SINT MAARTEN & SAINT MARTIN

SIMPSON BAY LAGOON:  We anchored in the Simpson Bay Lagoon, on the Dutch and French side.  It is a large bay with lots of room, and it's a calm anchorage !  The downside is that the water color isn't the nicest, thus we never swam off the boat.  We could of anchored at Marigot Bay on the French side or at Simpson Bay, before the bridge on the Dutch side however the anchorages are very rolly.  So, really, it's just a trade off.  Both have good dinghy access.

We walked up the Fort St-Louis for a view of Marigot Bay.  It's not the most well kept fort but the view is awesome.  I felt right at home here in a French country.


















MARIGOT BAY.  PHOTO TAKEN FROM FORT ST-LOUIS

GRAND CASE BAIE:  Grand Case Baie in French St-Martin was one of my favorite places in St-Martin.  It's very quaint, has lots of French restaurants, and has a nice beach.  It's a good place to just chill for awhile. 



ONE OF THE MANY NICE RESTAURANTS IN GRAND CASE



THE BEACH AT GRAND CASE

CALMOS CAFE AND RESTAURANT BY THE BEACH

KIDS BIKED OFF THE DOCKS INTO THE WATER FOR FUN

TIM, SUSAN, DARIA, SCOTT, KEVIN,

Our Commodore from our Lake Dillon Yacht club, Scott Snyder and his family and friends were chartering in the area.  I'm glad we were able to visit for awhile.

MELISSA & DAN ON S/V SLOW DANCING AND CLIFF & KATHY ON S/V NAVIGATOR

PHILIPSBURG:  We took a local bus for $2 to Philipsburg.  This is where the cruise ships are.  As far as cruise ship shops go, it's one of the nicer places I've seen, but still, it's all geared towards large cruise ship tourists. 

On the beach you can find cheap beer and there are several restaurants.  Just beyond the cruise ship stores, you can find real bargains !  The beach here is pretty long and actually, quite nice but busy with tourists.

CRUISE SHIP SHOPPING AREA

MAHO BEACH:  At Maho Beach in Saint Maarten, the airport is the main attraction.  No place in the world can people get so close to places that they can almost touch the fuselage as the planes fly over the beach and come in for a lading at the Princess Juliana International Airport.  A thin, 2 lane street separates the beach from the runway.  Thrill seekers flock to feel the jets take off and see them land.  Near the end of the runway, the Sunset Bar and Grill is packed with people.  Each morning, they write the flight schedule on a surf board and broadcast air traffic control instead of music. 

But, there's a real danger.  The massive jet engines can easily produce winds of more than 100 mph, blowing people and sand into the water.  There are signs everywhere warning people of the danger but in my mind, I just thought the signs were overrated....I was wrong.  Tim and I stood on the other side of the street near a jet getting ready to take off.  When the engines started, I was sand blasted so badly that I ran into the water in pain.  It really hurt !  THAT WAS SCARY !  I'll never do that again.  In fact, there were people right up against the fence !  It's quite something to see, but please, stay away from the jet engines. 

There are several youtube videos about this.   www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2IB54jb3tc

Hints for cruisers:  (Things may have changed since we've been there...)
1 - On the Dutch side, there's a store somewhat like Costco called 'Prime store'.  It's located near the huge ACE hardware store.  They do not have fresh fruits or vegetables.
2 - There are cruiser happy hours at 'Barnacles' on the Dutch side.
3-  If you like naked beaches, to go Orient Beach which is near the Butterfly farm.
4 - In St-Martin, there's a big grocery store called 'U Store' which has everything including cheap wine, cheese, ect... Across the way is the Bakery, get your fresh baguette's there and other sweets.  The 'U Store' is near the bus terminal.
5 - While we were there, there were numerous dinghy's being stolen from either boats or dinghy docks.  Lock 'em up !
6 - If you clear in at 'The Capitainerie' on the French side, it's cheaper than clearing in at Marigot Bay.
7 - Calmos restaurant on the beach at Grand Case Baie has live reggae music on Sundays.
8 - There's a cruiser's net at 7:30am on  VHFchannel 10 from Mondays to Saturdays
9 - On the Dutch side, if you like Shoarmas, there's an outdoor Israeli restaurant near Barnacle's.  They are really good and not expensive at all.  The owner is extremely friendly and he'll give you samples if you'd like.

SABA, NETHERLAND ANTILLES

Saba is the smallest special municipality of the Netherlands.  It consists largely of the potentially active volcano called Mount Scenery (elevation 2,910 feet).  The land area is 13 square kilometers (5.0 sq mi.).  As of January 2013, the population was 1,991.  Its towns and major settlements are 'The Bottom' (the capital), Windward side, Hell's Gate and St.Johns.  The waters around Saba were designated as the Saba National Marine Park in 1987 which boasts very good diving.





'THE ROAD' IS VERY STEEP AND WINDY

There is one main road, known as "The Road". Its construction was masterminded by Josephus Lambert Hassell who despite the common opinion of Dutch and Swiss engineers believed that a road could be built. He took a correspondence course in civil engineering and started building the road with a crew of locals in 1938.  Before the road and the commercial docks were built, the only way to get to shore was by means of landing their boats at Ladder Bay and climbing a steep staircase to get on the island.

Saba is home to the Saba University School of Medicine, which was established by American expatriates in coordination with the government of the Netherlands. The school adds over 400 residents when classes are in session, and it is the prime educational attraction. A.M. Edwards Medical Center is the major provider of health care for local residents.

AT THE ART GALLERY

 

GO TO THE TRAIL SHOP BEFORE HIKING MOUNT SCENERY TO BORROW HIKING STICKS





SIGNS ARE IN ENGLISH AND DUTCH







VIEW OF WINDWARD SIDE TOWN FROM THE TOP OF MOUNT SCENERY

 


STEEP DROP FROM THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT SCENERY



VIEW OF THE RUNWAY FROM THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT SCENERY



VIEW OF WINDWARD SIDE TOWN FROM THE HIKE UP OR DOWN MOUNT SCENERY

 

A NEW DRESS FOR SUSAN

 

 



OUR BILL AT A RESTAURANT CAME IN A DUTCH WOODEN CLOG


 

VIEW OF SABA FROM OUR MOORING AT SUNSET



AS WE LEFT SABA, WE CAUGHT ANOTHER MAHI MAHI


Hint for Cruisers:
1- To clear into the country, from the BVIs, you must sail past the commercial dock at Fort Bay where there are special yellow buoys you can use prior to clearing in.   OR, if there is room at the commercial dock, you can dock there temporarily. 

When we went, it was very windy and seas were pretty big so it was difficult picking up the yellow buoy.  Then, launching the dinghy was another challenge because the boat was pitching.  You must dinghy approximately 1/2 miles back to the commercial dock where immigration and customs are.  Definitely, a very wet ride.  Clearing in wasn't a problem but you must dinghy back to your boat then with your big boat, motor past the commercial dock again to the Leeward side of SABA and pick up a mooring buoy.  When you want to get to shore, you must dinghy about 2 miles from your mooring to the commercial dock, then either walk a very steep hill to town or take a taxi.  The anchorage is extremely rolly and uncomfortable and you'll see the same comment in some guides.  It seems like a lot of trouble but visiting the Island in my opinion is well worth it.

2- From the commercial dock, it's a good walk to Ladder Bay.  

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

This was our 3rd time in the BVIs, our first with Alpenglow.  As much as we like the BVIs, it'll be our last.  We didn't always visit the same Islands.  This time we went to Soper's Hole, Norman Island, Trellis Bay, Spanish Town in Virgin Gorda, Gorda Sound, Anegada & Leverick Bay.

We were very happy to have fun in the BVIs with my long time friend Natalie and her husband Max from Montreal.



TAMARIND TREE




SABA ROCK.  VIEW FROM GUY'S TRAIL




ANEGADA SHORE WHERE WE WERE ANCHORED

WINDWARD SIDE OF THE ISLAND HAS A BEAUTIFUL UNSPOILED BEACH



ANEGADA WINDWARD SIDE BEACH

GOOD SAILING FROM ANEGADA TO LEVERICK BAY




MAX CAUGHT A MACKEREL




5:30 AM AT THE INDIANS

HAVING COFFEE ON DECK VIEWING THE INDIANS DURING SUNRISE

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO SNORKEL AT THE INDIANS

HIKE THE BATHS, JUST DON'T STAY ON THE BEACH, HIKE THE BOLDERS

FRANGIPANI



CRAB VILLE

MAX & NATALIE FROM MONTREAL STAYED WITH US IN THE BVIs



TARPON FISH

A LOBSTER IN RESTAURANTS IN ANEGADA IS NOW BETWEEN $50 - $70, OUTRAGEOUS !



PIRATE PARTY AT LEVERICK BAY




WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

Information for Cruisers: 
1)  Do not miss snorkeling 'THE INDIANS'.  Arrive very early (before 6am) to get a mooring ball.  The sunrise is spectacular.
2) When you get to THE CAVES, don't just stay on the beach.  Hike thru the boulders, it's lots of fun and beautiful.  There's another beach at the end.
3) Tourist guides tell you about the flamingoes in Anegada.  If you do see them, they will be very far away, hardly worth it.
4) Leverick Bay:  If you pick up a mooring ball, you get free water, however, you can anchor.  The water isn't that expensive. 
5) You can use the pool, showers and laundry facilities at Leverick Bay.  We were anchored and nobody ever bothered us about using their facilities.  There's also a nice small grocery shop behind the laundry (get tokens at the office).