Leeward Islands

[Merritt]

Hi
I would stay away form Isle Fourche, St. Barts is Great.
St. Kitts is OK hiking the volcano is a must do , downtown is dreary, but there are some nice anchorages in the south where all the tourism development is happening see it before it is ruined.
Montserrat is wonderful. ( take a tour of Plymouth)
Antigua is also great, stay in English Harbor. And Barbuda is a must do , pink sand beaches nobody there.
This is too much for a wek though evenr too much for two weeks. Also doing the BVIs on top of this is too ambituous. You want time to enjoy these islands and there is a lot of distance between them. I would sail clockwise starting in St. Martin going to Barbuda and Antigua and Monsterrat, St. Kitts and Barts. I wouldn't stress too much about customs they are lazy corrupt and a hassle. If you don't check in nobody will know or care.

[Catopia]

Thanks for the answers. We will be repositioning our boat to the BVI so will only have about 4-6 days in St Martin and surrounding. I don't want to hang around too long due to the time of year. I think we will hit Anguilla, with permit, then clockwise around St Martin and head out from Simpson Bay when done. From what I have been reading Prickly Pear Island is on the list.

[Merritt]

Sounds good
Happy sailing.

[Merritt]

One bit of advice, watch out for shoals, the chart soundings are sometime form the 1800s, so when circling St. Martin stay well outside.

[rtbates]

Go to St Lucia for waterfalls / beautiful jungle covered terrain...

[luv2]

" I wouldn't stress too much about customs they are lazy corrupt and a hassle. If you don't check in nobody will know or care."

With regards to this statement, is this true? I have chartered out of the Leewaed Islands a few times and I always wonder if I am the only one who checks in and out of each country. I get the impression from the charter company that clearing in and out may not always be neccessary but they won't say it out loud. Does anyone have any insight into this matter? I am more concerned with the huge time committment involved because we never stay more than two nights in any one place.

[bruce smith]

I dunno about that.
In Islands or anchorages where there is a fee, they want their money, better believe it.
English and Falmouth Harbors, Nevis(mooring field), definitely Anguilla, Sint Maarten, St barts.
In st barts they will be knocking on the boat pronto.
On an aside, if one owns the boat ( not a bareboat) and stays in Sandy Ground, Anguilla, it is free free free! Not much of that anymore.

Dominica tries to make it easy, it is cheap , and they give you a clearance to leave when you enter, up to 2 weeks I think. A little common sense actually happened there.

[luv2]

Okay, thanks. Not to hijack this thread but it seemed like pertinent info to the original question. If you are only anchoring in a bay and not going on-shore can you fly a "Q" flag and just leave in the morning without clearing in or out? Can you do that for more than one night?

[bruce smith]

I never use the yellow flag.
I do sometimes anchor and rest without going ashore .

[sck5]

Yes you can yellow flag and not go ashore. I have done this in st. bart (Anse Columbier where we didnt want to go ashore because everything we wanted to see was under water) and also Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe because we were just hopping up the chain one island per day and didnt go ashore or check in. But I wouldnt try it in Antigua. Anguilla wanted us to check in but were free and very easy and laid back about it ("Its late and we're going home now so please come back and check in tomorrow but feel free to go to those restaurants over there") . St. Martin wants their fees but I wonder if they actually know?

[LJH]

In Antigua check in and our through Jolly Harbour (cheaper than English Harbour). French Islands cost about 3 Euro to clear customs. West coast of Guadeloupe Deshaies to Les Saintes then down to Portsmouth Dominca would fit the bill for you. Head back north by way of Stacia or Saba.