| St Lucia offers a good choice of yacht | | | | the beauty remains in tact. Marigot has 24/7 |
| charter and includes bareboat yacht charter, | | | | security and is a port of entry for the |
| luxury crewed yacht charter, skippered yacht | | | | island. Located here are a first class resort |
| charter, monohull and catamaran charter and | | | | and spa as well as many yacht charter |
| both sail and motor yacht charter. | | | | companies. Opening onto the Caribbean sea, |
| | | | Marigot Bay is conveniently situated 20 |
| St Lucia was first visited by Europeans in | | | | minutes South of Castries, the Island's |
| about the year 1500 and first colonized | | | | Capital City, 45 minutes South of Pigeon |
| successfully by France who signed a treaty | | | | Island National Park and 60 minutes North of |
| with the native Caribs in 1660. Great Britain | | | | the majestic Pitons. |
| then took control of the island from | | | | |
| 1663-1667 before going to war with France | | | | Rodney Bay is a well protected lagoon and a |
| over it fourteen times. The British finally | | | | good yacht anchorage. There are many |
| took complete control of the island in 1814. | | | | opportunities for provisions, fuel and water, |
| On February 22, 1979 St Lucia became an | | | | boat repairs and anything else a sailor could |
| independent state of the Commonwealth of | | | | possible need. Even laundry drop-off service |
| Nations. The island nation celebrates this | | | | is available. Rodney Bay is also a customs |
| every year with a public holiday. | | | | checkpoint and the marina provides tie up for |
| | | | this purpose. The holding ground is not the |
| St Lucia is a small, lush tropical island | | | | best in the lagoon and many sailors have |
| that is still relatively unknown. The twin | | | | reported anchor dragging in the middle of the |
| Pitons soar over 200 feet from the sea and | | | | night. Some of the best beaches are located a |
| shelter the tropical rainforest below, they | | | | just a short dinghy ride away. There is also |
| are located between Soufrière and Choiseul | | | | a car rental agency for those who want to |
| on the western side of the island. The | | | | spend the day exploring interior St Lucia. |
| diversity of white sand beaches and lush | | | | Visit Pigeon Island National Park, which is |
| green mountainous terrain make the cruising | | | | home to Fort Rodney, an old British military |
| ground of St Lucia a wonderful location for a | | | | base. Don't miss the incredible Friday night |
| yacht charter. St Lucia will enchants | | | | "jump-up" at Gros Islet on Rodney Bay. The |
| visitors with dramatic mountain scenery, | | | | most popular local drink in St Lucia is Rum |
| tropical rain forests, waterfalls and | | | | punch, also called "Rocket Fuel," "Jungle |
| secluded beaches. Further inland, the rain | | | | Juice," or "The Baby Maker." |
| forests shelter wild orchids, giant ferns and | | | | |
| birds of paradise. You can visit | | | | Vieux Fort is located in the most southern |
| Soufriére, the world's only drive-in | | | | part of St Lucia. It is the second-largest |
| volcano, or relax in the earth's rejuvenating | | | | town on the island and a popular anchorage |
| heat in the sulpher pools at Diamond Baths. | | | | for yacht charters. In recent years a new |
| Other tourist attractions include the | | | | modern part of Vieux Fort has been erected, |
| Botanical Gardens and Pigeon Island National | | | | yet if you walk along Clark Street and its |
| Park, which is home to Fort Rodney, an old | | | | surrounding roads, you will still see what is |
| British military base. | | | | known as "The Old Town". On Fridays stroll |
| | | | through the open market where you can buy |
| During the months of the summer winds in St | | | | local goods such as fruits, ground provisions |
| Lucia prevail at 10 - 20 knots from the | | | | and spices. It also home to the largest fish |
| northeaSt The winter will see 15 - 20 knots | | | | market in St Lucia where you can buy some of |
| generally from the eaSt The trade winds are | | | | the best and tastiest fish in the world, from |
| consistent and make a yacht charter at | | | | coral fish to tuna. |
| anytime of the year a pleasure. | | | | |
| | | | One-way yacht charter options are available |
| The major airport on St Lucia is Hewanora | | | | to Martinique, St Vincent and the Grenadines |
| International. It has daily flights from | | | | or Grenada. Check with your charter company |
| London and weekly Dusseldorf and the USA via | | | | for more details. |
| Miami. US Dollars and the Euro are used. | | | | |
| Major credit cards may be accepted in hotels, | | | | Diving: St Lucia's warm clear waters and |
| restaurants and some shops. English is the | | | | numerous spectacular reefs and marine life |
| official language and it is spoken widely | | | | offer a perfect environment for both |
| throughout St Lucia | | | | beginners and expert divers. Many hotels |
| | | | offer scuba diving facilities and snorkelling |
| Marigot Bay offers a pristine and unspoiled | | | | equipment and there are a number of |
| landscape. You may recognize Marigot Bay from | | | | independent dive centres offering short boat |
| the 1960's movie Dr. Doolittle. Although it | | | | dives, night dives and a variety of scuba |
| has undergone significant changes since then, | | | | courses. |