Sailing the Leewards

[DickieG]

We have sailed the Windwards, BVI, Abacos and now are considering St Martin, Nevis, etc. Any place not to miss? Any place to avoid? Are there lots of customs to clear as we moved fron Island to Island?

[Chuteman]

DG:
I've done a couple of trips there & about to do another - Antigua/Barbuda.
1) St. Martin & Anguilla - Lots of fun, beaches, snorkeling, plenty of eating/drinking options, etc. St. Martin very busy place especially dutch side but easy to get flights into......french side quieter & Grand Case a very quaint town with great food options.
Anquilla - quiet, laid back, great snorkeling & beaches, no crowds......did not sample too many land spots beyond Road Bay. But we used our dinghy lots of places.
St. Martin - if you charter from there....no requirements moving between french to dutch sides. Anguilla - pretty easy checking in (charter co will help & Doyle's guide has info)......but it is a little fee happy if you want to travel beyond Road Bay = they charge a cruising fee & nat'l park fee.
Fun Time.

2) Guadeloupe & Dominica - very different ......more land based activities, language factor, less snorkeling, beaches mixed.
a) Guadeloupe - big island -actually 2 shaped like a butterfly......French speaking.....you can get by but knowing french would be an asset. One half is very green & with mountains.........the other half flat with beaches. Food was pretty good but Grand Case in St. Martin was better.
Sailed to Marie Galante - small, poorer, a few nice beaches yet it was raining when we were there & Les Saintes - feels like France, the people, the look of the town........cute, some rocky beaches ..........worth a stop.
b) Dominica - Lush is the only way to describe.........mountains & green from end to end.......with every sort of fruit / vegetable growing. We anchored off Portsmouth. Poorer country but very nice people & english speaking. There are boat "boys" here which can be annoying but you are familiar from the grenadines.
Tours, hiking, waterfalls and other land base stuff abound. Food was simple but good. Sampled fruit falling off trees during island tour + public market.We never made it to Roseau (capital) or southern beaches which are better for swimming + snorkeling......great visit.
Checking in/out - Guadeloupe = laid back just have boat papers & crew list...I did not even bother in Les Saintes on my way back from Dominica. Just did it when I got back to Point a Pitre.
Dominica - biggest thing there was finding it........customs separate from immigration (never bothered)....Customs will check you in & out at same time if you are staying for less than 14 days. They are just slow (ilon time)& use their own forms with more carbon paper than I've seen in years. Plus they handle more comm'l ships than yachts.......office is adjacent to comm'l dock.
:cool:

[gerry]

St Maartens is great for cheap chandlery and fantastic restaurants!
If the weather is calm a visit to Statia ( St Eustatius) is not to be missed. The quiet little island is packed with fascinating heritage and wonderful welcoming locals. Could be a highlight of the trip.
Didn't rate Nevis so much, pretty touristy.

Although all the islands down the chain have a flavor all their own.


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