a Mini Cooper that goes where it is “towed”. We have cruised over 160 times, and leaving for Japan on a Transpacific cruise to Japan on the 14th of this month. That is the way she likes to travel. Been married over 51 years and it is too expensive to change life style at my age 76. That said when I have time I turn on the over head projector and view the 60 square foot screen (6′ X 10′). That is how I enjoy your sea going voyages. It is nice to pause it if I need a snack or bathroom break. Life is BEAUTIFUL and it is moving forward with no rewinds or slow motion. Enjoy each day which you and your family do.
All the BEST,
Sanford
Thank you for the lovely comments Sanford. Enjoy your next cruise 😉