Patuelli Guide: The Reference Cruising Guide for the Lesser Antilles

The Patuelli Guide is nautical documentation dedicated to sailing and cruising in the Lesser Antilles, also known as the Lesser Caribbean. It helps sailors prepare cruises, coastal passages and island-hopping voyages between the many islands forming this arc of the Caribbean Sea.

The Patuelli Guide mainly covers the region between Grenada and the Virgin Islands, including a large number of islands and island territories. The area includes Grenada, the Grenadines, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy and the Virgin Islands. The guide describes coastlines, anchorages, marinas, harbour approaches and sailing conditions, as well as local services and the particular characteristics of each island.

The Patuelli Guide is particularly useful for sailors preparing a cruise in the French- and English-speaking Caribbean, whether sailing a catamaran, monohull or motorboat.

What Is the Patuelli Guide?

The Patuelli Guide is primarily a regional cruising guide dedicated to the Lesser Antilles. Its particular strength is that it brings together the information required for navigation with practical information for planning stopovers.

For each island, sailors can find information about:

• the coastline and its configuration;

• anchorages;

• ports and marinas;

• approaches and access;

• local sailing conditions;

• hazards and geographical features;

• positions and waypoints;

• depths and soundings;

• nautical services;

• formalities and practical information;

• accommodation and restaurants.

This approach makes the Patuelli Guide particularly suitable for island-hopping cruises, which are characteristic of sailing in the Caribbean.

Documentation Designed for the Lesser Antilles

The Lesser Antilles are a very distinctive sailing area. The islands are relatively close to one another, but each has its own relief, passages, anchorages, ports and weather conditions.

Sailors can therefore plan a route connecting several islands rather than considering each destination separately.

An itinerary may, for example, run from Grenada through the Grenadines, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe before continuing towards Antigua, Saint Martin and the Virgin Islands.

This type of archipelago sailing requires precise information about passages between islands, available anchorages and harbour approaches.

The Patuelli Guide provides exactly this regional perspective.

Sailing between Grenada and the Grenadines

Grenada is an important starting or finishing point for cruises in the southern Lesser Antilles.

Sailors may be interested in St. George's, Carriacou and the various anchorages around Grenada and the Grenadines.

Heading north, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines offer a sailing environment characterised by numerous islands, islets, passages and anchorages.

Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island and the Tobago Cays are among the best-known stops along this route.

The Patuelli Guide allows sailors to approach this area with both a nautical and practical perspective, taking into account the particular features of each island and anchorage.

Patuelli Guide and Sailing in Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia occupies a strategic position between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Martinique.

Castries is the island's main port, while Rodney Bay is a well-known stop for cruising sailors.

Saint Lucia has significant relief, and sailing conditions can vary depending on exposure to wind and swell.

For sailors travelling north or south along the island chain, information about anchorages, access and facilities helps make each stage easier to plan.

The Patuelli Guide is particularly useful as part of this regional approach to navigation.

Patuelli Guide and Sailing in Martinique

Martinique is one of the main bases for cruising in the Lesser Antilles.

Fort-de-France, Le Marin, Sainte-Anne, Saint-Pierre and the numerous anchorages around the island are important reference points for sailors.

Le Marin is particularly important as a major Caribbean cruising centre. From southern Martinique, sailors can continue towards Saint Lucia and the Grenadines.

Navigation around Martinique requires careful consideration of the coastline, bays, headlands, anchorages, depths and wind conditions.

The Patuelli Guide complements the nautical charts used for navigation in this area. For French waters, Shom charts provide official cartographic reference; charts from other specialist publishers may also be used depending on the sailing area and navigation system.

Patuelli Guide for Dominica and Guadeloupe

Heading north, Dominica is an important stop between Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Roseau is the island's main port, while Dominica's mountainous and relatively undeveloped coastline has many distinctive features.

Guadeloupe is another major cruising centre in the Lesser Antilles.

Pointe-à-Pitre, Basse-Terre, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante offer several possible routes and stopovers.

The Saintes Channel, in particular, is an area where careful chart reading and knowledge of local conditions are important.

The Patuelli Guide complements the cartographic information with practical details about coastlines, anchorages and nautical facilities.

Antigua, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin and the Virgin Islands

The northern part of the area covered by the guide gradually leads towards Antigua, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin and the Virgin Islands.

Antigua is known for its numerous bays and opportunities for cruising stopovers.

Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin are also major destinations for sailors navigating the Caribbean.

Further north, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands provide an environment particularly suited to island sailing.

The Patuelli Guide provides continuity of nautical documentation throughout this progression between the different islands.

Anchorages: Essential Information

In the Lesser Antilles, anchoring plays a central role in cruise planning.

Unlike sailing areas where stopovers are mainly organised around ports, Caribbean cruising makes extensive use of bays and natural anchorages.

The quality of an anchorage depends in particular on:

• protection from the trade winds;

• exposure to swell;

• seabed composition;

• available depth;

• swinging room;

• proximity to reefs or shoals;

• access to shore;

• local regulations.

Information about anchorages is therefore an essential part of preparing a sailing trip in the Caribbean.

Trade Winds, Weather and Caribbean Sailing

The Lesser Antilles are strongly influenced by the trade winds.

For sailors, understanding the prevailing wind, swell and exposure of different coastlines helps in selecting anchorages and organising daily stages.

The same island may offer very different conditions on its Atlantic-facing coast and its leeward coast.

This explains the importance of using the cruising guide together with the nautical chart and current weather forecasts.

The Patuelli Guide provides local information that helps sailors understand the particular characteristics of the different islands.

Patuelli Guide and Nautical Charts

The Patuelli Guide does not replace a nautical chart: it complements it.

The chart allows sailors to identify depths, hazards, reefs, shoals, navigation marks, soundings and other cartographic information precisely.

The guide provides descriptive and practical information about anchorages, ports, marinas, approaches and local characteristics.

For the French Caribbean, Shom charts are an important reference. Depending on the area and navigation system, sailors may also complement their documentation with Admiralty, NV Charts or charts from the relevant hydrographic services.

This combination of chart and regional cruising guide is particularly important when preparing harbour approaches and anchorages.

Documentation Useful On Board and Ashore

The Patuelli Guide has an interesting feature: it is not limited to navigation.

Each island is also presented from the perspective of history, culture, attractions, restaurants, accommodation and local services.

This makes it possible to plan a complete stopover.

After sailing between two islands, the guide can therefore be used to identify available facilities, plan a visit ashore or organise the next stage.

The content combines maritime navigation with exploration of the islands themselves.

A Guide Suitable for Catamaran Cruising

The Lesser Antilles are particularly popular with cruising catamarans.

Their relatively shallow draft allows them to access some anchorages that may be more difficult for deeper-draft boats. However, their greater beam also requires particular attention to available swinging room and anchorage conditions.

The Patuelli Guide can therefore be used when planning routes aboard catamarans as well as monohulls and motorboats.

Knowledge of depths, wind exposure and bay configuration remains important regardless of vessel type.

Documentation for Coastal and Offshore Navigation

The Patuelli Guide can be used for both coastal sailing between islands and the preparation of longer voyages.

It is particularly relevant for vessels travelling north or south along the Caribbean island chain, but also for crews arriving from the Canary Islands, Cape Verde or South America.

An Atlantic crossing, for example, may lead to a first stop in Martinique, Saint Lucia or Barbados before continuing towards other islands.

The guide then becomes a useful regional reference for organising stopovers once the vessel reaches the Lesser Antilles.

How to Use the Patuelli Guide Effectively

Before departure, it is useful to work with the guide and nautical charts to prepare several possible routes.

An effective approach is to:

• define the islands you want to visit;

• identify possible ports and anchorages;

• study passages between islands;

• identify areas exposed to swell;

• check depths on the charts;

• take prevailing winds into account;

• prepare several stopover alternatives;

• identify available services;

• check local regulations;

• verify operational information before departure.

This preparation makes it possible to retain a degree of flexibility, which is particularly important when sailing conditions are influenced by weather.

Edition, Content and Level of Detail

The Patuelli Guide was written by Jacques Patuelli and published by Éditions Atoll. The edition currently distributed is a French-language publication dating from 2013/2014 according to the available references.

The guide contains a large number of maps and plans as well as extensive photographic material in the edition described by the publisher.

This point is important: basic navigation principles, general geography and descriptions of anchorages may remain useful over time, but operational information such as harbour infrastructure, services, regulations and local conditions should always be checked against the most recent information available.

Conclusion

The Patuelli Guide is specialist nautical documentation dedicated to the Lesser Antilles and particularly suited to sailors planning a cruise between Grenada and the Virgin Islands.

Its main strength lies in its regional approach: it combines navigation information with descriptions of coastlines, anchorages, ports, marinas and services on the different islands. This makes it possible to plan archipelago sailing with greater precision and flexibility.

From Grenada and the Tobago Cays to Saint Lucia and Martinique, from Dominica and Guadeloupe to Antigua, Saint Martin and the Virgin Islands, the Patuelli Guide accompanies sailors through one of the Caribbean Sea's major cruising regions.

Used together with appropriate nautical charts, including Shom charts for the French Caribbean, as well as current weather information and up-to-date nautical data, it provides particularly useful documentation for preparing anchorages, stopovers and passages between the islands.

FAQ – Patuelli Guide

What geographical area does the Patuelli Guide cover?

The Patuelli Guide is dedicated to the Lesser Antilles. It mainly covers the island arc from Grenada to the Virgin Islands, including numerous islands and island territories.

Does the Patuelli Guide cover Martinique?

Yes. Martinique is one of the main areas covered, including Fort-de-France, Le Marin, Sainte-Anne, Saint-Pierre and various coastal areas and anchorages.

Does the Patuelli Guide cover Guadeloupe?

Yes. Guadeloupe and associated areas, including Les Saintes and Marie-Galante, are included in the area described by the guide.

Does the Patuelli Guide cover the Grenadines?

Yes. The guide covers the Lesser Antilles from Grenada northwards, including Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Is the Patuelli Guide suitable for catamaran cruising?

Yes. Information about anchorages, depths, approaches and facilities can be particularly useful to catamaran crews as well as monohull sailors.

Does the Patuelli Guide replace a nautical chart?

No. It complements the nautical chart. The chart provides the precise cartographic information required for navigation, while the guide provides practical and descriptive information about ports, anchorages and local conditions.

Which nautical charts should be used with the Patuelli Guide?

For the French Caribbean, Shom charts are an important reference. Depending on the sailing area and navigation system, Admiralty, NV Charts or charts from the relevant hydrographic services may also complement the documentation.

Is the Patuelli Guide useful for island-hopping cruises?

Yes. This is one of its main strengths. It helps sailors plan stages, passages between islands, anchorages and stopovers throughout the Lesser Antilles.

Does the Patuelli Guide provide information about anchorages?

Yes. Anchorages are an important part of the documentation, with information that helps sailors plan stopovers and assess local conditions.

Does the Patuelli Guide contain information about ports and marinas?

Yes. The guide describes nautical facilities, ports, marinas and various services useful to sailors.

Does the Patuelli Guide contain tourist information?

Yes. The guide is not limited to navigation and also includes information about history, attractions, restaurants, accommodation and various services available on the islands.

Is the Patuelli Guide suitable for an Atlantic crossing?

It is particularly useful once the vessel reaches the Lesser Antilles. For the Atlantic crossing itself, it should be complemented by documentation appropriate for offshore navigation, weather and transatlantic passage planning.

Is the Patuelli Guide suitable for beginners?

Yes. It combines navigation information with practical details about the islands, allowing less experienced sailors to plan their stopovers progressively.

What is the difference between the Patuelli Guide and a conventional pilot book?

The Patuelli Guide has a strongly regional approach and combines pilotage, anchorages, navigation, port information and island discovery. It is therefore particularly suited to cruising throughout the Lesser Antilles.

Is the Patuelli Guide only about the French Caribbean?

No. Its coverage is much broader and includes both French- and English-speaking islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Which islands can be planned using the Patuelli Guide?

Depending on the itinerary, it can be used to plan sailing in Grenada, the Grenadines, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy and the Virgin Islands.

Is the Patuelli Guide useful for coastal navigation?

Yes. It is particularly suitable for coastal sailing between the different islands and for preparing approaches, anchorages and stopovers.

Is the Patuelli Guide useful for offshore navigation?

Yes, but as regional documentation. It is mainly useful for preparing arrival in the Lesser Antilles, stopovers and inter-island navigation after an ocean crossing.

Should the information in the Patuelli Guide be checked before sailing?

Yes. Navigation should always be prepared using the most recent nautical charts and available nautical information. Information concerning infrastructure, regulations, services and local conditions may change over time.