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Nothing takes the chill off winter faster than jumping on a sailboat in the Caribbean. That is exactly what we did a few weeks ago with Waxahachie sailing captain, Dick Dawson, and his wife Gail, when they invited a few friends aboard a Fountaine Pajot catamaran in the U.S. Virgin Islands. We arrived in St. Thomas with Tom McAfee and Beverly Worthington and took a five-minute cab ride to the famous Crown Bay Marina in Charlotte Amalie, where slips full of gorgeous sailboats, catamarans and luxury yachts sat glistening in the tropical sun. We were directed down the pier where the 48-foot catamaran, the S/V Orion, sat tied next to a sailboat owned by John Travolta. With its four double berths, private baths, a sleek salon with a full kitchen and a flat-screen TV, we had everything we needed for a fun-filled week of sailing and adventure. The Dawsons and our friends, Mike and Donna Whitson, already had the boat provisioned with a week’s worth of food and wine, so we headed out to sea almost immediately.
With sails up, our course plotted and the autopilot engaged, we headed east. Most holiday cruisers would not charter a boat like the S/V Orion, sailing it as far as we did, but Dick knew I wanted to revisit my favorite islands of St. Martin and St. Barts, so he didn’t tell me it would take 18 hours to get there. However, as we approached the leeward side of St. Martin, the sun was coming up and the magnificent view of Marigot Bay made the night-long passage worthwhile. My husband, Andrew, and Captain Dick took the dinghy ashore with our passports, notifying the authorities of our arrival, and brought back to the boat freshly baked croissants. After all, we had arrived at a French island. We spent the day shopping the colorful markets and had a delicious lunch at an outdoor café. The Dawsons lived in St. Martin for 10 years and they still have many friends there. That night we hosted a cocktail party on the boat for a few of their friends, and had a great time making some new friends of our own.
The following night we anchored in Grand Case, a little fishing village near the northern tip of St. Martin, famous for its French restaurants housed in brightly colored Creole cottages with gingerbread trim. There are few things more fun than tying your dinghy to the pier and walking into a charming cottage in flip flops to experience some of the best French food on the island. Our favorite is Le Pressoir, where we dined on escargot, foie gras, fresh sea scallops and veal with shaved truffles while finishing off a few bottles of Chassagne-Montrachet. Who said life at sea is tough? The best food for the money, however, can be found not in the fancy restaurants along the main road, but in lolos located in the center of town facing Grand Case’s small but pristine beach. The lolos are comprised of several separately owned establishments that prepare food on large barbeque grills. No better deal can be had on the island.
The next day we leisurely set our sails toward the chic island of St. Barts. We would drift on for an hour or four, reading and sunbathing, chatting and taking pictures, pulling out the headsail when the wind picked up and rolling it back in when the wind died. Cruising gives you a freedom like none other. Along the way we stopped at Tintamarre, a small flat island a short distance from St. Martin. It’s a great place to tie up to a mooring ball and swim to shore, or snorkel in the clear waters surrounding it. We arrived in St. Barts by late afternoon and anchored in the port of Gustavia. I simply love St. Barts with its endless row of mega luxury yachts and boutiques. We enjoyed another wonderful meal at Wall House, a hip eatery on the harbor where you sit in canvas directors’ chairs under a shady white awning while watching the passing parade of yachts and posh pedestrians.
The next morning I made reservations for us gals at the breathtaking Hotel Guanahani Spa. After a blissful day of pampering, we met the guys for lunch at Le Select, the joint Jimmy Buffet made famous for cheeseburgers in paradise. Then, just when we were truly settling into cruising life, it was time to turn back and make that long stretch home. Fortunately, we had the wind at our back, which made for a much smoother ride. We sailed through the night, staring at the stars and letting the waves and wind rock us to sleep while the guys took turns at the helm. As we entered back into the U.S. Virgin Islands, we enjoyed our last night anchored in St. Johns Caneel Bay, feeling blessed with another sailing adventure full of great memories, friends and fun.
If you are not a licensed sailor you can still charter a catamaran like the S/V Orion and have Captain Dick Dawson at the helm. The S/V Orion offers you the freedom and comfort unlike any resort or beachside hotel. It becomes your private dream vacation and the itinerary and activities are up to you—choose when and where to sail, customize your menu, stay longer in a favorite bay or set sail for the horizon. If you are interested in chartering the S/V Orion in St. Thomas, visit the Web site at http://www.orionsailingcharters.com or send an e-mail to Dick Dawson at cdicksail@aol.com. Bon Voyage!