Totally tropical: Seek the sun on a scorching winter break

With 60 miles of stunning coastline, an azure sea and a good breeze, Barbados simply cries out for a day on a yacht. We joined the crew of The Dynamite Idea, an 80ft super-yacht setting sail from St Michael as part of the annual Mount Gay Regatta.

Taking part in this international festival is a privilege, but as a first-time sailor I was very nervous. Luckily our crew, captained by Clint Brooks – a third-generation Bajan with a lilting Barbadian accent, a weathered face and boating in his blood – were all experienced.

Plus my on-board job sounded pretty simple: to add weight to the boat (apparently, every pound helps balance the boat as it turns). We didn’t win, but it was inspiring to see the team work together and my maiden voyage offered a unique way to experience Barbados.

Back on dry land, we headed for dinner at The Cliff (thecliffbarbados.com). An elegant restaurant facing east into the Caribbean Sea, serving beautifully presented local seafood, this is the perfect place to watch the sun set.

It’s easy to see why Barbados is the celebrity des res of choice: miles of golden sand, a sea that’s seven shades of twinkling turquoise and delicious food – not to mention the local party spirit. Every Friday crowds descend on Oistins Bay for a massive open-air cook-up known as Oistins Fish Fry.

We had our dinner at Angel’s, a small unassuming cafeteria with trestle tables and plastic chairs, but the platters of fresh fish, lobster, and calamari were sublime, and were washed down by rum cocktails – all for a bargain $20.

Once the rum takes hold, the party really starts, with Djs warming up the crowd and people relaxing into the street-party spirit. As we found out that night, any visit to Barbados should include a pit stop at a rum shack.

These small roadside fixtures are where locals meet to chat and socialise, and are a far cry from the sweeping five-star resorts where the rich play golf. Here, people play dominoes, sing karaoke and enjoy rum and ginger beer. And with the help of some regular punters, we soon joined a dominoes game and got completely into it.

Rum plays a large part in the Barbados economy and at the Mount Gay Rum visitors centre in the island’s capital, Bridgetown, you can sample some of the rare varieties while learning about the history, blending and bottling process.

For centuries, ships have taken Barbadian rum and sugar cane around the world, and now the rest of the world can’t wait to come to Barbados to sample everything it has to offer.

Benita stayed at the Hilton Barbados, Needham’s Point St Michael (hiltonbarbadoshotel.com). The 2015 Mount Gay Regatta is from January 16 to 24. See mountgayrumroundbarbadosrace.com. Virgin Atlantic (0844 209 2770, virgin-atlantic.com) flies daily to Barbados from London Gatwick from £274 plus £329.49 tax.

THE MALDIVES BY LAURA MULLEY