St Maarten Sailing on the Crystal Seas

By Dave Pipitone

Why should St. Maarten sailing interest you?

The twin sisters of different mothers, heart of the Caribbean Sea, hidden gem of the Spanish main, are some of the names given to the stunning dual island of St. Maarten / St. Martin.

The beauty and multi-ethnic flamboyance of this island which is often imitated but rarely duplicated, entices many travelers to its three dozen beaches, pastoral vistas, exciting art community, some of the worlds finest gourmet dining, remarkable duty-free shopping, fabulous resorts, and outstanding sailing and marinas.

St. Maarten sailing is one of the best activities you could ever experience on this welcoming island.

Every year on the month of March, hundreds of contestants from the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean visit the place for the most exciting experience of St. Maarten sailing by competing in one of the worlds major sailing events, the Heineken Regatta.

The Heineken Regatta has become a symbol of the islands distinction as a great sailing venue.

St. Maarten sailing is one of the few in the world where the common person can sail on a first-class racing boat.

The St. Maarten sailing 12-meter Challenge, which is provided year round, will give travelers a chance to personally experience the thrill of Americas Cup racing.

Wannabe sailors provide as crew aboard the US Stars and Stripes, which competed in the year 1987, or they can choose the Canadian contenders such as True North, Canada II, and true North IV, which are high-performance boats put through their speeds on a shortened Americas Cup course.

You don't need previous experience for St. Maarten sailing on these boats, only a sense of adventure.

For those sailors who have their own boats and heading to St. Maarten, will find first-rate marine accommodations from the islands dozen marinas which provide excellent service and easy admission to provisions.

Water, electric hook-up, dockside gasoline, and almost round-the-clock ship service are standard. A few marinas even offer cable TV hook-up and dedicated phone lines. Rates of slip space range from US$6-7.50 per foot per month, and day rates range between forty to seventy cents per foot.

Visitors who want to explore on their own and freely drop anchor at their own mood, will find a lot of bays and coves of sufficient depth, protection, and space.

Travelers do not need to have their own yachts to experience St. Maarten sailing, as sailboats, motorboats, and canoes are available for rent in nearly all marinas.

A lot of charter companies provide day trips from Philipsburg to Saba and St. Eustatius which are the other two islands that make up the Dutch Windwards group, St. Barths and Anguilla. Picnic sails take tourists to isolated coves or nearby uninhabited islands, lunch is included in this trips.

St. Maarten sailing is a fun and thrilling activity that every visitor should do, all it takes is that little sense of adventure and the rest will be an unforgettable experience.

St Maarten Sailing on the Crystal Seas

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