Canadian Yachting October 2016 - 32

St. Martin - Exiting lagoon at Sandy Ground Bridge. The Sandy Ground Bridge on the French side of the island is one of two ways to exit Simpson Bay Lagoon. Anguilla - Don't Drink and Jibe T-shirt Partying and sailing seem to go together but here's a reminder: "Don't Drink and Jibe". armed with a bottle of wine to walk in one direction and a Dutchman armed with a flask of gin to walk in the other direction around the island which is barely seven miles in each direction. Where they met became the boundary. The French ended up with a bit more territory than the Dutch because the gin was stronger than the wine. There is no historical fact to this story but it is well-loved and describes the whimsical atmosphere of the island. Paul and I were on the Dutch side of St. Martin at the moment, hovering in the shallow interior waters of Simpson Bay Lagoon, waiting to exit through the Simpson Bay Bridge into the bright blue Caribbean Sea beyond. Behind us, forming a neat line, were several charter boats, a mix of monohulls and catamarans with excited bareboat crews aboard, and two gleaming St. Maarten - Salt Fish Appetizers called Accra Salt fish (dried cod) is a staple throughout the Caribbean and it is used in many local dishes. A popular appetizer with drinks is this area is salt fish fritters called "accra". 32 Canadian Yachting megayachts with all hands standing-by in crisp uniforms positioning enormous fenders and conversing to one another via headsets in preparation for transiting the bridge. Despite our differing levels of experience, income and the type of boats we were travelling on, we were all of the same tribe, loving to be out on the water, and eagerly awaiting the first bridge opening of the day so we could all head out to sea for new adventures. The island of St. Martin is considered to be the yachting capital of the Caribbean where all supplies and services needed by sailors, powerboaters, charter fleets and megayacht owners can be found. As icing on the cake, supplies are all duty-free for yachts in transit. As a result, St. Martin is a cruising sailor's crossroads where we and most sailors spend a little time each season to make repairs, do annual maintenance, have spare parts shipped in, stock up on provisions and catch up with sailing friends we have befriended in ports all around the globe. St. Martin/St. Maarten is also a great place to dine out since the selection of international cuisine is top-notch yet there are abundant sailors' bars and beach bars to fit every budget. And the number of golden sand beaches is pretty much unmatched by any other Caribbean islands making it the region's most popular (and busy) holiday destination. Ready and refreshed after a visit here, everyone travelling by boat heads off to explore the charming islands surrounding St. Martin, to sail up- or downisland or jump off for big offshore passages or ocean crossings for which St. Martin is also well positioned. With all this going for it, it is not surprising that the island of St. Martin is also the headquarters for many charter fleets. If you are new to bareboat chartering, a week's cruise around the island is a delight since not only are there steady reliable tradewind conditions, many anchorages and excellent marina facilities, you also get to experience the cultures, cuisines and protocols of two different European nations in one destination. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a chartering experi- OCTOBER 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2016