CARIBBEAN LEEWARD ISLANDS YACHT CHARTER GUIDE Don't miss: • The Pump House - an old salt pump house, now a restaurant and bar. • Walkblake House - the oldest house on the island and open to visitors. • Sandy Island - great reefs with good snorkeling and beach combing. Neville Connors Sandy Island restaurant may be open for lunch. • Prickly Pear Cays - great white beaches excellent for snorkeling, whistling rocks and tidal pools. • Seal Island Reef - one of the seven marine parks. • Scilly Cay - private island within Anguilla that serves huge lobster and amazing rum punches! DAY 1 - ST MAARTEN On the island of St. Maarten, you can do what comes naturally, live in the moment, explore without limits, and renew your passion for life. Divided into two, the northern side of St Maarten is French and the southern part is Dutch. From the breathtaking cliffs of Cupecoy to a beach where planes come so close you can practically touch them; and all the restaurants, casinos, nightclubs and beaches in between. From the ordinary to the extraordinary, the possibilities are limitless. Once on board, you will make your way through the bridge out of Simpson Bay and start your journey to Anguilla, just a short cruise away. DAY 2 - ANGUILLA DAY 3 - ST BARTS LEEWARD ISLANDSLEEWARD Colorful Anguilla, part of the British West Indies, is an Difficult for the typical commercial traveller to reach, St upscale splash in the Eastern Caribbean. Showing both its Barts has retained its French traditions with exquisite cuisine, British and African influences, Anguilla puts on a plethora excellent boutique shopping and exclusive beaches. A private of festivals and celebrations. This exclusive spot is an yacht charter enables you to gain access to the very best English speaking paradise with crystal clear waters, white locations with plenty of water sports equipment to enjoy the sand beaches and chic hotels. Visitors can travel Anguilla’s sparkling warm waters. The crew can prepare and fully outfit sometimes perilous roads by rental car, scooter or taxi. Don’t your own private beach picnic with great creature comforts miss popular Shoal Bay, restaurants in Sandy Ground or lovely at Colombier Beach or any of the nearly two dozen beaches Rendezvous Bay. ITINERARY on the island. The area is best known for beaches, hiking, snorkeling and The Leeward Islands are the perfect place for island-hopping; each island has its own distinctive flair and flavor. Colorful In addition to the delicious meals prepared and served for diving. The island is also a top birding spot with over 80 colonial histories are reflected in the architecture, food and language. you on board, you will have opportunity to sample some of species of birds that either migrate or permanently reside on Within easy cruising distance, you’ll encounter geographical features ranging from the French-influenced St Barts to the famous the best of French and Caribbean cuisine in the restaurants the island. It is hardly surprising that this small island ranks as sandy beaches of Anguilla. A perennial favorite, the Leeward Islands are perfect for sampling the treasures of the Caribbean. that have made St Barts famous including lunch at Eden Roc an expensive top end destination in the Eastern Caribbean. *The proposed itinerary is just a suggestion. The beauty of a private charter is the ability to change your ‘course’ daily, as long as your embarkation on Base St Jean, and dinner at Le Rivage in Grand Cul de Sac. and disembarkation port remain as per the Charter Agreement. Port Gustavia, the chic island capital, is friendly with much to Please remember your itinerary is always subject to the weather conditions. see and do within strolling distance. While some guests may choose to spend all of their time at St Barts taking advantage of all the island has to offer, visits to nearby islands are a wonderful contrast and compliment. Whatever itinerary you prefer, you will be guaranteed superior comfort, attentive service, and unparalleled amenities unique to the charter yacht experience. DAY 4 - ST KITTS Like no other island in the Caribbean, St Kitts seems to embody a kind of lush tropical paradise usually associated with the South Pacific. The atmosphere here is palpably luxuriant. It is an intoxicating blend of sunlight, sea, air and fantastically abundant vegetation. Christopher Columbus first spotted St Kitts in 1493 when it was populated with native tribes, but the Europeans did not colonize until the British arrived in 1623. Its strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was among the best in the Colonial Caribbean. Nature lovers will want to take advantage of the various tours DAY 6 - ANTIGUA through lava formations, tropical forest areas, and seaside lagoons. Gather on the aft deck for breakfast as the crew Be sure to stay at Christophe Harbour, one of the newer prepares for the yacht's departure to Antigua. Once tied up marinas featuring a collection of enticing amenities including at Falmouth Harbor Marina, venture ashore or take a cruise the Park Hyatt St Kitts hotel, the superyacht harbour around the harbor in the tender. Enjoy a horseback ride on a and marina village, a Tom Fazio designed golf course nearby beach or if physical fitness is your forte, work out on complete with clubhouse and practice facilities, and luxury the upper deck, or take the scenic hike up to Shirley Heights accommodations. for a breathtaking view of the Harbor and the rest of the island. Shirley Heights is best known for watching the ‘green flash’ before the sun sets over the water. And there’s a big party up there most nights during sunset. Perhaps visit Harmony Hall located in Antigua’s Nonsuch Bay, which is a wonderful area where only a reef lies between the yacht and the Atlantic Ocean, rolling in unbroken from Africa. Run around on the WaveRunners or snorkel the reef on the inside of Green Island. Have a barbecue lunch on the beach. Enjoy dinner at Catherine’s Restaurant. Walk around Nelson’s Dockyard and see some of the history of the island. DAY 7 - ST BARTS Enjoy a leisurely cruise back to St Barts where you can enjoy your last full day on board the boat. Finish shopping, or savor lunch in one of the local restaurants on the island. DAY 5 - NEVIS DAY 8 - ST MAARTEN Nevis, a 36-square mile island that lies near the top of Today your yacht will make its way back to St Maarten the Lesser Antilles archipelago, is probably best known as the where crew will bid you adieu and hope you come back to visit Queen of the Caribbean. From the top of the 3,232ft Nevis again soon! Peak to the depths of the clear water below, there is a world of flora and fauna to be explored. Take a tender ride ashore and stroll around the architecture of eras gone by: churches, windmills and refurbished Great Houses from the sugar cane plantations. The island is covered with the ruins of the sugar plantation era which declined in the 1800s after slavery was abolished and the sugar beet created competition for the sugar cane. The most famous beach on Nevis is Pinney’s Beach which has calm, shallow water that’s perfect for wading and swimming. Oualie Beach, north of Pinney’s, has good diving and snorkeling opportunities. IYC RECOMMENDS DON’T MISS For a little local flavor, head to Gwen’s Bar and Grill on a Sunday night. Laze in a LEEWARD ISLANDS hammock in the evening warmth, sipping the famous rum punch and chatting with the locals as the scratch bands warm up for a ANGUILLA night of live reggae. BEST TIME TO VISIT The Caribbean offers year round sailing. August in Anguilla is a great time for the eportedly home to the best beach in the world, Anguilla offers unrivalled bays, stunning blue seas and carnival and yacht races, while in November R famously beautiful sunsets. A yacht charter to Anguilla will give you the freedom to explore the island the island comes alive with the jazz festival. at a Caribbean pace – drift from bay to bay, stopping where the mood takes you to dive into crystal clear waters and relax on soft sands. With a superyacht marina in development, this island is a favorite of the KEY CRUISING AREAS yachting crowd, and compared with its lavish neighbours, the more casual, low-key elegance of Anguilla Anguilla is an excellent start to a Caribbean has long been the choice of discerning travelers. Yacht enthusiasts will enjoy the frequent regattas, and cruise – sail west to explore the diversity of the impressive wrecks and coral reefs and on-land wildlife provide endless options for activities. the Leeward Islands, or head south to the idyllic Windward Islands. BEST BEACH With over 30 beaches on the tiny island, you will be spoilt for choice. Rendezvous Bay is claimed to be the most beautiful beach in the world, the long sandy shore overlooks Ground and stop at Veya restaurant. The LOCAL CULTURE the neighbouring island of St Maarten and pretty lighting and treetop feel create a Anguillans take pride in their unique cul- is dotted with great beach shacks offering special ambience, while the innovative ture, which revolves around faith, family and local snacks. dishes will have you coming back for friends. These values are celebrated in art, seconds. Try the conch fritters for an island dance and music – which can be seen in the speciality. galleries around the island or the live music at most beach bars. The Carnival in July and BEST SPOTS FOR WINING August is a wonderful example of Anguillan AND DINING celebration.