Sample Holiday Itineraries for Sailing Vacations in St. Martin / St. Maarten

Horizon Yacht Charters is the premier choice for those discerning sailors looking for the perfect yacht, whether bareboat or crewed, to explore the pristine waters of the Leeward Islands. We recommend Chris Doyle's Cruising Guide to the Leeward Islands to help you choose from the many excellent and diverse anchorages this destination has to offer.

7 Day St Martin Itinerary
10 Day St Martin Itinerary
10 Day, One-way Antigua to St. Martin Itinerary
14 Day, One-way Antigua to St. Martin Itinerary

Photos by Alexis Andrews

Sail the "northern islands", an unforgettable experience awaits you.

Some of the most diversified islands of the Caribbean are just waiting to be explored. So called "Iles du Nord" by the French local population, it offers a spectacular cruising area.

St. Martin Sailing Consisting of three main islands: Anguilla, St Barthelemy, and St Maarten/ St Martin; the smallest territory in the world divided between two nations, France and Holland. From the pristine and deserted beaches of Anguilla to the finest gastronomic restaurants of St Martin and to the exciting night life of St Barth, there's something here for everyone – and all just half a day sailing away! With more than 100 nationalities on less than 25 square miles, St Martin is a unique island that deserves her nickname: the friendly island.

St Martin is also the home of the famous Heineken regatta, that is held every year during the first weekend of March. With more than 200 entries in 2005, this is one of the most famous sailing events of the Caribbean.

Located in the newly built Lagoonies marina, in the heart of St Maarten sailing district, close to all facilities, our base will welcome you for some unforgettable vacations. Following your arrival and a one-to-one chart and boat briefing, you may decide to go shopping in the Simpson bay area (accessible through a quick dinghy ride) or simply relax on the yacht club terrace.

Take a look at our suggested 10 night itinerary. Of course, you can choose to take a 7 night trip or extend your itinerary to include the islands of St Kitts and Nevis, perhaps allowing 14 nights for this wonderful cruise.

7 Day St Martin Itinerary

Day 1

Leave from Simpson Bay Lagoon (11-30am bridge). Anchor in Simpson Bay, just after the bridge and dinghy across to customs at the bridge for clearing out. Take a short sail to Marigot – capital of the French side and become familiar with your yacht (2 hours). Spend your first night at anchor in Marigot. Possible shopping at the Creole market!

	Day 2
	Depart Marigot and escape to the beautiful island of Anguilla ( 3 hours sail). Clear customs in Road Bay, and then sail down to Sandy Island. Sail back to Crocus Bay for the night. Spend your 2nd at anchorage in Crocus Bay.
	Day 3
	Sail from Crocus to Prickly Pear for the day, then sail down to Scrub Island to spend night 3 at anchor (BBQ under the stars on Scrub)

Day 4

From Scrub, sail south to Tintamarre through windward point. Spend a relaxing day on the beach in Tintamarre. Spend your 4th night at anchor.

Day 5

From Tintamarre sail down to St Barth- Gustavia. Clear customs and then take the short sail to Colombier, by the Rockfeller mansion.

Day 6

From Colombier downwind to Ile fourche. Spend the night at anchor.

Day 7

Take an early start from Fourche and sail down to Simpson Bay to catch 9-30 bridge (3 hours sail, so wake up early!)

10 Day St Martin Itinerary

Day 1

After going out of the lagoon through Simpson Bay opening bridge, take a 2 hours sail to Marigot bay on the French side to familiarize yourself with your yacht. You'll be able to anchor in the bay and visit the typical Creole market, where you'll get fresh fruits in order to complete your provisioning. Then sail away in the sunset and anchor for the night in Happy Bay, where you'll enjoy your first BBQ under the stars.

Day 2
Another short sail to the deserted island of Tintamarre, on the Atlantic side of the island. You'll spend the day on a deserted and otherwise inaccessible beach. You'll be stunned by the beauty of the sunset over the Anguilla channel and you'll be able to swim and snorkel around the wreck of a Spanish Galleon.
Day 3
Get ready for the crossing to St Barth, 10 miles from Tintamarre. After ½ a day sailing, you'll reach L'Anse de Colombier, where you'll anchor in clear blue waters. You might decide to hike up the hill for an unforgettable panorama of the surrounding islands. Remember to bring your walking shoes!

Day 4

Anchor your yacht in Gustavia harbor, and discover the charms of St Barth. Check for paparazzi though, as you can easily end up in the latest People magazine issue when walking down the streets of Gustavia. Rent a scooter and ride around the island to discover why St Barth is a world wide jet set rendez vous.

Day 5

A downwind sail to Pinel Island, truly paradise on earth, where you'll enjoy the beautiful and protected beach. You'll enjoy a pina colada sitting literally in the shallow turquoise waters.

Day 6

A crossing through the Anguilla channel will lead you to Road Bay, where you'll anchor for the night. After clearing customs, sail to Sandy Island, right off Road Bay, for an unforgettable swim and snorkeling session on its preserved reef. Sail back to Road Bay to enjoy a dinner in a typical Antillean lolo, where you'll be served fresh lobster from the grill.

	Day 7
	A short trip on the reef protected leeward side of Anguilla will take you to the natural reserve of Prickly Pear, truly a Garden of Eden. Then a short sail back to Little Bay, where you'll spend the night facing the cliffs of Anguilla.
	Day 8
	Crossing back the channel will bring you to St Martin and Grand Case beach, gastronomic capital of the Caribbean, where you can choose to dine at one of the many French gourmet restaurants.

Day 9

Anchor your yacht in Simpson Bay for the final night. Go ashore and enjoy the lively Caribbean spirit in the numerous jump up parties in the area.

Day 10

A last swim and snorkel before heading back to Simpson bay bridge and return to the base.

10 Day One-way Antigua to St. Martin Itinerary

Day 1: Jolly Harbour to Deep Bay - 5nm
After your chart and boat briefings, provision at the excellent Epicurean Supermarket. Then take a short sail round to Deep Bay, just North of Jolly Harbour. Dive on the wreck of the ANDES, a three-masted barque that lies in 20ft of water inside the bay. Enjoy a cocktail in the cockpit as you watch the first sunset of your Caribbean cruise. Go ashore in the evening for an island meal cooked on the beach to the accompaniment of a calypso band.

Horizon Yacht Antigua Day 2: Deep Bay to Five Islands - 3nm
Another short hop to get yourself used to the yacht and the environment. Five Islands is a beautiful, protected bay situated between Deep Bay and Jolly Harbour. Anchor off the almost deserted Hermitage Beach, and swim ashore to collect some shells.
Snorkel off the rocks at the entrance to the bay. Dine in the cockpit to the accompaniment of the waves gently lapping on the beach.

Day 3: Five Islands Harbour to Nevis - 50nm
Depart early, and set sail for Nevis on a downwind cruise. Set your fishing lines; on a good day you might just be lucky to strike a 5lb Tuna.

Arrive in Nevis late afternoon, and anchor off the Four Seasons Resort on the West Coast for a wonderful dinner ashore.

Nevis Day 4: On Nevis
Work up an appetite for breakfast with a walk along the magnificent beach.

Explore Nevis with our recommended taxi driver. Lunch at one of the splendid Plantation Houses, and then visit the Botanical Gardens.
Enjoy a lobster dinner ashore at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant.

Day 5: Nevis to St. Kitts - 8nm
After a brief, brisk sail over to White House Bay on St. Kitts, anchor for a swim off the beautiful beach.

Call our taxi driver for a visit to the Batik Factory, and see how this age old method of dying fabrics is still practiced.

Day 6: On St. Kitts
Explore Bug's Hole and Shitten Bay (both far more beautiful than their names imply!) and return to anchor for the night off White House Bay.

Day 7: St. Kitts to St. Barts - 45nm
An early start to enjoy an exhilarating sail to St Barts, with the wind on the beam. Anchor off the main town of Gustavia, and go ashore to enjoy a typical French dinner.

Day 8: St. Barts
Very French, the town of Gustavia is delightful and well worth exploring. There is an abundance of duty-free shopping, sightseeing and history.

Hire a Mini Moke to visit some of the beaches on the windward side of the island.

Day 9: St. Barts to St. Martin - 21nm
A broad reach up to the island of St Martin, sailing along the South coast and then turning North West to pass Marigot and anchor off the beach at Grand Case. This is known as the gastronomic centre of St Martin.

Dine ashore in any one of the numerous establishments, ranging from lobster shacks to five star gourmet restaurants.

Day 10: St. Martin
An early morning sail will take you around the low lands back to Simpson Bay where you'll enter through the 9-30am bridge. Allow another hour for refueling and rewatering your vessel and you'll be back on our dock at around 11am, ready to disembark at noon.

14 Day One-way Antigua to St. Martin Itinerary

Antigua Day 2: Deep Bay to English Harbour - 18nm
Sail South along the West coast, then turn East passing between the mainland and Cades Reef where you will enjoy a range of different hues of blue water to the South and the tropical rainforest to the North. If you made an early start , anchor for a swim and lunch in picturesque Carlisle Bay with its calm, clear, palm. Sail on to Enter English Harbour where you have the choice of anchoring off the lovely Galleon Beach close to the entrance, or berthing stern-to in Nelson's Dockyard. Plenty to explore in the historical Dockyard itself (the only remaining working Georgian dockyard in the world). Dine ashore in one of the many restaurants in the English/Falmouth Harbour area.

Beaches Day 3: English Harbour
Still plenty to explore ashore. Take a short taxi ride up to Shirley Heights with spectacular views to the East, South and West. Swim off Galleon Beach, and snorkel along the reef on the East side of the entrance to the Harbour. If there was no reggae band playing last night, you will be sure to find one in one of the restaurants ashore tonight.

Day 4: English Harbour to Five Islands - 17nm
A downwind sail back along the attractive South Coast followed by a reach up the West coast towards Five Islands, a beautiful, protected bay just to the North of Jolly Harbour. After turning the Southwest corner of the island, and as you progress to the North, you will see some spectacular beaches, many with beach bars where you can swim ashore for lunch. In Five Islands, anchor off the almost deserted Hermitage Beach, and swim ashore to collect some shells. Snorkel off the rocks at the entrance to the bay. Dine in the cockpit to the accompaniment of the waves gently lapping on the beach.

Day 5: Five Islands to Nevis - 50nm
Depart early, and set sail for Nevis on a downwind leg. Set your fishing lines; on a good day you just might be lucky to strike a 5lb Tuna. Arrive in Nevis late afternoon, and anchor off the Four Seasons Resort for a wonderful dinner ashore.

Nevis Day 6: On Nevis
Explore Nevis with our recommended taxi driver. Lunch at one of the splendid Plantation Houses, and then visit the Botanical Gardens.
Enjoy a lobster dinner ashore at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant.

Day 7: Nevis to St. Kitts - 5nm
Sail over to St. Kitts. Explore Bug's Hole and Shitten Bay (both far more beautiful than their names imply!) Anchor for the night off the lovely beach at White House Bay.

Day 8: On St. Kitts
Continue gunkholing, swimming and snorkeling, and in the afternoon move up to Basseterre to top up water tanks and anchor for the night. Eat ashore of one of the many good local restaurants in town.

Day 9: St. Kitts to St. Bart's - 45nm
An early start to enjoy the exhilarating sail to St Barts, with the wind on the beam. Anchor off the main town of Gustavia, and go ashore to enjoy a typical French dinner.

Day 10: On St. Barts
Very French, the town of Gustavia is delightful and well worth exploring. There is an abundance of duty-free shopping, sightseeing and history. Hire a Mini Moke to visit some of the beaches on the windward side of the island.

Day 11: St. Bart's to Anguilla - 35nm
Another exhilarating broad reach, sailing along the West coast of St Martin, around the Southwest corner of Anguilla to anchor in Road Bay.

Day 12: On Anguilla
Take a short trip up to Sandy Island and anchor between the reefs to the West of the island. Swim, snorkel, collect shells, laze on the beach. A day on a real tropical island. If there was no jump-up at Johnno's Bar on the beach in Road Bay, there certainly will be tonight!

Day 13: Anguilla to St. Martin - 15nm
A short sail back down to St Martin, and anchor off the beach at Grand Case, the gastronomic centre of St Martin. Dine ashore in any one of the numerous establishments, ranging from lobster shacks to five star gourmet restaurants.

Day 14: St. Martin
An early morning sail will take you around the low lands back to Simpson Bay where you'll enter through the 9-30am bridge. Allow another hour for refueling and rewatering your vessel and you'll be back on our dock at around 11am, ready to disembark at noon.