7th Annual Caribbean Keelboat Championships Coming

North Sails, a world leader in sailmaking, is sponsoring the 7th Annual Caribbean Keelboat Championship in St Maarten. Thirteen teams of the Caribbean’s most competitive sailors have already registered, coming from St. Lucia, USVI, Grenada, St Maarten, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Registration takes place on June 20 at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club at 6:00 pm and the race kicks off on Saturday, June 21. An awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 22 at the end of the race.

Day Trips to St Barth

There are several options for making a trip to St Barth from St Maarten. All the ferries arrive at Gustavia, St Barth.

The Rapid Explorer Sea Shuttle is a 73.8’ semi-planing, hydro-supported foil catamaran with a capacity for 86 passengers. The Sea Shuttle departs Captain Oliver’s Marina, Oyster Bay at 8:30 am and 5:00 pm on Monday-Saturday and at 9:30 am on Sunday. It departs St Barth at 9:30 am and 6:00 pm on Monday-Saturday and at 10:30 am on Sunday. The crossing takes a short 40 minutes. The enclosed, air conditioned vessel features on board snack and beverage services, as well as audio and video entertainment, Round-trip fare is $125 for adults and $86 for children between 3 and 12 years. Please visit www.rapidexplorer.com for all details and to make reservations.
The Voyager is a high-speed catamaran that departs from Marigot, St Martin and from Captain Oliver’s Marina at Oyster Bay three to four times a day, depending on the day. The crossing from Marigot takes 1 hour 15 minutes; the crossing from Oyster Bay takes 45 minutes. The fares are comparable to those of the Rapid Explorer. Visit their web site at http://www.voyager-st-barths.com/ for full details.


The Edge is a 62' motorized catamaran, wave-piercer high-speed ferry that departs Pelican Key (the Simpson Bay area on the Dutch side of the island) every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Edge leaves at 9:00 am and returns at 5:00 pm; check-in time is 8:00 am. The crossing time is 45 minutes. Round-trip fare for adults is $60 and $33 for children between 2 and 12 years.

The Swalgia II is a motorized catamaran that departs from Great Bay Marina – Chesterfield in Philipsburg, St Maarten on Wednesday and Friday. The ferry leaves at 9:00 am and returns at 5:00 pm, with check-in at 8:40 am. Sailing time is one hour. The round-trip fare for adults is $92 and $56 for children between 2 and 12 years. In addition, a $15 port fee will be charged per person at check-in. The Swalgia II has a free bar and snacks and offers complimentary use of snorkel gear. The trip includes a stop on the return trip for a relaxing swim and snorkeling in the clear waters of Ile Fourche off of St Barth.

Day Trips to Saba

The Edge is a 62’ high-speed catamaran that leaves for Saba from Pelican Key (in the Simpson Bay area) on Wednesdays through Sundays (no crossings on Monday or Tuesday). Check-in is at 8:00 am, with a 9:00 departure. The passage to Saba takes a mere 75 minutes. The Edge departs Saba at 5:00 pm for its return to St Maarten. The fee is $70 for adults and $35 for children aged 2 to 12 years. A port fee of $12 per person is also required.

To make reservations, go to http://jmb.caribbean-activities.com and click on “Ferries” in the left column.

Come Aboard “At Random”

At Random, a 26-foot Navy tender with deep seats and lots of shade, can provide you with hours of fun snorkeling and/or fishing. They offer three different packages: the Family Fun Tour, the Bottom Fishing Tour and the Fishing and Snorkeling Tour. The first two are $85/hour for up to six passengers; additional passengers pay $10 each. The Fishing and Snorkeling Tour is also $85/hour but is limited to six people.

Family Fun Tour
You’ll cruise along “Mega Yacht Boulevard” from Simpson Bay to Marigot on the French side. Next, you’ll be able to swim and snorkel at several beautiful beaches. Included in the tour is an open bar, snacks, snorkel masks and snorkels, music, some fishing rods and, of course, a fun-loving skipper.

Bottom Fishing Tour
Kids are welcome on this tour. The skipper will cut the bait and help with rigging the hooks, if necessary. That way, parents can relax, have a beer and go for a swim. If the party consists of all adults, they’ll go out into deeper water where you can try for bigger fish. This tour includes fishing tackle, snorkel masks and snorkels, an open bar and snacks. Good for kids over age 6. There is a two-hour minimum on this tour.

Fishing and Snorkeling Tour
For the first hour, you’ll be trolling in coastal waters and might just catch jacks, mahi-mahi, small tunas, mackerals or wahoo. After an hour of trolling, the skipper will find a beautiful area for bottom fishing for one and a half hours where you can catch snappers, yellowtails, groupers, eels and sergeant majors. If the fishing is good, the skipper will stay longer, if you wish. Otherwise, you can move elsewhere and go swimming and snorkeling. All fishing tackle and bait is included, as well as snorkel masks and snorkels, an open bar and snacks. There is a two-hour minimum on this tour.

To contact them, visit the web site at www.randomwind.com.

Get On Board Da Party Bus!

You can’t miss Da Party Bus! This once-upon-a-time school bus has been transformed into a colorful party bus full of Caribbean flavor. Viewed from the back, you’ll see an authentic old Creole-style house with a tin roof whose door opens to a wheelchair lift so everyone can party. Da Party Bus begins its trip in Simpson Bay at 7:00 pm and travels through Philipsburg, Oyster Pond where you’ll enjoy the sea breezes and then returns to Simpson Bay for the nightlife until midnight. The bus stops at Pineapple Pete’s and the Tijuana Yacht Club in Simpson Bay, Kind Beau-Beau’s at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort and the Driftwood Boat Bar. You’ll typically spend from 20 to 45 minutes at each stop, and you get one free drink for every drink you buy. Of course, you can order appetizers at any stop, as well. With 24-hour advance notice, Da Party Bus will shuttle you from your hotel to their starting point – and back home again. For full details, visit their web site at www.thestmaartenpartybus.com.

Hiking in St Maarten

If you want to stretch your legs and see St Maarten up close, consider going for a hike. St Maarten has 25 miles of clearly defined trails through the mountains and along the shoreline. For a spectacular view and a taste of history, you can climb Mount Concordia, which rises along the French-Dutch border in the center of the island. In 1648, the treaty that divided the island was signed here. Or, hike up beautiful Paradise Peak or Pic du Paradise, on the French side. This is the highest point on the island at 1400 feet. At the foot of the mountain is Loterie Farm, St Martin’s only private nature reserve. You can sign up to take the Eco Challenge day hike through this former 150-acre sugar plantation, which contains the island’s last remaining tropical forest. Below are several other contacts for arranging hikes.

Loterie Farms-Colombier

Guided hike through the rainforest

Phone: 05 90 87 86 16

St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation

Phone: (599) 542-4917

St. Maarten Road Runners Club

Phone: (599) 556-7815

Olivier Borensztejn
Phone: 06 90 62 79 07
Email:

oliviersxm@yahoo.fr

Authentic French Tours
Rue de Hollande, Marigot
Phone: 05 90 87 05 11
Email: frog.legs@wanadoo.fr

Dutch Hiking Club
Phone: 599-542-4917

Horseback Riding

If riding a horse on the beach next to the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean is part of your vacation plans, St Maarten offers many opportunities.

Bayside Riding Club
Bayside Riding Club on Le Galion Beach on the French side offers a variety of horseback rides as well as riding lessons. Both English and Western style riding are available. You’ll ride along 1-1/2 miles of white sand beach through the Nature Marine Reserve. The 2-hour ride includes a swim with your horse and a stop for refreshments at a local beach bar and restaurant. Riders must be seven years of age, and pony rides are available for the younger set. Among the possibilities are:

One-Hour Group Beach Rides

You’ll ride on trails through the Nature Marine Reserve and along the beach.

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM or 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM50.00 euros or $65.00 per person

Two-Hour Group Beach Rides

This ride also takes you through the Nature Marine Reserve but also includes a swim with your horse in crystal clear waters. After your swim, you'll stop for a complimentary drink at Tropical Wave Beach Bar and Restaurant at the far end of the bay.
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM70.00 euros or $90.00 per person

One-Hour Private Beach Rides

This is for you if you want to canter on the beach!
70.00 euros or $90.00 per person

One-Hour Sunset Group Beach Ride

This ride is the same as the One-Hour Group ride but returns as the sun is setting on the horizon
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM or 5:30 PM to 6:30 PMdepending on the sunset!60.00 euros or $80.00 per person

Lessons

Their French Federation Certified (FFE) instructor offers riding lessons from beginner basics through experienced. Lessons in dressage and jumping are also available. Lessons are available in French or English.

Adult Private $65.00 per hourChild Private $55.00 per hour

Information
Bayside Riding ClubRue du Le Galion
Coconut Grove

Le Galion Beach, St. Martin, F.W.I.

Reservations: Tel: 011(590) 873664 Fax(0590) 873376

tracie@baysideridingclub.com

OK Corral
OK Corral in Oyster Pond has variety of rides available, including the popular 2-hour horseback ride along Orient Beach. After a brief stop at the shops along Orient Beach, riders make their way through St. Martin's hillside on the return trip. Smaller children will enjoy the stable's pony rides.

Lucky Stables
Lucky Stables has been operating on St.Maarten for many years and has built a reputation as a professional riding and training stable. You’ll first ride through the residential and industrial area of Cape Bay before reaching the seclusion of the Cape Bay area with trails through the hills and along the beach.

Departure times

1-hour trail ride: 8 am- 4 pm, every hour, $42

2-hour trail ride: 8 am and 2 pm, $61

1-hour Sunset Ride: 5 pm, $42

2-hour Sunset Ride: 4 pm, $61

2-hour Champagne Night Ride: 8 pm, $61. Only on Wednesday and Friday

Credit cards are not accepted. All rides include swimming with the horses.

Loterie Farm and the Fly Zone

Loterie Farm is a peaceful 135-acre private nature preserve near the bottom of Pic du Paradis. Designed to preserve island habitats, it offers a rare glimpse of Caribbean forest and mountain land. Visitors can go horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, take ecotours or practice meditation and yoga. All the trails at Loterie Farm begin at the base of the 1400 ft mountain and lead to the top of St Martin’s highest point, Pic Paradis, offering views of Orient Beach, St Barth and Anguilla. Lunch, from 12-3 pm, and dinner, from 6:30-9:30 pm, is served at the Hidden Forest Café, Tuesday through Saturday. The Café is open from 12-6 pm on Sundays and is closed on Mondays. Bon Apetit featured this treehouse-like eatery in their February 2005 issue. All dishes are made using only the freshest ingredients found on the island and each is garnished with fresh flowers from the property.

Loterie Farm's newest attraction, the Fly Zone, allows you to soar over the forest canopy via a series of ropes, cables, and suspended bridges. Zip-lines are suspended high above the forest reserve, soaring between 200 year old mango and mahogony trees. Ti’Tarzan is a special area with suspended bridges and swinging ropes that was designed for children. All participants on the Fly Zone and Ti’Tarzan are required to wear closed shoes or footwear that is secured to your feet.

Rte. de Pic du Paradis

Phone: 590/87-86-16 or 590/57-28-55

Cost: $5, 1½-hr tour $25, 4-hr tour $45

Hours: Daily, from sunrise to sunset.

Diving and Snorkeling Resources

St Maarten offers excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities with visibility in the water ranging from 100 to 200 feet. The wreck of an English battleship from 1801 lies in Great Bay, and the plentiful coral reefs attract a variety of fish and other sea life. In addition to the listings below, many hotels have dive operators on-site. Certified divers should remember to bring their licenses and diving logs.

Blue Ocean, Baie Nettle, 05 90 87 89 73

Neptune Dive Center, Orient Bay, 05 90 50 98 51

Scuba Fun Dive Center, Great Bay Marina Building, Pointe Blanche, Philipsburg, 599 557 0505

Scuba Fun Dive Center, Port Lonvilliers Marina, Anse Marcel, 05 90 8736 13

Dive Safaris, Simpson Bay, 599 545 3213

Dive Safaris, Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg, 599 542 9001

The Scuba Shop, Palapa Marine, Simpson Bay, 599 545 3213

The Scuba Shop, Captain Oliver’s Marina, Oyster Pond, 05 90 87 48 01

Full-Moon Party at Kali's Beach Bar & Restaurant

Located on beautiful Friar’s Bay, Kali's Beach Bar & Restaurant hosts a full-moon party on the beach with a large bonfire, reggae music and BBQ. The party is so popular that people come from Anguilla and St Barth. The bar and restaurant are open every day and serve lunch and dinner. Some claim that Kali serves some of the best BBQ on the island. You can also have drinks or eat while sitting under an umbrella on the beach, if you wish.

Friar’s Bay is between Marigot and Grand Case. On the outskirts of Marigot, as you are headed toward Grand Case, you’ll see a sign for Friar’s Bay on the left. Turn left at the sign and just continue on the road for another 5 minutes or so. You won’t see another sign and you’ll wonder where the beach is. But, just keep going. Eventually, you’ll come to an unpaved road that leads to a parking lot at the edge of Friar’s Bay, a beautiful crescent bay with a wide, sandy beach. An easy 10-minute hike from the north side of Friar’s bay will take you to Happy Bay. This palm-lined crescent bay is surrounded by green hills and has good snorkeling around the rocks just off the beach.

Visit The Butterfly Farm

The Butterfly Farm (La Ferme aux Papillons) is near Orient Beach on the French side of the Island. It is a small net-covered area located at the back of a house. When you enter the terrarium-like Butterfly Sphere, you'll see over 40 species of butterflies, numbering as many as 600. Admission includes a tour through the area where your guide will explain the different cycles of the butterfly’s life. There's also a gift shop on the premises selling butterfly art and memorabilia. The Butterfly Farm is open every day from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Tickets costs $12 and are good for the length of your stay in St. Maarten.

To reach the Butterfly Farm from the Dutch side, follow the signs to the Middle Region and Orient Beach. Just before you reach Orient Beach, you’ll see a sign at a narrow road on the right for Bay Side Riding Stables. The sign for the Butterfly Farm is on the left side of the road, but you want to turn right here at Rte. de Le Galion (Galion Road). The first place you’ll come to will be the Butterfly Farm.

Telephone: 590-873-121

Simpson Bay Fish Market

The new fish market on the lagoon in Simpson Bay opened in April, 2007. It provides fishermen with a place to display and sell their catch, stalls for fresh produce, tables for local artisans to display their crafts, and six small restaurants offering the catch of the day and local dishes. Fresh fish is available starting at 6:30 a.m. So, go early in the morning to have the largest selection of fish, browse the other stalls and stay for a locally prepared lunch.

Visit the Outdoor Market in Marigot

Every Saturday and Wednesday, the waterfront is abuzz in Marigot with its large outdoor market. You can find everything here – from fresh spices and produce, CDs of island music, T-shirts (3 for $10!), beach bags, clothing, jewelry, table linens, pareos, tambours (drums), decorative items with an island flavor, and much more – all at a good price. Like most outdoor markets, the vendors are willing to bargain and will often accept U.S. dollars for the asking price in euros – that can be up to a 37% savings given the current exchange rate. The market is located right on the waterfront and is right next to many little restaurants serving delicious local cuisine at outrageous prices! This is truly an island experience not to be missed. Just be sure to leave a little extra room in your suitcase.

Spend a Day on Beautiful Pinel Island

For some good snorkeling, food and relaxation, visit Pinel Island, located a few hundred yards off the northern end of Orient Bay. Pinel Island has a beautiful sandy beach that is protected from the pounding surf, which makes snorkeling the coral reefs ideal. You can also hike to the two deserted beaches on the other side. There is no electricity on the island and no cars. However, there are two small restaurants on the beach. One is run by a French man and the other is a local BBQ place that also serves grilled langouste (Caribbean lobster). Between the two restaurants is the Paradise Gift Shop – a local style shop selling a variety of mementos. Chairs and umbrellas are also available for rent.

To get to Pinel Island, you must take a small ferry. If you’re coming from the Dutch side, follow the signs past Orient Beach. The end of the road at French Cul de Sac opens onto a wide sandy area with a small wooden dock. The small boats will ferry you over for $5, round-trip. The boats run about every half hour and the ride is a short five minutes. The last boat returning from Pinel Island is at 4:30 p.m. Don’t miss it or you’ll be sleeping on the island!