The Caribbean: A yachting paradise

The Caribbean islands are an attractive destination for yachtsmen and their crews, especially during the European and North American winter. It's easy to understand why, because weather conditions in the Caribbean during these months are ideal for cruising almost every day. Warm sea and air, along with a constant north-easterly trade wind ensure that boaters can make good time on their way to another island or a sheltered bay.

A thousand islands
The Caribbean Sea is enclosed by many islands, which form a long chain from South America to Florida. Thanks to influences from Africa, Great Britain, Spain, France and Holland, almost every island has developed its own, distinctive character and culture. There is always something new to see or do: Each island, bay, reef or discovery is a new adventure with a different story to tell. Ships have always played an important role in this island-rich part of the world and virtually every island has good harbours with safe moorings. The expansiveness of the region once made it difficult to find spare parts or to carry out repairs. Today, the advent of the charter fleets means that most spare parts are now freely available, sometimes in surprisingly well-equipped water sports outlets.

Regattas
During March and April, some of the best yachtsmen in the world come together to take part in the many fun regattas held in the Caribbean. The wind, which can be quite blustery (20-25 knots) in December, is ideal during March and April, at around 10-18 knots. The best-known regattas take place during this period, in Antigua, St. Martin, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The sailing festivals of the British island of Antigua (end of April) and the Franco-Dutch St. Martin (beginning of March) are by far the most popular among European sailors. The number of participants regularly exceeds 250 yachts, most of which are rented from one of the many charter companies in the region. Mostly British and German sailors take part in 'Antigua Race Week', while St. Martin's 'Heineken Regatta' is mainly patronised by Dutch yachtsmen and women. Further to the west, in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, mainly American sailors compete alongside the local yachtsmen.

Antigua
The island of Antigua is a former British colony. People drive on the left and the remains of British culture can be seen in old fortifications and the surprisingly well preserved shipping wharf in the bay of English Harbour. The bay is a favourite mooring place for yacht lovers from around the world. Anyone visiting Antigua by ship should look out for the volcanic island of Montserrat, which is clearly visible to the south-west. It is an impressive sight, with its billowing plume of smoke and its red glow by night.

St. Martin
The mountainous St. Martin (also known under its Dutch name of Sint Maarten) is an island made up of two very different worlds. It is the only place on earth where Holland and France share a border. The 'Plages' (beaches) of the northern, French section and the capital city of Marigot have the atmosphere of the Cote d'Azur. The streets are all called 'Rue' something or other and fresh croissants are available every morning from the 'boulanger'. Small, fashionable boutiques and cafés surround a harbour full of pleasure yachts.

Although the border with the southern Dutch section is barely marked, a clear difference in culture is apparent. Although the official language is Dutch, you mostly hear English being spoken as American tourists arrive daily on luxury cruise liners. Sometimes as many as four gigantic cruise ships at a time can be anchored in Great Bay, on the south coast of St. Martin.

The most popular tourist attraction is Front Street in Philipsburg, where dozens of small shops sell tax-free goods. For smaller vessels, St. Martin has a large natural harbour in one of the largest lagoons in the Caribbean: Simpson Lagoon. As well as being an ideal place to drop anchor, both the French and Dutch sections offer modern marinas with many facilities.

St. Lucia
Thanks to its favourable location on the route to the 'New World', St. Lucia is an island with an eventful history. After the island's discovery by Columbus on his fourth journey in 1502, the Spanish and Dutch originally colonised the island of 'Hewanorra', followed by the French and British. The name of St. Lucia was first used around the end of the 16th century, when the French and British fought for possession of the colony. Evidence of the island's violent past can still be found in its many old forts and defences, and the island has been an independent state within the British Commonwealth, since 1979.

The former war harbour of Marigot Bay has been transformed into a beautiful marina. Every year, ARC participants set sail for Rodney Bay Marina, situated in a sheltered bay on the island's northern coast. The bay is a base from which to explore beautiful, exotic beaches and lagoons by dinghy. The harbour also has extensive facilities for yacht repair and maintenance.

Puerto Rico
Surprisingly, the originally Spanish island of Puerto Rico is now part of the United States of America. Spanish remains the spoken language and the culture is also typically Spanish. Unlike the other Caribbean islands, which can be explored by car in a day or less, it is worth taking at least two days for a relaxed tour of Puerto Rico. The old section of the capital city of San Juan has been beautifully restored, with many small streets rising up against a mountain. At the top of the mountain is the old Spanish fort of San Cristobel, which has remained completely intact.

On the east coast, an hour's drive from San Juan, is Fajardo, which has one of the largest and most modern marinas in the Caribbean: Puerto del Rey. From here it is possible to explore numerous tiny islands, reefs and sandy beaches. The Spanish Virgin Islands are only half a day's sailing away, of which Culebra and Vieques are most worthy of a visit. They are not as busy as St. Thomas, Tortola or the other British and American Virgin Islands just ten miles further.

Sailing around some of the smaller Caribbean islands is like taking a trip back in time to centuries ago, when ships ruled the world and adventure was always waiting around the corner. At the very least you're sure of a holiday of a lifetime.