Executive Summary

We will depart Newark airport on the Sunday 26 December, the day after Christmas and fly to St. Martin, where we will start our sailing adventure.  Monday morning, we will make final preparations and set sail for Saba, about a four hour sail.  We will anchor , clear customs, snorkel, and relax for the evening. On Tuesday, we will explore the countryside by taxi and enjoy the quaint little towns. This is an excellent island to snorkel and scuba dive.  There are a couple great hikes with spectacular views of the island atop the central volcano.  Our next sail will be to Statia, where we will hike four hours up the volcano and down in to the Quill crater (dense rain forest). The next morning, we will sail five hours to Gustavia on St. Barts where we will dock in town and make preparations for a most excellent New Year's celebration.  You will enjoy a totally wild party among some of the most exclusive yachts in the Caribbean.  We will sail to St. Martin on Saturday afternoon.  On Sunday 2 January 2000, we will return home after spending the first day of the new century enjoying a piece of paradise.

Highlights

Passports are required and visas are not for Americans and most other nationals.

The weather is sunny and warm all year in the tropics. The prevailing wind is from the northeast at 10 to 25 knots and it usually rains for a few minutes every day. Temperatures are 78º to 85ºF year around.

Activities include beach combing, snorkeling, jeeping, gourmet dining, scuba diving, wind surfing, horse back riding, shopping, all with numerous photo opportunities.

Currency is the French Franc in St. Barts and St. Martin.

Language spoken is English in Saba and French in St. Martin and St. Barts.  Almost all of the people speak some English.

Health risks are few but important.  They are similar when traveling almost anywhere in the Caribbean.

• Treat any and all cuts or abrasions with an anti-bacterial first aid cream such as Neosporin.
• Avoid drinking the local water without treating or filtering it.  Lomotil or Imodium is best relief.
• Avoid excessive exposure to the sun and heat.
• Beware of fungal infections between toes or fingers, etc.  Avoid contact with local pets.
• Avoid fire coral, jellyfish, stone fish, and staphylococcus bacteria.  Wear reef shoes or sneakers.
• Beware of sexually transmitted diseases.

The Sailing Adventure

St. Martin is blessed with a multitude of superb white sand beaches backed by pleasantly scenic hills. The northern half is French and the southern half Dutch. Our charter is based at Oyster Pond on the eastern coast of St. Martin. Phillipsburg, the capital of Sint Maarten (Dutch), is on the southern coast of the island. The town is basically two main streets - Front Street and Back Street. There are endless boutiques, fine porcelain, jewelry, crafts, and gifts - excellent for Christmas gifts.

Saba is two miles in diameter and looks like a ferry tale picture of a forbidden land. The lofty mountains reach 3,000 feet and tall cliffs of red, pink, and brown rise vertically from the sea. It is the Shangri-La of the Caribbean. The island lacks beaches and attracts visitors to its isolated Caribbean style and villages of white-washed, red roofed cottages that are of a time in the last century. There are cobblestone streets, low stone walls, and small stone churches. The spectacularly beautiful anchorage of Well's Bay is nestled below high cliffs with huge rocks embedded in them. Here is some of the best Caribbean snorkeling. Bottom, a charming and photogenic village, was built in a crater-like hollow. Windwardside, the other village, has more shops and restaurants. The roads are narrow and steep facing many sheer drops. A taxi tour is most appropriate. Hiking to the top of Mt. Scenery (3,000') is most excellent. The trail begins in Windwardside and is well maintained with 1,064 steps. The two hour hike has a most spectacular panoramic view. Snorkeling in the Marine Park at Wells Bay is awesome because they have marked underwater trails and a brochure at the park office. There are two tunnels and a cave to explore in waters packed with fish and turtles. The diving is outstanding with shallow dives as well as deep dives for experienced divers. Both a whale shark and a hammerhead have been sighted here at the Caribbean's "outer edge."

Statia (St. Eustatius) is a small island with a couple of houses amid old ruins that tumble into the sea. On top of the cliff, the small town peeks out through the trees. To the north a perfect volcanic cone looks down from 2,000 feet. Little movement breaks the unparalleled peace and tranquility. All along the shore a sea wall protects a long street of shops and warehouses. There are many excellent hiking trails and the scuba diving is superb. In addition to the main attractions of the town, the tourist office has an excellent hiking map. The most energetic and rewarding hike (3 hours) is up the volcano and down into the Quill crater. Going is a bit tough on the way up but gets easier once reaching the trees. At the rim, a path leads to the Mazinga - the highest point - but the growth is so dense that it does not offer the best views. A side trip along this trail for about 75 yards provides a great view into the crater. The dense rain forest in the crater has some of the largest trees in the Leewards with most amazing buttress roots, some 7 feet high. The bottom is quite eerie with rustling leaves and cooing doves (thousands).

St. Barts has the allure of a small island. The interior of St. Barts is the prettiest of the Renaissance Islands. We will rent jeeps and explore the country side. The roads are often cut into the sides of the mountains. Highlands include the wonderfully rugged southeast coast along Grand Fond, winding along the tiny mountain roads in Vitet, scrambling around the rocks at the end of the Columbier Road and buying intricate straw work from barefooted women in traditional dress in Corrossol. Anse de Grande Saline and Anse du Gouverneur are two fabulous secluded beaches surrounded by scenic cliffs and makes a great stop for a walk and a swim with a good little roadside creperie nearby. The end of the beach at Anse des Cayes is most excellent for body surfing. There is a tiny trail leading to Anse des Flamandes from Anse de Columbier - an adventurous half hour walk over hills with panoramic views of majestic rocks and offshore islands. Sweet smelling lilies and cactus grow along parts of the path. Past hollowed out cliffs is a most amazing beach with butterflies and birds. We will take time for a short walk over to Anse du Grand Galet otherwise known as "Shell Beach" and pick shells to our hearts content and then meet in the evening at Le Select, an informal bar with plenty of life.

Good Ideas

• Observe the zero tolerance for drugs. 
• Always wear nice clothes in public. 
• Always treat a cut or open wound with anti-bacteria solution like hydrogen peroxide. 
• Use insect repellent when on land. 
• Ask permission before photographing natives in private settings. 
• Be considerate of native people and property.

This Bare Boat Charter Trip Includes

Basic Sailing Checklist

Pack the following equipment in soft luggage and a day pack. 

Sign Up

To sign up, complete the secure form or contact 908-512-9039.  The total cost covers the boat, skipper, and flight from Newark, NJ (cost will be adjusted for other departure points). Food is very reasonably priced as we eat aboard most nights.  There are a few really cool restaurants though most of the anchorages are secluded and the villages are untouched by tourism and have no restaurants.

03/25/03
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