St. Maarten Questions SXM

[siggins]

It looks like I will be chartering a monohull from Dream Yacht Charters out of Marigot. I was looking for a real short term charter (4 nights, 5:30pm on July 27th to 11am or so on July 31st). Did I mess up trying to leave on a Sunday?


Couple of questions:


1. What would be 2 destinations recommended? St Barths , Anguilla? We are looking for a very easy going trip with long stops preferably at a mooring. I am not looking necessarily for serene here but don't want to miss any beautiful must see places. I prefer to settle a bit and enjoy the on shore options (rest/bars etc)

2. I was thinking of leaving on a Sunday out of Marigot, is it possible? (Is customs open? do I need to check out .. can it be on Saturday night?)

3. How does the immigrations check in/out work on the other possible destinations?

4. Is it too far to go down to St. Kitts/Nevis and back, is it worth it?

[ohdrinkboy]

My experience is 4 yrs old, but not many moorings in the sailing area. A few at Tintamarre and Ile Fourche. Doubtful you can do St. Barts and Anguilla in one trip. If you like french culture more go to St. Barts. If you like english culture more go to Anguilla.

Be aware that this is open ocean sailing with the possibility of large seas on the windward side of the islands.

I could easily do 4 days between Tintamarre (settled weather only for overnight), Orient Bay and Grand Case.

[MarkJ]

St Kitts and Nevis are too far.

Being a charter boat on the French side and only going for 4 days leaving Sunday I would not clear out of SXM.
Head Marigot to Grand Case and stay overnight for resturants
Next day Isle Fourchu mooring ball (free) overnight. Nothing. No resturants, no bars nothing at all - see photo below
Next Day Gustavia, St Barts Eat and grow poor. Do NOT clear in.
Last day St Barts to Marigot dump boat and eat on French side Marina Royal.



Isle Fourchu... and no she aint no waitress at some local resturaunt!

[neilpride]

You can check out in Port La royale in saturday afternoon, and departure sunday, i recommend to check out because if you sail to st barth there is a patrol boat moving around gustavia asking if you check in or out, is up to you, Anguilla same, take customs seriously.... to avoid troubles....

If you want to make St barth the logical way is to follow the Grand case side of the island and jump to st barth from the east side of the island .
Enjoy the trip...

[Teknav]

You may not find anyone from customs on Sunday to greet you, on the French side. Landing at SXM, the dutch side, customs are present 24/7. Weekends are sacred to the French, so don't expect any lively reception. Just go the next day and present your paper work; the French are very laid back and very nice to work with. St. Barths is a picture post card island, but very pricey. It caters to movie stars and the like; beaches are OK, but not spectacular. It will help if you can speak a little French; don't forget to buy some baguettes (bread=pain) and Roquefort (cheese=frommage). I would recommend Anguilla for its spectacular white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Look up Frommers.com for places to see and things to do in both islands. <HINT: Try to extend your stay by another 3-5 days!> Bon Voyage! Sail away!

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[siggins]

I love the responses. This is all good info. When you say possibility of large seas what exactly do you mean? I've done storms and some pretty rough conditions on many occasions.


As well what is the probability? Are we looking at a greater than 50% chance we will have swells over 6-8 ft?

Or should we be expecting something like 4-6 ft swells?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by siggins

I've done storms and some pretty rough conditions on many occasions.

I dont think you will find anything you can't handle.
People here have the expectation that all people who charter boats are thick witted, wet-behind-the-ears, dumber than dumb, totaly and utter newbies to sailing, boats, water, travel, living ouside Mums apron strings.

[gbanker]

Second MarkJ. One thing to add might be to think about getting inside the harbor in St Barts as it can be quite rolly in the anchorage at times. Enjoy!

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

St Kitts and Nevis are too far.

Being a charter boat on the French side and only going for 4 days leaving Sunday I would not clear out of SXM.
Head Marigot to Grand Case and stay overnight for resturants
Next day Isle Fourchu mooring ball (free) overnight. Nothing. No resturants, no bars nothing at all - see photo below
Next Day Gustavia, St Barts Eat and grow poor. Do NOT clear in.
Last day St Barts to Marigot dump boat and eat on French side Marina Royal.



Isle Fourchu... and no she aint no waitress at some local resturaunt!

We're killing time in St Martin waiting for a window to head to Panama
so this is a very helpful thread... good stuff here.

Vic
PS. I AM referring to the suggested anchorages only!

[ohdrinkboy]

If you have done ocean sailing in rough weather you will be fine. Oyster Pond the waves can really build because it goes from deep water to reef in short order. We chartered a 41 Lagoon out of there and when I was at the mast I had a few waves break on me (literally) coming out of Oyster Pond. This can be a big change from the BVIs if that was your only experience.

[sck5]

consider anse colombier on the west end of st. bart instead of ile forchue. Large anchorage, protected nature area, great snorkelling. nothing on shore but you can land and lie on the beach if you like

[Highland Fling]

Check out at Port Royal Marina (at the top end of the Lagoon) ASAP Saturday

Pop out the French bridge ASAP

DONT forget to wave to MIKE at Shrimpy's

Motor sail to Tintamare pick up a mooring
Sail over to Fourcehe for a lunch time stop
Sail over to Colombier
Sit on a mooring in Colombier till you want to return to SXM (Yellow Flag STB) OR go into Gustavia and check in AND out all at the same time then wander around Gustavia before going back to Colombier to overnight there

Sail back to SXM on the south side this time passing Great Bay Philpsburg then pass Simpson Bay and find a nice anchorage on one of the bays past the airport but before you turn the corner into Marigot Bay.....DON'T anchor in Maho Bay unless you want to get dumped on the runway by a low flying B747 or A340