Rhythm & Sails Is A Life-Changing Musical Experience

Showing up to the marina on day one of Rhythm & Sails is sort of like walking into Willy Wonka’s Music Factory. After a short drive from the St. Vincent’s Argyle International Airport, you exit the shuttle to see the full lineup of artists. They welcome you at the entrance with lively tunes as the crew, who already knows you by name, hands you a cold beer.

The energy is high but little do you know about the insanely good week you’re about to have and, actually, that makes it even better.

Now entering its fifth year as a one-of-a-kind sailing and live music experience, Rhythm & Sails remains a bit of an alluring mystery to folks who have yet to experience it. Yes, you’ve seen the photos and videos of beautiful yachts, tropical islands and concerts under the stars, but do you really know what goes on down there?

It’s unclear if the nature of the trip makes it hard to fully convey through their channels or they really just don’t want you to know all their secrets before taking the plunge. Judging by the reaction of past guests and artists, however, they seem to know what they’re doing.

“Rhythm & Sails is the definitive, life-changing musical experience,” says Torrin Daniels of the Kitchen Dwellers. Daniels joined the voyage through St. Vincent & the Grenadines last spring and is excited to be returning in May 2025. “If you’re searching for an opportunity to fully immerse yourself in a moment of truly undefinable joy and beauty, this is it. The R&S crew have worked their asses off to combine the cultures of sailing and music festivals in a righteously astounding way and they’re the very best at sharing it with folks. To be very candid, this is the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten the opportunity to do and the wildest place music has ever taken me.”

Knowing that artists like Daniels are fortunate enough to travel to beautiful places year-round, this statement certainly holds some weight.

After meeting the crew and artists, guests are led down the dock where they step aboard one of the luxury catamarans that will be their home for a week. By now, the crew has gone to great lengths to ensure the boats are in perfect condition. The kitchen is stocked with fresh fish, produce, snacks and, of course, a bounty of rum, beer, champagne and any other requests that guests have noted in their pre-trip conversations with their hosts. No stone is left unturned as the crew aims to create a supremely personalized experience.

Once all the guests have settled into their cabins, a kick-off meeting takes place on one of the yachts. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are passed under the afternoon sun as Music Director Anders Beck, of Greensky Bluegrass, paints the picture of what guests will be treated to during the week.

“R&S is nothing like you can imagine,” says Megan Letts of Mama Magnolia. Letts will be returning for her third tour of duty in May 2025, bringing a bevy of instrumental talent to complement her commanding vocals. “You wake up to the gentle sway of the ocean, take your morning dip with a few sea turtles and glowing fish, and are then treated to delicious tropical fruit for breakfast. Throughout the day you’re surrounded by your new best friends, jaw-dropping scenery and music performed just for you—often on a private island, white sand beach or in a palm tree forest. You walk away from this trip with memories you thought you’d only have in dreams and a group of 20-plus new best friends, including some of your favorite musicians.”

That last part is another aspect that makes R&S truly unique. With most destination music travel, there’s a divide between artists and guests. You’re staying at a hotel with the rest of the audience, while the artists are shacked up at an Airbnb or different hotel nearby. When you’re on R&S though, you’re literally on a vacation with the artists.

The boats sail together from one island to the next, usually one-and-a-half to three hours per sail, then anchor next to each other in beautiful bays. From there, the artists and guests do everything together — share meals, go snorkeling, explore the islands. Beck even leads the SCUBA outings. It’s like nothing else out there.

Booking is currently live for May 3-9, 2025, with limited space available. To get on the trip, you just need to inquire on the website. The R&S crew will then set up a phone call to talk through the trip with you, answer any questions and do a quick vibe check to ensure you and the other guests are going to add to it, rather than detract from it. Trust us, this is a good thing.

If you’re looking for a more of a detailed rundown of the experience, JamBase’s Court Scott was lucky enough to join R&S and came back with a full report. It’s safe to say, she thinks you should go.

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[Sponsored content: Rhythm & Sails is a JamBase partner.]