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 Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollar, except for Martinique where the French franc is used.

Language spoken is mostly English and French in Martinique.

Islands Visited

St. Lucia

St. Lucia has a population of over 150,000 with temperatures ranging from 83° to 88°F.  The rainy season is from June to early or mid November.  We expect sunny days and a pleasant breeze.  It usually rains briefly at night.

Rodney Bay is a long bay with an island in the north connected by a causeway, a completely protected inner lagoon, and a two beautiful anchorages.   Pigeon Island, in the north corner of the bay, is now a museum and park hosting an old fort, hospital, barracks, and storerooms.  There is some snorkeling around Pigeon Island though the scuba is not great here, compared to other places.  The hike on Pigeon Island is most excellent and the views are rewarding.  Inside the protected inner lagoon are two anchorages, Rodney Bay Marina, and easy access to the small town of Gros Islet.   Just outside the lagoon is Reduit Beach, considered on of the finest beaches on St. Lucia.  Ashore, there is plenty of shopping for provisions, handicrafts and local art.  There are numerous restaurants.

Castries and Vigie is next to the Vigie airport and is conveniently located for shopping and services.  The attraction to Vigie is Jimmie's Restaurant which is considered St. Lucia's best seafood restaurant.  There is a tropical garden setting with a view across the bay.  Though we will not anchor the boats here, we will plan to stop at Jimmie's for lunch when we rent a car to explore the island's interior.

Marigot Bay is a spectacular anchorage that is well protected from the sea and winds.  There is a cute little yacht club and boutiques.  The bus to town comes to within a mile of the anchorage though taxis are also available at the resort.  There are a couple good restaurants, swimming pool, sailboarding, and other fun things to do within walking distance of the boat.  Excellent bars and night life.   The Moorings Scuba Center is a PADI training facility with excellent short courses and full certification courses.  They offer dives for certified divers to the prime diving area, including Soufriere.

Anse Cochon is an excellent daytime anchorage in good weather.   It is a small bay with an attractive beach.  The snorkeling off the rocky northern headland is only fair.

Soufriere and the Pitons is exceptionally beautiful and is dominated by two towering Pitons.  The town of Soufriere is small, rustic, and picturesque.   A scuba dive site right off the Anse Chastenet beach is "outstanding" and definitely a "must" for scuba divers.  This area is part of the marine national park with excellent underwater reefs just off the beach.  Hummingbird is another scenic anchorage with two good dives close to the anchorage.  Snorkeling in this area is also excellent.  Ashore are many boutiques, handicrafts, and restaurants.  The Soufriere area has many interesting on-shore activities.   There are Sulfur Springs with barren brightly colored bubbling earth and huge spurts of steam; hot Diamond Baths set amid well tended tropical garden; the Soufriere Estate; and, a Museum and mini zoo.  Hiking in the rain forest area near Morne Fond St. Jacques is excellent.  The view from the Pitons is sensational.

Vieux Fort is a charming town with old wooden buildings and a large fishing fleet.  East of town, the Maria Islands are a nature reserve with unique wildlife.  An energetic hike up the Moule a Chique lighthouse provides a great view.   Twenty-four miles south is the tip of St. Vincent.

Martinique

The passage from Rodney Bay to the southwestern tip of Martinique is about 26 miles, a four hour sail.  Our plan is to sail straight to Fort de France, check in through customs, and spend the evening exploring the town.  The next day, we will rent jeeps and tour the island where we expect to find tall volcanic mountains, lush rain forests, and interesting villages along the shore.  The next day, we will sail south towards St. Anne stopping in one of the other anchorages along the way for one night.  St. Anne has customs and is a good jumping-off point for our sail southward back to St. Lucia.

St. Anne is a pretty town with excellent restaurants and good scuba diving.  The shrine above the town is just a short, energetic walk along a walled path.  The French Creole style food is very reasonably priced and the ambiance is unique.  Just past the town is a cul-de-sac and a small, quiet town called Marin.   It is undiscovered by tourism and untouched by commercialization.

Petit Anses D'Arlet is a photogenic village with a church near the waterfront.  There are only a few shops ashore and one good restaurant.  The snorkeling and scuba diving is pretty good in the southeastern corner of the bay.

Grand Anse D'Arlet is a picturesque fishing village set on a white sand beach which houses numerous dug out fishing pirogues.  Good restaurants. Snorkeling is interesting all along the headland between Grand Anse D'Arlet and Petit Anses D'Arlet.

Anse Noire is tiny bay with colorful cliffs that rise on the southern headland and a steep hill on the northern one.  A black sand beach at the head of the bay is backed by palms, behind which a steep jungle valley rises into the mountains.   A hike up the river behind the beach is way-cool.  The snorkeling along the edges of the bay is good.  There's a large bat cave nearby.

Fort de France is a major shopping spree and the largest city in the Windward Islands.  Here, we will spend a few hours touring the town, then rent cars and explore the interior of the island.  There are two large mountains, the tallest reaching 4,800' on the northern tip of the island.

The Sailing Experience

Life 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. 

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 night life.  We will eat out half of the time and cook aboard the rest of the time.  Most meals aboard include a salad, 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.  Cocktails 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

03/25/03
The Legal Stuff
Copyright © 1998 Adventure Club.
All rights reserved.