Sailboat Charter in Saint Martin

Where to sail when renting a sailboat in St Martin/Maarten?

After landing in Sint Maarten at SXM airport, the Simpson Bay Lagoon marina is less than three kilometres away. Alternatively, there are various other rental partners located on the French side: at Marigot, Fort Saint Louis, Marina de Lonvilliers, Oyster Pond. We are happy to suggest a short 7-day itinerary to discover the must-see places in and around St Martin.
Why not meet you crew and bord your boat at the Fort Saint Louis marina – a quick ten-minute walk from Marigot, the capital of the French part. For the first day, head for Anguilla. A trip to Saint Martin is not complete without a trip to this British Overseas Territory. To reach Anguilla, sail north from Marigot and anchor at Rendezvous Bay. We recommend spending a day at Pinel Island in the north-east of St Martin – this small islet is home to numerous beaches, hiking trails and restaurants and is regarded by many boaters as one of the prettiest anchorages in the West Indies. Then head on to the beautiful Tintamarre Island. This uninhabited island is an ideal place to drop anchor and spend one or a couple of nights. At the end of day three or four, depending on your pace, head for Colombier Bay on Saint Barth Island. There you will discover a typical village, Gustavia, where delicious Creole specialties are served. Still in the Saint Barth region, sail north-west to reach Fourchue Island. Its unique and widely recognised shape is impressive. There, engage in various activities such as kayaking, hiking or snorkeling. Take out flippers, masks and snorkels to discover this magnificent coral reef. Finally, on day six, it’s time to return to Sint Maarten to do some beach hopping on the Dutch side.

Culinary specialities

Despite various influences, the gastronomy of Saint Martin is mainly French with a Caribbean twist. In fact, you’ll find the Caribbean’s culinary capital at Grand Case! The main street of this village is teeming with small restaurants that will delight your taste buds. On the menu, try grilled langoustines, stuffed crabs or the famous Oxtail Stew. Among the dishes that the Saint-Matinois love are Jacks (fried fish), pies stuffed with beef and Locri (rice and chicken-based dish). At the seaside, we recommend you try the thazar – a fish-type similar to tuna that can be eaten cooked or raw. Shark is also popular when grilled or smoked. Acras (cod fritters with fine herbs or vegetables) and crabs stuffed with delicately spiced spices are also dishes of choice in Saint Martin. If you decide on a yacht charter in Saint Martin, you will have to try the ‘raisinier de bord de mer’ / seaside raisinier – tangy berries that you can taste fresh off the tree!

Sailing conditions

In order to best prepare your yacht charter in Saint Martin/Maarten, it is essential to pay attention to the sailing conditions in the Caribbean Sea. It’s important to note that St Martin is constantly refreshed by trade winds which allow you to navigate with ease on your boat. The easterly trade winds blow regularly between 10 to 20 knots and then decrease in Spring and Summer just before the hurricane season from August to October. Generally, the trade winds strengthen around December for a few weeks and can sometimes reach 25-30 knots. St Martin enjoys an oceanic climate with a dry season from December to May and a wet season from June to November. Heavy rainfall occurs during depressions, which can sometimes cause cyclones. Temperatures are very pleasant all year round with a minimum of 24 degrees Celsius in winter and a maximum of 31 degrees in summer.