Transatlantic Yacht Race Coming to St Maarten

The Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will kick off in Tenerife on November 26, 2207, and the finish line is of St Maarten about ten days later. This is sure to be a big event on the island, no doubt with music and parties planned.

The fleet will assemble in Tenerife - the largest of the seven Canary Islands - in preparation for the start on Monday, November 26, 2007. The mega-yacths, with a minimum length of 59 feet, are expected to navigate 2,600 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean for approximately ten days before reaching the finish line off of St Maarten.

The Awards ceremony is slated for December 14 at the St. Maarten Yacht Club. Read the full news story. The Rolex Trophy and a Rolex Oyster Perpetual timepiece will be awarded to the overall winner.

Also, read the official announcement of the race. Satellite reports will allow you to monitor the race’s progress online at the same site.

YACC - Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Mango Sangria

1 oz Malibu Mango rum
1/2 oz white wine
1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz pineapple juice

Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir. Strain into a highball glass over ice.and garnish with pineapple.

Fireman at Airport Ordered Back to Work

As reported by the St Maarten Daily Herald, 18 firefighters have called in sick and have not reported to work at the airport since Monday. It is thought that this is in protest against a fireman who was recently fired for not carrying out an instruction. The court ordered the firefighters to return to work today, June 22, or face a fine. If they do not return, the airport may be forced to close until the issue is resolved.

Read the full story.

Help Save the Mangroves

Mullet Pond is the largest remaining mangrove colony in Simpson Bay Lagoon, the largest lagoon in the Carribean. The mangroves at Mullet Pond are in danger of being destroyed due to planned development of the Mullet Bay Resort, a new marina for mega-yachts, villas and private docks. The roots of the mangrove provide habitats for many species of fish, shrimp, conch and lobsters in the juvenile stage. The Mangrove jellyfish, also known as the upside-down jellyfish, is only found in the mangrove stands. In addition, of the 65 species of birds that frequent Mullet Pond, 22 species breed there. Besides supporting such a vital ecosystem, the mangroves reduce erosion of the shoreline during hurricanes.

A group called SXM Pride has made a video called The Last Stand that shows the underwater beauty of Mullet Pond and explains the importance of the mangroves. If you would like to add your name to a petition to protect the mangrove colony at Mullet Pond, visit ThePetitionSite.

SkipJack's Seafood Grill, Bar & Fish Market

SkipJack's, situated next to Lee's Roadside Grill fronting the lagoon at Simpson Bay, was voted the best new restaurant on the island by readers of the St Maarten's newspaper The Daily Herald. They offer not only Caribbean langouste, but also Maine lobsters (for ex-pats who now live in the Caribbean, it's a treat to eat a Maine lobster from time to time!). Their menu also includes tuna carpaccio, lobster and crab salad, beer-battered tempura shrimp, grilled or blackened fish of the day, a smoked salmon sandwich, yellowfin tuna and fresh grouper. More of a landlubber? Not to fear. Skipjack's also offers a grilled steak, a beef tenderloin kebab, a 12-oz NY Strip steak and a mango chicken kebab. If you're lucky enough to have a kitchen in your villa or hotel, you can buy fresh fish, lobster, langouste, crab and more at the fish market adjacent to the restaurant.

Visit SkipJack's.

Video: Near Miss -- Two 747s Nearly Collide at Princess Juliana Airport

Late last year, many people at the Sunset Beach Bar watched as a Corsair Airlines 747, ready to take off from Princess Juliana Airport, almost collided with a KLM 747 that was ready to land. The Corsair pilot didn’t see the approaching KLM 747 and taxied the fully loaded plane onto the runway. Meanwhile, several hundred yards behind him, the KLM 747 was getting ready to land. Fortunately, the KLM pilot saw the Corsair jet sitting on the runway, gunned the plane’s engines, and banked sharply right over the airport.

Due to the following video, taken by a tourist, a full investigation will take place.

Watch the video here.

Luxury Hotel La Samanna Offers Special Rates!

Located on the French side of the island, just ten minutes from Marigot, La Samanna is an elegant, luxury hotel set amidst tropical gardens, overlooking 55 acres of beautiful beachfront. During low season, they are offering several attractive packages.

With the 2007 Summer Free Nights Special, if you stay 7 nights, you get one night free. Or, stay 12 nights and get two nights free. This offer is valid June 1 – August 31, 2007.

The Summer Family Plan, offered June 1 – August 31, 2007, allows you to book a premium 1-bedroom suite for 5 nights or more at the special rate of $895/night and receive an automatic upgrade to a 2-bedroom suite. The regular rate for a 1-bedroom premium suite during these months is $1250. The regular rate for a 2-bedroom suite is $1850. If you stay 5 nights, the cost is $4475 for a $9250 value. A savings of $4775!!

Just married? La Samanna is offering a Honeymoon Package for 7 nights from May 1 to August 31, 2007 for $4900. The package includes a deluxe 1-bedroom suite, roundtrip airport transfers, daily breakfast buffet, champagne on arrival, one dinner for two, a sunset cruise for two, one couple’s massage, two La Samanna bathrobes, and a one-day luxury car rental. This is a savings of $2450 on the room alone! With the other offerings, this is a true bargain.

The 2008 Summer Free Nights Special is offered April 1 – August 31, 2008, for those of you who need more time to plan that special vacation. The longer you stay, the better it gets. Stay 4 nights and pay for 3 nights; stay 7 nights and pay for 6 nights; stay 12 nights and pay for 10 nights, or stay 14 nights and pay for 11 nights.

Visit La Samanna for full details and photos.

Get Ready to Buckle Up

The following new traffic laws will become effective on August 1, 2007.

• All motorists will have to use seat belts.
• Use of a cell phone while driving is forbidden unless you are using a hands-free mobile phone device.
• All children will have to be secured in child-restraint safety seats.
• Vehicles must stop at marked pedestrian crossings to give pedestrians the right of way.
• Riders of motorcycles, quads and three-wheelers will be “strongly advised” to wear helmets. (Don’t be surprised if this soon becomes required.)
  
  In St. Martin, the French side of the island, it is already required that you wear a seat belt, and use of cell phones by the driver is forbidden. When these two laws recently went into effect in St Barth, the gendarme (French National Police) were parked at the busiest traffic areas to enforce the new requirements. And, the fines were quite hefty! For example, 90 euros for failure to wear a seat belt!
  

YACC -- Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

El Prediente

2 oz Light Rum
1 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 tsp Grenadine

Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

Camera Surveillance Coming Soon to Philipsburg

St Maarten is a good choice for a vacation in paradise. However, as everywhere, you cannot assume there is no crime. In fact, Philipsburg has been plagued recently with quite a bit of violent crime. Even during the daylight hours, you must be very alert to your surroundings and those around you. Use common sense! Personally, after dark, I avoid Philipsburg. For the moment it is just too dangerous, and St Maarten has countless good restaurants, casinos, bars and nightclubs outside of the city.

That being said, the final arrangements are in place for a surveillance system to be mounted in Philipsburg to help ward off criminal activities from the busy shopping hub. The Chamber of Commerce plans to monitor the entire shopping area in Philipsburg, including the Great Bay beach boardwalk, Front Street, Back Street and the numerous alleys.

Read the full story.

Photos of the Annual Heineken Regatta

View some photos of this year's Heineken Regatta at http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sxm_2007_pictures/album/576460762393316444.