St. Kitts to Tortola

The Leeward Islands include 200 miles of beautiful blue and turquoise Caribbean water with 10 major islands. The Renaissance Islands, consisting of St. Martin, St. Barts, and Anguila were formed as the Atlantic tectonic plate pushed under the Caribbean plate forcing it above the surface. The Islands That Brush The Clouds, including Saba, Statia, and St. Kitts are small volcanic islands that rise steeply from the sea till their peaks touch the clouds. St. Kitts, the largest and tallest, is nearly 4,000 feet high while Statia reaches only 2,000 feet and is merely five miles long. The high mountains trap passing moisture which keeps them lush and green. The ancorages are spectacularly attractive and the interior is majestic and alluring.

Executive Summary

We will depart Newark airport on the Friday evening before Thanksgiving for St. Kitts and board our yacht. Saturday morning we will make final preparations in Basseterre on St. Kitts and enjoy the next day ashore exploring the town, mountains, volcanoes, and rain forests. We next sail for Statia where we will hike four hours up the volcano and down in to the Quill crater (dense rain forest). The following day we will sail for Gustavia on St. Barts. Here, we party with the best and enjoy some excellent water sports, snorkeling, scuba diving, wind surfing, and the festivities of town with an excellent night life. We may enjoy an evening at Anguila before our night sail to Tortola where we will have a few more days to relax. Our plane departs for Newark on Tuesday 2 December a most excellent and long vacation before the long, cold, dark winter.

Highlights

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

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 US dollar in Tortola and Eastern Caribbean Currency in the other islands.

Language spoken is mostly English.

Islands Visited

St. Kitts has a population of 90,000 of which half are greenback monkeys living in the tall mountains and rain forests. The island has a steep central mountain range rising 3,750 feet high. The land between the mountains and the sea is gently sloping and fertile. The roads that go round this lower land are relatively flat and easy to drive on. The town of Basseterre is quite pleasant with the usual shops and Carib charm. Our exploration by jeep will begin at the old fort at Brimstone Hill. The 3,700' mountain range is a whole different world of cool dark rain forest, windy elfin woodlands, volcanic craters and lakes. There is a 9 hour expedition offered by Greg Pereira whose delightful anecdotes about the local trees and animals add to the wondrous hike to the top of Mount Liamuiga (Mt. Misery) with an excellent view of Statia. The descent into a 1,000 foot crater passes several steaming vents. The sugar factory tour is most interesting and they'll fill our jugs with a gallon of molasses at an unbeatable price. The southern part of St. Kitts is connected to the main island by a long narrow peninsula. It is relatively dry with cacti, century plants, and flocks of sandpipers that feed in the shallow ponds.

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 tranquillity. 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.

Tortola is the center of the British Virgin Islands and our final destination. Road Town is the capital of the British Virgin Islands and is the location of our charter base. There are two excellent grocery stores for provisioning - one within walking distance and the other, larger store, is a short taxi ride away. Although there are numerous restaurants, pubs, shops, and attractions, we will spend only enough time to prepare for our journey to some of the more remote islands and anchorages. Cooper Island is a short sail from Road Town and we will anchor in Machioneel Bay on the northwestern coast. Here, you will find beautiful palm groves, a beach, and good swimming in crystal-clear, turquoise water. The home owners are protective of their small estates so take care when you hike to avoid private property. The Cooper Island Beach Club has a quaint bar and restaurant that is most excellent for a late afternoon cocktail. Peter Island is quite beautiful with an elegant resort and numerous narrow, paved roads that provide excellent hiking between beaches inaccessible to yachts. The restaurant at the resort is excellent but quite expensive. The snorkeling is quite good near the hotel and at several of the nearby beaches.

The Sailing Experience

Live aboard is quite relaxed.  While most of the time you will enjoy laying in the sun on deck or in the shade of the bimini canopy, you will be able to participate in the sailing of the vessel.  Each boat has a mix of experienced sailors and novices - with a common interest in having fun.  The skippers and first mates have experience sailing and teaching in the Caribbean so you will be sure to enjoy your experience.  For those interested in learning, you will have opportunities to help anchor, set the sails, navigate, and work the stations aboard.  We will sail every other day for about four hours on the average with a long overnight sail at the very end of our cruise.  This will take us from Anguilla to Tortola.  During this passage we will set up two-hour watches and everyone will get a chance to help.

We all help with the cooking and daily life activities.  Most meals are eaten topside under the stars with our favorite music playing.  Some of our anchorages will be remote and very picturesque with no stores nearby.  Other anchorages will be close to action and nightlife.  We will eat out half of the time and cook aboard the rest of the time.  Most meals aboard include a salid, appetizer, entree consisting of fish, chicken, or pasta, fruit and cookies for dessert.  Mixed drinks, especially run, are a specialty of the islands.  The cabins are modest in size and very comfortable.  Many find sleeping on deck a most pleasant experience though it frequently rains for brief periods during the night.

We like to start our days early, because by late morning the islands can get very hot.  Sailing early also has the advantage of arriving early at an anchorage and getting the best location.  Sunsets can be quite spectacular.  It is a time when the day starts to cool, lots of fish can be seen swimming about the boat, and preparations for the evening festivities get underway.  Coctails are prepared, dinner is contemplated, and plans are made for the night are created.  Just as the sun goes down, when the light starts to dim, the spectacle of colors above the horizon are like a painter's palette and a vision of beauty - a sailor's delight.

Special Considerations

• Be sure you have your passport.
• Be sure you have boat shoes.
• Be sure you have a bathing suit.
• Bring some cassette tapes (music).

Sea Sickness

The most popular medications for sea sickness are Bonine and the accu-pressure wrist bands.

Basic Sailing Checklist

Pack the following equipment in a soft duffel bag or a day pack. All clothing should be light-weight and light-colored. Note that this is just a checklist and represents suggestions based on past trips. Your passport and boat shoes are required items.

This Sailing Adventure Includes

§ Credit Card Calls Not Included

Signing Up

To sign up, complete the secure form or contact 908-512-9039. Prices include round trip flight from Newark on American Airlines, accommodations aboard the yacht, and skipper. Food is reasonably priced and we eat aboard about every other night.