| St Martin is an island divided between two | | | | international cuisine and local seafood. There is a |
| principalities: French in the north and Dutch in the | | | | well-stocked supermarket for provisioning the yacht. |
| south. Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch Saint Maarten | | | | Dawn Beach is on the Dutch side, and a bit off the |
| and offers duty free shopping, casinos and nightlife | | | | beaten path. It boasts fine sugar white powdery |
| and has some great bars around the waterfront. | | | | sand, with a view of St. Bart's in the distance. |
| Marigot is the largest town in the French sector. | | | | Compared to other well-developed popular beaches, |
| St Martin offers a wide choice of yacht charter and | | | | Dawn beach has preserved its tranquillity and laid |
| includes bareboat yacht charter, skippered yacht | | | | back atmosphere. The best snorkelling is found at |
| charter, luxury crewed yacht charter, monohull and | | | | Dawn Beach, as the coral reef is right off the shore. |
| catamaran charter and both sail and motor yacht | | | | The surf can sometimes be a little challenging, so for |
| charter. | | | | young kids this is not the ideal beach. |
| Christopher Columbus discovered and claimed the | | | | Anse Marcel is a small harbour with a pleasant beach |
| island for Spain on 11th Nov 1493.The French settled | | | | next to the Marina Port de Lonvilliers. Many yacht |
| on the island in 1624 to cultivate tobacco followed by | | | | charters start from this marina. The marina is lined |
| the Dutch in 1631 who where looking for salt. In 1684 | | | | with shops, hotels, and many restaurants. |
| the island was divided into two zones, French | | | | Marigot Port La Royale is a bustling marina boasting |
| Saint-Martin in the north and Dutch Saint Maarten in | | | | located on the leeward side of St Martin. It has one |
| the south. The next 130 years saw the entire island | | | | of the largest shopping arcades on St Martin and a |
| occupied by the French, Dutch or British until 1816 | | | | host of little restaurants and bars. On Wednesday |
| when the French and Dutch zones resumed. | | | | and Saturday your morning's stroll will take you |
| The weather is tropical, meaning it's hot and sunny | | | | through the open-air market located along the wharf. |
| year-round with very little temperature variation | | | | There you will discover a colourful array of home |
| between seasons. The average yearly air | | | | grown produce, fresh fish and tropical fruits and |
| temperature is 27° C and sea surface | | | | spices. Fort St. Louis, built in 1767, is the largest |
| temperature 26.4° C. The total average yearly | | | | historical monument in St Martin. The steep climb is |
| rainfall is 995 mm, with 22 days of thunder. St Martin | | | | worth the effort for the panoramic view of the |
| weather turns wetter in the autumn but showers are | | | | island and the sea surrounding it. |
| generally short and taper off quickly after big | | | | Marigot Fort Louis has a 150 berth marina, Marina Fort |
| downpour. St Martin catches the unobstructed trade | | | | Louis. It has direct access to the sea, as opposed to |
| winds off the Atlantic Ocean. You can experience | | | | marinas on the Dutch side where yachts need to |
| winds upwards of 20 knots for several days, making | | | | negotiate the Simpson Bay Bridge. |
| for some challenging passages. Summer months see | | | | Simpson Bay has a full service marina on the Dutch |
| winds anywhere from 10 to 20 knots. | | | | side of the island with 120 slips accommodating |
| Summer is the least expensive time to charter. Many | | | | yachts up to 61m. When departing, remember to |
| yacht charter companies will offer promotions such | | | | check the time of the drawbridge opening. It only |
| as sail 10 days for the price of 7, or give discounts | | | | goes up twice a day. This lagoon is not a desirable |
| of up to 25% off charter prices. The winter is the | | | | place to swim. |
| height of the season and you will pay the full yacht | | | | Orient Beach is the best spot to see and be seen in |
| charter price. | | | | St Martin. Both tourists and the islands French |
| Juliana International Airport in the main airport on St | | | | residents convene at Orient Beach to take |
| Martin and has daily flights to the main cities of the | | | | advantage of its liberal bathing attitudes and great |
| world. French and English are spoken widely on St | | | | water sports facilities. Orient Beach has a string of |
| Martin. US Dollars and Euros are used everywhere. | | | | restaurants that fill the air with tangy aromas and |
| Major credit cards are generally accepted in hotels, | | | | strolling down the beach where clothing is optional is |
| restaurants and larger shops. | | | | considered by many part of the island's charm. |
| The island has a well developed network of | | | | Diving: The waters surrounding the St Martin are filled |
| mini-buses on both sides and this is an inexpensive | | | | with a wonderful diversity of marine life including |
| way to get around. There are marked stops along | | | | coral. There is also a variety of old shipwrecks for |
| the roadside, but by waving them down you can be | | | | diving enthusiasts to discover. There are plenty of |
| picked up and dropped off virtually anywhere. | | | | diving centres to choose from in St Martin. |
| Every March, hundreds of participants from Europe, | | | | St Martin may also be the point of departure for |
| the United States, and the Caribbean visit St Martin | | | | visiting smaller nearby islands. These include Anguilla, |
| to compete in one of the world's biggest sailing | | | | St Bart's and St Kitts and Nevis. |
| events; the Heineken Regatta. During the past 25 | | | | One way yacht charter is also available to Tortola in |
| years this regatta has become one of the largest | | | | the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique in |
| events in the Caribbean. | | | | the French West Indies and Union in the Grenadines. |
| Oyster Pond Marina is on the border between the | | | | Check with the yacht charter company for more |
| French and Dutch sides, it is a full service marina with | | | | details. |
| a fuel dock, laundry, bars and restaurants offering | | | | |