The Beginning

  In 1986, Martin Barnard and his daughter, Joanne, founded Barefoot Holidays, a travel company with offices in St. Vincent, Barbados, and St. Lucia. This marked the start of the Barnard family’s deep involvement in Caribbean tourism, aiming to highlight the beauty of the islands through personalized travel services. Their commitment to enhancing the visitor experience played a transformative role in the region’s tourism landscape.

Expanding Horizons

  In 1990, Mary Barnard expanded the family’s footprint by founding Barefoot Yacht Charters, which soon became a leading yacht charter company in the southern Caribbean. Mary recognized the growing demand for intimate, personalized yacht experiences and set Barefoot apart by offering private sailboats and catamarans to explore the pristine waters of the Grenadines. Barefoot attracted a global clientele, establishing the Grenadines as a top destination for yacht enthusiasts.

Seamless Travel Innovation

   One of the Barnards’ most innovative ideas was integrating their yacht charter and airline services. They offer yacht guests a unique option to sail downwind through the Grenadines and fly back with SVG Air, while a captain returns the yacht to base. This combination allows guests to maximize their time exploring the islands without the inconvenience of upwind sailing, enhancing their overall experience.

   This seamless integration of air and sea travel showed the Barnards’ deep understanding of their customers’ needs and solidified Barefoot Yacht Charters and SVG Air as complementary services that added significant value to each other. By connecting travelers to their desired experiences more efficiently, the Barnards helped position the Grenadines as a premier sailing and travel destination.

Supporting the Yachting Community

    For over three decades, SVG Air has been the go-to airline for the island communities, as well as for yacht enthusiasts throughout the Caribbean. The airline’s daily flights ensure smooth access to key marinas, making it an essential service for yacht crews, owners, and charter guests. Whether delivering spare parts, transporting crew members, or offering transfers for guests, SVG Air plays a critical role in the smooth operation of the yachting industry in the region. By keeping yachts connected and supplied from Grenada to Antigua, SVG Air helps enhance the luxury sailing experience. As demand for these services continues to grow, the airline is committed to expanding its support for the yachting community and broader tourism industry.

Sailing Education & Leadership

   Beyond yacht charters, the Barnard family’s contributions extend to sailing education. Mary Barnard founded Barefoot Offshore Sailing School, which offers courses for sailors at all levels, from basic skills to advanced offshore and celestial navigation. The school’s high-quality instruction and the varied sailing conditions of the Grenadines make it a top destination for students worldwide.

Expansion to New Islands

   For 14 years, SVG Air managed airlift for Mustique, and for 34 years, Canouan. In 2011, the governments of Antigua and Montserrat invited SVG Air to provide air services to these islands and in 2021, SVG Air signed a contract with the Government of Grenada to operate Twin Otter services between Grenada, Carriacou, and St. Vincent. They continue to provide these services, with plans to upgrade operations with two new Twin Otters. Today, SVG Air remains the exclusive air provider for many distinguished clients and resorts and is the only scheduled carrier to the Grenadines and Barbuda.

Expanding Convenience

  As of 24th November 2024, SVG Air started flying from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Castries St. Lucia, Canefield Dominica, and Antigua, returning in the afternoon, allowing day tour guests and businesspersons the opportunity to conveniently explore these destinations or conduct business with same-day travel, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in their travel plans.

A Lasting Legacy

   The Barnard family’s story is one of vision, innovation, and a deep love for the Caribbean. Through the creation of SVG Air and Barefoot Yacht Charters, Martin and Mary Barnard helped lay the foundation for businesses that have become cornerstones of the region’s tourism and transportation sectors. Their commitment to offering exceptional experiences by both air and sea has enriched the lives of countless visitors and locals alike.