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THIS IS AN UNRIVALLED REGION WHEN IT COMES TO PARTICIPATING IN REGATTAS, TRAVELING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, AND ENJOYING THE ADVENTURE OF SAILING

Back in 2008, when this journalist made a trip from Cuba's Jardines del Rey to Bahamas' Guincho Key, the voyage helped him to see all of the adventure, color and constant surprises offered by recreational sailing in the Caribbean.
That was when a local swimmer tried to break several records related to open sea swimming, protected by a shark cage, but it was also the subject of an unforeseen chronicle for a beginner as far as sailing is concerned.
However, Guincho Key flooded all the senses. It's an islet marked by small shrubs, lots of sand, short space and astonished seagulls that, not used to human presence, were fluttering over our heads just an arm away.
Such experience encouraged me to visit the other islands and islets in the Caribbean Basin, which are perfect for yachting and sailing. All recreational or sport sailors that respect themselves feel the sail in the heart as the main motivation to venture out.
These thoughts made me look at the nautical Caribbean, which harbors some of the most sought-after destinations for boat rental, since it features over 7,000 islands to be explored. There are places to enjoy incredible excursions, diving, fishing, or spending our vacation on a boat.
There are regions and subregions where such adventures can be lived, with a recommended starting point at the northwest area, Greater Antilles, made up of Cuba, La Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rico.
We can later travel to the Lesser Antilles, divided into the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands. That name was given to the former because they are protected from the wind and stretch out over the northeast side of the Virgin Islands all the way to Dominica.
As for the southeast region, it's known as the Windward islands since the Trade Winds blow in from the northeast. That includes the islands of Martinique and the Grenadines, and Granada to the south.
Therefore, when it comes to planning sailing vacation, it's recommended to keep in mind that renting boats and yachts in the Caribbean entail weeklong voyages, especially in the high season from November to April.
Most of the boats are rented for one or two weeks, with roundtrip fares or, in the case of those sailed by the owners, such port services as power, water, fuel and victualing are provided.
Moreover, upon choosing the Caribbean region to sail it's also important to take into account other collateral activities, such as scuba diving, kite surfing or going on excursions across the area, as well as tasting local gastronomies, especially in fishermen towns.
We're talking about a yacht, sailboat, catamaran or motored boat, which can be rented at Road Town, in Tortola; Simpson Bay, in San Martin; Puerto España, in Trinidad & Tobago; or any of the Caribbean islands. It's important to highlight the mooring in Meliá Marina Varadero, Cuba, which is growing and is highly attractive.
When it comes to recommending places, we also underline both the British and US Virgin Islands, since they are great for recreational sailing, as well as La Española, the second largest island in the Caribbean, right after Cuba. Likewise, the invitation includes Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barths, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Antigua, Guadalupe, St. Lucia, St. Vicente, Granada and Martinique.
Attractive elements can also be found in Barbados, the only island of the Lesser Antilles without a volcanic origin, just 100 nautical miles east of St. Lucia, with abundant coves and beaches. We cannot fail to mention Trinidad & Tobago, the southernmost islands in the Caribbean Sea.
Of course, we have Cuba, with a growing travel industry in all areas, and the Bahamas, which welcomes 70 million U.S. tourists in search of recreational sailing.
 Therefore, it's only a matter of making up your mind, devising the route and enjoying the sea under full sail or at full throttle, with a Caribbean wind that will give us lots of memories, as it happened to this journalist when he stepped on Guincho Key.