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The Caribbean is a popular spot for sailing and yachting adventures. These water sports are particularly popular on St. Maarten and St. Martin, because of the island's good marinas, moderate seas, and short-sail neighboring islands.
With its good winds and overall excellent sailing conditions, St. Maarten is a sailor's dream and in turn has the leading sailing venue in the Caribbean. St. Maarten hosts several annual sailing regattas, including the Heineken Regatta. This event, which is held in March, is one of the largest sailboat races in the Caribbean, and brings about 200 boats from two dozen different countries.
There are smaller sailing events throughout the year that is popular among boat owners and renters. Those interested in finding out more information about any of the island's sailing competitions contact the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Philipsburg at 599-0544-2079 or Dockside Management at 599-542-4096. Do to the popularity of the island's boating contests, those who don't have their own vessels and want to participate or watch from the water should make sure to reserve a boat early.
Boaters can sail the waters of St. Maarten and St. Martin without ever being too far away from another island. The island's port of entry is located in downtown Philipsburg, and is usually active with shopping cruise ship passengers. A combination of moderate waters and sheltered bays make sailing and yachting while in St. Martin an recommended experience.
Travelers who want to get out on the St. Maarten's and St. Martin's beautiful waters have several options available for finding a water craft that best fits their sailing or yachting needs.
Sailing Safety
Before setting out on your sailing yachting adventure vacationers should remember to be safe while out at sea so they can thoroughly enjoy their sailing trip. These are a few safety issues that vacationers can take into consideration while on the water:
Although the waters around St. Maarten and St. Martin are generally calm, boaters should be aware that the strongest currents and largest waves are closer to the Atlantic Ocean, which is north of most islands.
From January to March, the waters of the Caribbean are at their calmest. This is during the high season when most tourists visit the island, so you may experience some crowds and higher prices.
Hurricane season is from July to November this may make for choppier waters and not so smooth sailing conditions.
Kinds of Charter Boats
There are several kinds of boats that vacationers can choose from:
Bareboats are the most available boats for charter. With this kind of boat, you are completely in charge of the navigation of the vessel, and have to do everything yourself. Sailors who rent these boats should have ample experience as a skipper before setting sail. Some charter companies will even make renters present documentation of their sailing experience before they allow you to charter a boat.
Skippered bareboats charter out the boat as well as a skipper to guide you boat. These experienced skippers to come at an extra cost, which can be between $80(USD) to $120(USD) per day, but are well worth it for those with less experience on the water. Skippers can also serve as vacation guides, which can be helpful if you are not familiar with the area in which you are sailing.
Fully crewed charters provide both a captain and a crew. This kind of charter is usually on a more luxurious boat, and is more expensive than the other types of charters. In addition to the cost of the charter, your crew will expect a gratuity of 10 to 15 percent. This can be rather pricey of the cost of your charter is high, but the tips that the crew receives is about 30 to 40 percent of their income. Be sure to select a crew that fits in with your vacation style and the other members of your party.
Chartering a Yacht
There are several charter companies that have both crewed and bareboat charters available. The price of your boat trip will depend on the kind of boat you choose and the length of the charter.
| Charter Company | Contact Info |
| Nauters Swan Charter | 800-356-7926 (in the U.S.) 590-87-35-48 (in St. Martin) |
| Sunsail | 800-327-2276 (in the U.S.) 250-758-5965 (in Canada) 590-87-83-41 (in St. Martin) |
| The Moorings | 800-521-1126 (in the U.S.) 590-87-35-48 (in St. Martin) |
If you are uncertain about which charter company to choose, you can get the help of a charter broker who will the best type of charter for you, and if chartering a crewed ship, brokers can even find the crew with the right personalities for your trip.
Here are some charter brokers that can assist you in making your charter arrangements:
| Charter Broker | Telephone Number |
| Crewed Charters | 800-874-2584 |
| Nicholson Yachts Worldwide | 800-662-6066 |
| Paradise Connections | 877-567-9350 |
| Regency Yacht Vacations | 800-524-7676 |
| Stewart Yacht Charters | 800-432-6118 |
| Yates Yachts | 866-994-7245 |
Picking out the right boat is also important to the enjoyment of your yachting trip. When considering what kind of yacht to choose, keep several things in mind including your sailing skills, comfort, and personal needs.
Three cabin, two bathroom monohulls are the most popular type of chartered yacht, and are one of the larger boats ranging from 36 to 50 feet long. Inexperienced yachters should not choose this kind of boat, because the larger the yacht, the more skill it takes to operate.
Those vacationers traveling with families, or travelers who have less experience with yachting will find catamarans to be a good choice for charter. These boats are generally more comfortable, and experience less of the ocean's motion and less roll. Travelers who experience motion sickness may find these boats more comfortable.
Costs and Paperwork
Once you have decided what kind of charter is best for your vacation, it will be easier to find out the overall cost of your charter. There are several things that sailors can consider when trying to estimate what you will be spending.
An often overlooked necessity is food. Everyone has to eat while aboard the ship, so when budgeting for your charter don't forget to include the price of meals. Some charter companies will stock their boats for your charter, but often it is more efficient for the vacationer to do it themselves, but the drawback to bringing your own food is that most food isn't allowed through customs and would have to be purchased on the island.
The type of boat you charter will also have to be factored in to the cost of the boating excursion. Skippered and crewed boats are going to cost more than chartering just the boat itself, but crewed boats are the best option for inexperienced boaters. Also, the time of year during which you are taking your vacation will effect the cost. Everything in the Caribbean Islands tend to cost more during the high season, which is during the winter months. Travelers may want to consider this when planning their island retreat.
When going over the paperwork that the charter company has sent you, don't forget to read the small print. Most charter companies let you put the cost of the deposit and damage insurance on a major credit card, this is considered one of the best options in case anything unexpected should happen during the charter.
St. Maarten and St. Martin are both sailing hot spots in the Caribbean, so vacationers are sure to have unforgettable experience boating on the island's beautiful waters.
With so many options available, cruises are one great way to reach St. Martin.
Learn more about the options available to you when purchasing your vacation.
Travelers who take the time to learn about the local culture found in St. Martin are sure to get more out of their trip.
