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Although
this island is barely 7 miles in each direction, it is perhaps
the best known holiday destination in the Leewards. It is
blessed with a multitude of superb white sand beaches, backed
by pleasantly scenic hills. Its fame has come from the way it
has embraced tourism wholeheartedly with casinos,
condominiums, and scores of hotels. The whole island is one
duty-free shopping plaza. Shopping is not restricted to cruise
ship passengers. Two of the Caribbean's biggest chandleries
are based here: Budget Marine and Island Water World. With the
help of their customers, they have generated enough buying
power to be able to offer excellent prices to yachts. Their
catalogue prices are a little higher than some US discount
prices, but in duty-free St. Martin a further ten percent
discount for cash in normal, and you can often negotiate more
substantial discounts, depending on the items ordered and how
much you are spending.
St.
Martin is divided across the middle. The northern part is
French; the southern part Dutch. There is a charming story,
completely unsupported by historical fact, that the French and
Dutch were so civilized that, rather than fight over the
island, they had a Frenchman armed with a bottle of wine walk
in one direction and a Dutchman equipped with a flask of gin
take the other. Where they met became the boundary, and the
French ended up with a bit more because the gin was stronger
than the wine.
In
the early days the island was important to the Dutch because
of the salt ponds in the southern part, which is why they
settled that half. St. Martin was successful for a time as a
producer of tobacco, and then of sugar. With the collapse of
the sugar market, it started a long decline. In 1939 an
attempt was made to halt this downward trend by making the
island completely duty-free.
The
strategy worked, and St. Martin slowly became the
Caribbean’s number one shopping mall. Today it thrives, with
about a million visitors annually. Hotels are everywhere,
cruise ships call daily, and there are many hundreds of
duty-free shops and restaurants, as well as over a dozen
casinos. The current boom has created so much work that many
cruising yachtspeople have found temporary jobs here.
In
recent times, this island has become the Caribbean's major
destinations for power superyachts. Our photo shows just a few
of them. They make a magnificent show in the winter season,
especially at bridge opening time, when they follow one
another into the lagoon in majestic line.
There
are excellent facilities for most kinds of yacht work, and
since the island is small, it doesn’t really matter where
you are. Technicians are used to visiting by car.
Both
the French and the Dutch sides have yacht clubs (Sint Maarten
Yacht Club and Yacht Club International de Marigot). Between
them they organize informal races, which can help the cruising
sailor get to know the local yachting community. The most
famous is the Heineken Regatta on the first full weekend in
March, a world-famous international event that draws many
famous yachts. Smaller events include a race to Anguilla in
November, the St. Martin’s Day Regatta on November 11, which
is sponsored by Mount Gay rum, and a race to Statia in
January. A big Laser regatta takes place the first weekend in
June. The Guavaberry Regatta to St. Kitts and Nevis offers the
best cruising fun. It is held on the last full moon of May or
the first full moon of June. Monohulls start at midnight, fast
multihulls the next morning. The first stop is St. Kitts,
followed by a race over to Nevis and a return race to St.
Martin. Plenty of social events with local people, plus you
can try drinking Guavaberry Liquor. There are also several
informal yacht races and many beach cat races out of Orient
Bay. If interested, ask at the yacht club in Simpson Bay.
Marine
parks exist on both sides. Yachts will be allowed to anchor in
all their usual haunts. Fishing, including spearfishing is not
allowed near any of the popular dive sites, including most of
the offshore islands and rocks. Moorings for divers and
snorkelers have been laid on many of the sites. These are not
for yachts, though yacht moorings are planned.
St.
Martin has good medical facilities. A good clinic, easily
accessible to the yachts, is in the complex by Simpson Bay
Marina. Check with Dr. Datema or Dr. Ubbo Tjaden.
Both
sides have emergency lifeboats, from a large rigid inflatable
to full ocean going rescue vessel. Call VHF:16 or dial 911.
click
map
to enlarge
since July 05
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St.
Martin - Sint
Maarten
