Caribbean Compass – December 2025

St. John may be the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands but it packs a huge presence. With almost 60% of the island under the control of The National Park Service, the island has been able to retain its natural dignity without the commercial infrastructure and development associated with many islands throughout the Caribbean.

Caribbean Connection: A Conversation with Sander Speet, Sevenstar Yacht Transport’s Caribbean specialist and an experienced professional sailor,  on race logistics, cruising dreams, and why yacht transport is practical for many owners.

Get brand new list of shortwave Caribbean weather nets and websites, now updated for winter 2025/2026 – by Bill Woodroffe.

The Ocean Posse has established a voluntary reporting regime with U.S. Southern Command to enhance safety and  reduce the risk of misidentification for private recreational vessels in the Eastern Pacific & Caribbean..

Maritime Situation Report – GPS disruptions were detected across the Southern Caribbean.

How to Identify GPS  Jamming – Learn the signs of GPS jamming versus outages or solar effects.

Solar Storms and the Sea – Elevated solar activity has caused minor GPS instability in the tropics.

Don’t miss the 8th Caribbean Multihull Challenge as top Caribbean multis battle for glory in the new Honneurs de Ligne (Line Honors) Series. This four-day regatta delivers red-hot racing and a relaxed cruising rally—both running simultaneously around St. Maarten / St. Martin starting January 29, 2026.

Las Palmas came alive as 800+ sailors set off from Gran Canaria for the 40th ARC Rally—an annual 2,700NM transatlantic voyage to Saint Lucia that draws crews from around the world.

The Antigua Yacht Club (AYC) announces the Jol Byerley Hightide Series 2025—promising top-tier racing, a strong fleet, and lively on-shore camaraderie.

A couple on their catamaran ran aground while exploring reefs off Guadeloupe, then sailed onward to St. Martin where they hauled out their boat at Time Out Boat Yard (TOBY) to scrape, repair damage to the keel, repaint the hull, and get ready to sail again — all for a surprisingly modest cost. 

We closely watching hurricane Melissa as it strengthens to category 5 and heads for Jamaica amid warning ‘many communities will not survive flooding’. Jamaicans urged to seek shelter immediately, and Cuba, Haiti and Dominican Republic also threatened. – The Guardian