Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Donelan.
Hi Danny, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey with Savvy Sailing Charters began long before I officially launched the business. It was seeded in a deep emotional connection I formed with the traditional wooden sloops of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, the kind of connection that happens when culture grips you before you even know what to do with it.
I was working with the Grenada Board of Tourism at the time and found myself attending regattas like the Antigua Classic and the West Indies Regatta in St. Barts. These weren’t just races, they were living museums of Caribbean seafaring heritage. It was at one of those events that I first hosted a Grenadian-themed party aboard a locally built sloop. The reaction was unforgettable. Surrounded by luxury yachts and pristine white tents, it was our humble wooden vessel, steeped in history and music and food, that stole the show.
Later, while working with the late British businessman Peter de Savary at Port Louis Marina, I was put in charge of a traditional sloop. The day it launched in Petite Martinique, I was moved by the cultural pageantry — the singing women, the men in chorus hauling the boat into the water, the drums and banjos echoing stories of generations past. I knew then I was part of something rare and important. Sailing that boat became my escape from stress, my return to self.
Eventually, I wrote Peter a letter, expressing how deeply I loved that vessel. I couldn’t afford the market price, but I offered him a proposal: sell it to me at a price I could manage, and I’d ensure the boat continued to serve the island and visitors, carrying its story forward. That letter changed everything. I bought the boat. I turned 40. I left my salaried job and dove full-time into building Savvy Sailing Charters.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has had its waves, sometimes smooth sailing, other times high seas. COVID-19 was a storm in every sense. With no tourists for nearly a year and a half, I had to pivot hard. I moved to our sister island, Carriacou, for six months and helped build and run a bar just to stay afloat. I even built a wooden speedboat to keep my crew engaged and the business somewhat functional.
But beyond the pandemic, one of the most complex challenges has been keeping this 200-year-old boat-building tradition alive. My crew are not just sailors; they are craftsmen and cultural bearers. Yet storytelling doesn’t always come naturally to them. It took time and plenty of encouragement to shift their mindset from merely steering a boat to being ambassadors of our heritage. They had to learn to talk to guests about the regattas they’ve raced in, the boats they’ve built, and why it matters to keep this art form alive.
Another challenge has been competing in a market increasingly saturated with charters. I’ve always resisted the temptation to become a party boat. I knew Savvy had to offer something different, private, culturally immersive, and deeply Grenadian. That decision to charge premium rates and stick to them wasn’t always easy, but it’s what allowed me to build a business that honours its roots.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Savvy Sailing Charters offers private, authentic sailing experiences aboard traditional Grenadian sloops, wooden vessels hand-built by local craftsmen in Carriacou and Petite Martinique. We specialize in half-day snorkel trips, full-day sailing adventures, and romantic sunset cruises, each one designed to immerse guests in the beauty and cultural richness of our islands with Captains who are boat-builders themselves and first mates who are apprentice boat-builders.
But what sets us apart is not just the boats, it’s the story. These aren’t replicas. They are living pieces of our maritime heritage, and our captains and first mates are apprentice boat builders themselves. When you sail with Savvy, you’re not just gliding across turquoise waters, you’re traveling through history, tasting local cuisine, hearing island stories, and connecting with a way of life that’s slowly disappearing.
I’m proud that Savvy isn’t just a tourism business, it’s a form of cultural preservation. Our guests walk away with more than Instagrammable moments. They leave with a deeper understanding of who we are as a people and why it matters that these boats stay on the sea.
Pricing:
- Yes, here are our current pricing options for private charters (prices are in USD and cover up to 4 guests): Sunset Sail (approx. 2 hours): $450 Half-Day Snorkel Sail (Underwater Sculpture Park & Flamingo Bay): $650 Full-Day Sail (includes local lunch and Underwater Sculpture Park, Flamingo Bay and Calypso Bay): $1,000
- Additional Guests (up to 16 max): Sunset Sail: $45 per extra guest Half-Day Sail: $65 per extra guest Full-Day Sail: $100 per extra guest
Contact Info:
- Website: https://savvygrenada.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savvysailing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvygrenada/
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147296-d8454286-Reviews-Savvy_Sailing_Adventure-St_George_s_Saint_George_Parish_Grenada.html
