The Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands are two terms you might hear often in the sailing world.
The Windward Islands, in french îles au Vent, in Spanish, Islas de Barlovento, usually refer to Caribbean islands from the southern arc of the Lesser Antilles, but not always.
Why are they called “windward”? What are the Windward Islands compared to the Leeward Islands? What are the differences between the windward and leeward islands in the Caribbean compared to the ones in Polynesia?
We’ll answer all your questions in this post.
Summary of the main differences between Windward and Leeward Islands
| Feature | Windward Islands | Leeward Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southern arc of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean | Northern islands of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean |
| Geographical Orientation | Located upwind from the trade winds | Located downwind from the trade winds |
| Main Islands | Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada | British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Martin & Sint Maarten, Antigua & Barbuda |
| Climate | Exposed to trade winds; lush and tropical | Further from trade winds; generally drier and flatter |
| Geological Features | Volcanic islands with craters and hot springs | Mostly flatter islands with some volcanic activity |
| Cultural Influence | Rich colonial history, primarily French | Diverse influences including British and Dutch |
| Sailing Conditions | Favorable for navigation with steady winds | More challenging to reach due to wind direction |
| Notable Activities | Hiking in rainforests, exploring volcanic landscapes | Beach activities, sailing, and cultural festivals |
| Best time to visit | November to April | November to April |
Why do we call some islands Windward and some other Leeward ?
If you’ve been in the sailing world a bit, you’ll notice that some islands are defined as Windward, while other are called Leeward.
The concept behind it is actually quite simple and depends on one parameter: their geography compared to the (dominant) trade-wind.
Simply put, when you follow the trade-winds, thus when you sail upwind, you end up reaching islands called “windward”. On the other hand, when islands are reachable going downwind compared to the trade-winds, they are called “leeward”.
So if an sailor/explorer from the past was simply following the trade winds and luckily reached an island, chances are this was a windward island.
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The Main Caribbean Windward Islands you should know
The Caribbean Windward Islands are the most famous Windward islands, and the ones people most refer to while talking about “windward islands”. They are located at the southern end of the Caribbean arc. They are the last link before Trinidad and South America.
British sailors called these islands “Windward Islands” because they had to beat to windward to get there from their other possessions.
The windward islands are exposed to the trade winds coming from the East, therefore navigation from north to south is facilitated there. Far enough apart from each other, the windward islands allow moments of navigation on the open sea before reaching the calm of the shore under the next wind.
The four main Windward Islands in the Caribbean are :
These islands are lush and tropical, with high mountains and rich vegetation. You will find beautiful rainforests, ideal for hiking enthusiasts.
Between St. Vincent and Grenada are the Grenadines, a swarm of small islands, 600 islands, and cays. They all have beautiful white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and colorful reefs.
These islands were colonized by the Arawaks more than two millennia ago. This oriental-looking people was later replaced by a more warlike tribe called the Caribbean. It is the latter who resided in the Windward Islands when Christopher Columbus discovered this part of the world.
Martinique, the northernmost Windward island, has a long colonial past and has always been under the possession of the French. Still belonging to France, today it is a member of the European Union.
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THE COMPANY WINDWARD ISLANDS OWES ITS NAME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS CREATED IN MARTINIQUE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO WITH ITS FLEET OF BOATS. TODAY, WITH 10 OFFICES WORLDWIDE, WE make THE SEA LOVERS sail ALL OVER THE WORLD BUT THE WINDWARD ISLANDS REMAIN OUR FAVORITE SPOT.
Emmanuel Pertuisot, President.
The Windward Islands in the Caribbean are a sailor’s paradise. The steady winds and trade winds ensure exhilarating sailing. The anchorages are calm and offer extraordinary sunsets. The climate is mild all year round, the inhabitants are friendly and the food extraordinary.
If you dream is sailing and enjoying some of the most beautiful islands in the world, the Windward Islands are for you!
The Most Famous Leeward Islands of the Caribbeans
The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.
Here are the main Leeward Islands of the Caribbeans :
– The British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)
– Saint Kitts & Nevis
– Redonda
– Saint-Eustache
– Saba
– Antigua & Barbuda
– Montserrat
– Saint Martin & Saint Barthelemy
– Anguilla
– Guadeloupe
Further away from the trade winds, they then inherit the name of “leeward” islands.
The Leeward islands were called that way for the same reasons as Windward islands : the direction of the wind.
While the wind is mostly blowing to (upwind) the windward islands when you are coming from the Atlantic Ocean, the wind is usually blowing the other way around (downwind) when you try to reach the Leeward islands by the sea. Hence, they were called the Leeward islands and are still called that way to this day.
The wind direction also partially explain why transatlantic vessels were usually seeing Dominica or Martinique upon arrival in the Caribbeans. The trade-winds they were following were usually bringing them here instead of the Leeward islands, that were harder to reach by chance.
Geological specificities of the Leeward and Windward islands in the Caribbean
The formation of the Lesser Antilles island arc is influenced by numerous events, particularly those related to tectonics plates. The Windward Islands enjoy a particular geological formation and follow the limit of the subduction zone between the oceanic crust and the Caribbean plate. The two plates converge at this precise level. The Atlantic plate is sinking, each year, 2 to 4 cm below the Caribbean plate by subduction.
These volcanic islands then consist of craters, hot springs and sulfuric releases.
Here are a few things not to be missed while visiting those islands:
- The two peaks of Saint Lucia and the sulfuric water baths in the natural rivers.
- Hiking around the Soufrière de Saint Vincent or the Soufrière de Guadeloupe.
- Hiking around the Montagne Pelée in Martinique.
This volcanic arc is still active, so since December 27, 2020, the alert level in Saint Vincent has been raised to orange with access to the crater prohibited. It is an effusive eruption, the lava is viscous and does not flow, it accumulates and forms a dome in the crater. Its evolution is monitored by the Saint Vincent UWI seismic seismic research center.
In Martinique, the Pelée mountain which usually makes the joy of the hikers, is, passed under yellow vigilance. The scientific experts want to reinforce the monitoring of the volcano after an upsurge of earthquakes and gas rises. The observatory of volcanology and seismology issues a weekly report. The last eruption of Mount Pelée caused more than 30,000 deaths and dates from May 8, 1902, it is one of the most destructive episodes of modern times. The Pelee is characterized by explosive eruptions, rare but violent.
The Other Islands also called Windward and Leeward Islands outside of the Caribbean
As soon as there are islands and wind, there is a “windward” and a “leeward” coast. Although the terms are usually used for the Caribbean islands, we also speak of the Windward and Leeward Islands in Polynesia, Cape Verde or even in Hawaii.
The Windwards and Leeward Islands of Polynesia
In French Polynesia, the islands of the society are spread over 720 kilometers in the Pacific Ocean and 1680 km2 of land. They are divided into two, the Windward Islands (Windward) and the Leeward Islands (Leeward).
To the east, the Windward Islands protect the Leeward Islands from the trade winds coming from the southeast. The Windward Islands consist of 4 high islands and an atoll: Tahiti, the main island, Moorea, Maiao, Mehetia and Tetiaroa atoll.
The Leeward Islands of Polynesia consist of the mountainous volcanic islands of Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine and Bora Bora, as well as the atolls of Maupiti, Maupihaa, Tupai, Manuae and Motu One.
The Windward and Leeward islands of Cape Verde
Cape Verde, located off the African coast, consists of a group of 9 inhabited islands, one uninhabited island, and islets.
These islands are divided into two groups: the “Islas de barlovento” (windward islands), in the North, and the “Islas de sotavento” (leeward islands), in the South.
These last ones are protected from the trade winds coming from the North-East thanks to the windward islands “in the wind” (Barlovento).
The Windward Islands of Cape Verde consist of the islands of Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia (uninhabited), São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista, and the islets Branco and Raso.
The Leeward Islands or Sotavento include Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Bravo, as well as the islets Grande, Luis Carneiro, and Cima, the Rombos.
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Windward islands are islands you can reach by boat following the trade-winds. Leeward islands are islands located the opposite direction of the trade-winds.
Any archipelago can have windward and leeward islands. However, the most famous windward and leeward islands are in the Caribbean, in Polynesia and in Cabo Verde.
The Windward islands in the Caribbean are Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenada.
The Leeward islands of the Caribbeans are the virgin islands (BVI and USVI), Saint-Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Bermuda, Montserrat, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy and Guadeloupe for the most famous.
The Windward Islands of Polynesia are Tahiti, Moorea, Maiao and Mehetia, along with Tetiaroa atoll.
The Leeward Islands of Polynesia include Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahaa and Huanine, along with atolls such as Maupiti, Maupihaa, Tupai, Manuae or Motu One.
The Windward Islands of Cabo Verde are called the “islas de Barlovento”. They include : Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista, along with the islets Branco and Raso.
The Leeward Islands of Cabo Verde are called the “islas de Sotavento”. They include: Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Bravo, as well as the islets Grande, Luis Carneiro, Cima and the Rombos.
