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Day Trip to St. Barth's #107397
09/12/2016 07:21 PM
09/12/2016 07:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 77
Omaha, NE
unipanther Offline OP
Traveler
unipanther  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 77
Omaha, NE
What does the board think about booking my day trip to St. Barth's ahead of time or when we get to St. Martin? We are staying at OBBR on 11/12/16, so we will be traveling out of Oyster Pond. I kind of want to wait to see what the weather is like and make sure we go on a calm sunny day. The wife got a little sea sick on the last trip over and I don't want to hear my older brother complain, ha. Plan to rent a car like last time as it worked out well for us as I LOVE to explore. Thanks for the help!

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Re: Day Trip to St. Barth's [Re: unipanther] #107398
09/12/2016 08:32 PM
09/12/2016 08:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
Traveler
pat  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Purely a personal opinion, but if there's any chance at all of either of you experiencing mal de mer, I would definitely NOT book this far ahead. I probably wouldn't ever book something this far ahead, but that's me and while I don't suffer from the dreaded sea sickness I still wouldn't want to do the trip in crummy weather and you just never know? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Day Trip to St. Barth's [Re: unipanther] #107399
09/12/2016 08:34 PM
09/12/2016 08:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,141
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem Offline
Traveler
islandgem  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,141
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I would be inclined to wait until after your arrival on the island. Since you are staying close to the ferry departure, it will be easy to make your arrangements taking the weather into consideration. It is definitely no fun to go on a day with rough seas and sunshine makes for a nicer day too.




Re: Day Trip to St. Barth's [Re: islandgem] #107400
09/12/2016 08:40 PM
09/12/2016 08:40 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,880
B
Bahston Offline
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Bahston  Offline
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B
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,880
No need to book a car in advance unless your planning to be there over Christmas/New Year. Same for the ferry. Consider flying as an alternative, taking St Barth Commuter out of Grand Case.

Re: Day Trip to St. Barth's [Re: unipanther] #107401
09/13/2016 07:39 AM
09/13/2016 07:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
P
PelicanPirate Offline
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PelicanPirate  Offline
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P
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
Do not go unless a very calm wind/wave day (I'm saying less than 2-3 ft waves max). We made the mistake last New Years of going in one of the smaller craft (34 ft) and to be honest it was so rough (3+ meter waves) it could have been our last day. It was that dangerous and zero fun and no enjoyment. All pax got sick.

Basically I was told the water goes from very deep thousands of feet to hundreds of feet in that area creating the rough potential. Add 9 ft waves and 30/40 mph winds. Lookout.

As for booking in advance, the rental cars may be hard to get in high season. If you really want to go, I'd fly over out of grand case. 15 minutes. That I would book both flights/ car ahead.

Re: Day Trip to St. Barth's [Re: unipanther] #107402
09/13/2016 08:08 AM
09/13/2016 08:08 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 720
Ottawa Canada
candu Offline
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candu  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 720
Ottawa Canada
Try looking at Winair flights. Sometimes there are sales. The flight is fairly short but the landing is fun.

Re: Day Trip to St. Barth's [Re: PelicanPirate] #107403
09/13/2016 08:28 AM
09/13/2016 08:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
Traveler
pat  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Pete,

Not trying to be argumentative because I really don't know with absolute certainty what the explanation for the rough sail to St. Bart's is, but many years ago and long before the days of the regularly scheduled bigger boats from Swaliga up to the present day ferries, we used to do the smaller sail cats over and back.

It was explained to us on several of those early trips the trip over would typically be quite rough because we were sailing against the tides (waves?), we'd quite possibly be a little damp on arrival and we might end up motoring under most of it, but the good news - we would probably enjoy the sail back since we'd be returning under sail and with the tides as opposed to against them. And for that matter, we were given the same explanation regarding rough trips to Saba. This sounded reasonable to me but do does your explaination. Perhaps a combination of both?

I will share though, among some of my fondest SXM memories were those day trips to StB and the actual sail back to SXM on those small cats with the wind whipping the sails, a little Caribbean-Buffet type music playing on the tape deck - Yes, I said tape deck! - and a cold libation in hand as we glided across the waves with the waning sun glistening on the water. Those are the memories I will forever treasure. The trip to St. Bart's - not so much! And DH, once he learned of the option to fly over and sail back, never made the boat trip over again though his overall preference was to fly round trip to both Saba and St. Bart's.<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

And as a post script, upon arrival back in Philipsberg, we were able to enjoy many a sun-downer at Chesterfields at that big round table with one of the boat captains we came to know well along with his first mate-wife who used to meet him there after the trips. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Last edited by pat; 09/13/2016 08:38 AM.

Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Day Trip to St. Barth's [Re: pat] #107404
09/13/2016 08:41 PM
09/13/2016 08:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
P
PelicanPirate Offline
Traveler
PelicanPirate  Offline
Traveler
P
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
I had read repeatedly it was rough and sometimes bard making on the way over and better on the way back. On that day we were told we might get a little wet. Vast understatement as on the way over violently rough on body and on the way back not a moment of dry face and body. We could only hold on and occasionally confirm hanging in there with a thumbs up.

Again, anyone going should check the winds/waves themselves before departure and queary the captain about roughness, wetness, ability to speak, ability to drink and risk/safety.

There were two commercial pilots onboard and we both said if we'd done that to pax in a plane they wouldn't fly again.

I'm sure there are many days that this is a pleasant and thrilling ride. Our day was not.

ID FLY NEXT TIME AND ENJOY MY DAY IN ST BARTS. IF I WANT A BOAT RIDE TAKE ONE AROUND THE ISLAND THAT STOPS AND YOU CAN HOP OFF AND CAB IT. SORRY FOR CAPS.


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