Sailing St. Martin/ St. Barts

We are thinking about chartering a small monohull out of St. Martin in the summer. Any information on the sailing? Is it about the same as the BVI? Must do stops for overnight or day? Thanks for experience and knowledge. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Sint Maarten/St. Martin sailing is totally different from the BVI's. Think big winds and much bigger waves. Mooring balls are rare so anchoring skills are necessary. The common route is sailing to Anguilla and St. Barths, along with sailing around SXM and anchoring there.

Conditions in the summer are tropical waves that bring, typically, 25-30 knot winds for a day or two before subsiding to more typical trade wind conditions. These occur every 4 days or so.

If you are comfortable sailing in more "lively" conditions then you have an idea of what sailing out of SXM will be like. Charter boats are located in Oyster Pond, on the windward side and you will have a guide to lead you out and back in, so don't worry about that (a difficult exit and entrance).

I hope this helps!

Please check out this post, which has links to some good threads on the topic.

also check out posts by tmsxmsails, including this video

Maria and Steve got it right. The seas can be calm like BVI or "lively." Lively meaning looking up at the wave about to break on you. Never forget first time looking over my shoulder at the dinghy bottom as we were towing it. The dinghy was riding the wave coming in behind us. Feel free to pm me if you want to start a dialogue. BVI and St. Martin are also totally different culturally.

Lots of good info in the links that Carol posted (and thanks for the video plug Carol!).

Feel free to come back with specific questions after wading through all the previous posts.

One note about chartering a "small" monohull. At The Moorings at least, you probably won't find anything smaller than a 45. They used to have a 43 but they are being phased out for the 45s. I only have experience with The Moorings however so other places might have smaller boats.

And lots of time checking in and out....