| Martinique offers all types of yacht charter such as | | | | well-stocked chandleries, a supermarket for |
| bareboat yacht charter, skippered yacht charter, | | | | provisioning the yacht prior to sailing of on your |
| luxury crewed yacht charter, monohull and catamaran | | | | charter and a plenty of restaurants. The immense |
| charter and both sail and motor yacht charter. | | | | bay is well protected and considered to be the best |
| Martinique is an overseas department of France. | | | | hurricane hole for yachts in Martinique. |
| Along with the other overseas departments, | | | | Martinique has a distinct Franco Caribbean feel which |
| Martinique is also one of the twenty-six regions of | | | | provides for an excellent cuisine. Local products are |
| France and an integral part of the Republic. As part | | | | used extensively and the dishes are exotic and rich in |
| of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, | | | | colour. Restaurants range from the expected French |
| and its currency is the Euro. Major credit cards are | | | | and Creole but you can also find those specialising in |
| accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops. Currency | | | | African dishes as well. Seafood on Martinique is very |
| can be exchanged in the banks. There are ATMs in all | | | | good and includes fresh local crab and lobster. Also |
| the cities of Martinique and in the marinas. The official | | | | Conch, a large shellfish that can be barbequed or |
| language of Martinique is French although almost all of | | | | cooked in a delicious spicy sauce. Martinique rum is |
| its inhabitants also speak Antillean Creole or Creole | | | | well known in the Caribbean and popular as the sun |
| Martiniquais. | | | | goes down. Try a xTi- Punchx, the local cocktail of |
| Christopher Columbus saw Martinique in 1493, but he | | | | Martinique. It consists of a measure of white rum, |
| didn't set foot on it until 1502 during his fourth | | | | cane sugar syrup and the zest of a lemon. |
| voyage. Frenchman Pierre Belan d'Esnambuc was the | | | | Here is some information on locations that you are |
| first European to inhabit Martinique when he founded | | | | likely to visit on your yacht charter while sailing |
| a settlement in 1635. The Caribs, the indigenous | | | | around Martinique; |
| people of the Caribbean, were probably the first set | | | | Grande Anse dx Arlet is a popular and photogenic |
| of people to live on the island. Martinique became a | | | | yacht anchorage that can become crowded on |
| part of the French crown in 1658. Sugar, indigo and | | | | weekends. This fishing village is most charming. |
| coffee were the first crops to be grown on the | | | | Brightly painted boats known as gommiers sit right on |
| island, worked by black slaves were brought to | | | | the sparkling white sand beaches. The waters are |
| Martinique from West Africa. | | | | well known for exceptional diving with a variety of |
| The island was under Britain's command during the | | | | tropical fish and colourful corals. There are a handful |
| Seven Years' War from 1762 to 1763; during the | | | | of modest restaurants and cafes |
| French Revolutionary Wars from 1794 to 1802; and | | | | Anse Mitan is located along the southwestern shore |
| again during the Napoleonic wars from 1809 to 1814. | | | | of Martinique and has one of the islandxs most |
| The French Revolution saw severe conflicts in | | | | popular beaches. The area is packed with hotels, |
| Martinique with the monarchists and revolutionaries | | | | trendy boutiques and restaurants. Berthing here tends |
| bitterly opposed. The royalist faction gained the | | | | to be crowded and it may be sensible for yachts to |
| upper hand in 1791 and declared the independence of | | | | call ahead prior to arrival. |
| Martinique. When threatened again by Napolean's | | | | Les Trois Inlets, with its old buildings, maintains its |
| followers they invited the British to occupy Martinique | | | | original charm and is largely unspoilt by tourist |
| in 1794. | | | | development. Napoleon's wife, Joséphine, was |
| Slavery was banned in 1848 and people from India | | | | born in here Martinique and ruins of the Habitation de |
| and China were brought to work the farms and | | | | la Pagerie, where she spent her childhood, can still be |
| plantations on Martinique. During World War II the | | | | visited in the town.The anchorage is so well |
| island was at first controlled by the Vichy regime | | | | protected that this is where yachts take refuge |
| from 1940-1943 but when the war finished Martinique | | | | during hurricane warnings. There is a ferry to Forte |
| was under the control of the Free French Forces. | | | | de France, capital of Martinique, which runs from Les |
| Martinique lies in the trade wind belt providing reliable | | | | Trois Inlets. |
| and predicable winds, a big plus for those wanting to | | | | Fort de France, the commercial centre and principal |
| do some sailing on their yacht charter. During the | | | | city of Martinique is well worth a visit. The town is a |
| summer months the winds prevail at 10 ? 20 knots | | | | shopperxs paradise overflowing with fine boutiques |
| from the northeast. The winter will see 15 ? 20 knots | | | | selling the latest French fashions. Fort de France has |
| generally from the east. Consistent tropical | | | | many open-air markets in which to treasure hunt and |
| temperatures year round make for an enjoyable | | | | pick up fresh fish and local produce. There are also |
| yacht charter. | | | | museums to visit and architecture to admire. There |
| The geography of Martinique is quite distinct. The | | | | are plenty of restaurants to choose Wash from the |
| north has lush foliage, rivers and spectacular | | | | ferries can make the yacht anchorage choppy during |
| mountains. Most of the beaches in the north have | | | | the day but it settles down at night. The far end of |
| black sand. While the south of Martinique is blessed | | | | the bay does not suffer from ferry wash and might |
| with the white sand beaches backed by palms and | | | | be a better option for yachts planning to spend much |
| sea grapes. To the east of Martinique is the Atlantic | | | | time here. |
| Ocean. The calmer waters of the Caribbean Sea are | | | | St. Anne is a delightful town with a peaceful |
| to be found to the west of Martinique and sailing in | | | | protected yacht anchorage right off the beach. |
| these waters will generally make for a more pleasant | | | | Le Francois, on the east coast of Martinique, is lined |
| yacht charter. | | | | with miles of deeply indented shoreline offering |
| Martinique is a popular location for dive charters and | | | | numerous bays and islands. If you are brave enough |
| dive centres. The waters surrounding the island are | | | | to venture along the turbulent waters of the Atlantic |
| filled with a wonderful diversity of marine life including | | | | you will find private enclaves that provide peaceful |
| coral. And there are several of old shipwrecks for | | | | yacht anchorages. Le Francois is a pleasant fishing |
| divers to explore around Martinique. | | | | village with a large harbour. Musee Rhum Clement is |
| The major airport on Martinique is Lamentin | | | | an obsolete distillery in the cellar of an 18th century |
| International. There are at least 4 direct daily flights | | | | mansion with period furnishings that the Clement Rum |
| from Paris, France. Flights to Martinique from North | | | | Distillery closed in the 1990xs. There are many |
| America are limited, only one a week via Miami or | | | | exhibits, a botanical park to explore and rum tasting. |
| Haiti. Flying to nearby island of St Lucia may prove a | | | | St. Pierre was the original capital of Martinique and |
| useful alternative. | | | | known as the xParis of the Caribbeanx. In 1902 the |
| Provisioning in Martinique is very good with | | | | volcano erupted burying the city and the surrounding |
| supermarkets offering a wide array of produce, both | | | | plantations with ash and lava. Today many of the |
| local and European. Fruit and vegetables, cheeses, | | | | ruins remain, with numerous new buildings attached |
| meat, pates and seafood are plentiful. Plan to do | | | | to at least one wall of the past. A museum stands at |
| major provisioning for your yacht charter on | | | | the top of a hill and depicts the tragedy of that era. |
| Martinique as the choice and quality of goods on | | | | It is lit up at night and makes for a captivating |
| offer will be superior to those found on the other | | | | backdrop for those on yachts anchored below. |
| islands. You will also find good clothes shopping on | | | | There are also several one-way yacht charter |
| Martinique with many outlets offering the latest | | | | options available; To St. Lucia, St. Vincent & |
| French and European fashions. | | | | Grenadines, Grenada, Saint Martin, Guadeloupe or |
| Just a short ride from the airport is Le Marin, the | | | | even Los Roques in Venezuela. Ask your yacht |
| heart of the yacht charter business in Martinique. Le | | | | charter company for more details. |
| Marin has all the facilities you could wish for: | | | | |