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Chartering a Moorings cat out of Rodney Bay St Lucia in the spring. Thinking about crossing over to Martinique...is it worth the trip? Thanks

Would also be curious to hear from people about Martinique.

Martinique sin't bad, although I didn't care for Fort De Franc, St. Pierre was alright. It helps a lot if you can speak French (I can't but the Skipper could so she did the talking). Are you sure on starting in Rodney Bay, I thought the Moorings base was in Marigot Bay. How long is your charter for, a better option may be to head over to St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The Moorings is the process of moving the base from Marigot Bay to Rodney Bay. It's only a 7 day charter....we are thinking about heading back down in 2015 and taking a longer charter to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We don't speak French. Thanks for the info

We are full time cruisers and we love the french islands. We don't speak french, (we try our best but just fumble thru) and we get along fine. The people are friendly and the food is extraordinary. Was in Rodney Bay a couple of weeks ago. If I were chartering from there I would not hesitate to go to Martinique. My two cents.

I guess it all depends on what you’re looking for.

After banging around the Windward’s for quite awhile I personally prefer to attempt to connect with the local ambiance and appreciate a more laid back community. St. Vincent and the Grenadines are my favorite but you don’t have the time to make it happen the way it should.

Leaving from St. Lucia, Martinique is so close it’s a no brainer. Head for the Sainte Anne/ Le Marin area. Sainte Anne is really low key with some places in the town serving great French food for a reasonable price. Want more action slide around the marker and head for Le Marin. You can see it but it’ll take a few hours to get there. Two good markets to provision and easy anchoring. Just make sure when you anchor to check the race schedule so your not anchored in the course.

Fort De France is a bustling place and the Capital. If you’re into really cool old style communities, get away from the water front about 6 blocks and you are in the old town square.

Sainte Pierre is very special. Anchoring here is a little tricky. Stay 3 or 4 hundred yards south of the main dock in about 20’ and look for a nice sand patch between the rocks that the volcano blew all over the place. Set it well and enjoy the market and all the history that surrounds this area.

Thanks for the helpful info. How is the clearing in process? Race schedule....who's racing?

Clearing in is easy at Le Marin like most French islands. Anchor and dink into the Marina at the north end of the anchorage. Take the right hand course close to the mangroves and walk to the marina complex, stay right as you're walking and go to the office upstairs. Walk thru the door and hang a right. You'll sit at a computer and enter the stuff and you're done. Walk out and head a little more north and get great Baguettes for around 1 EU.

If only all the islands cleared as easily as the French. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Good advice from rhans. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

A couple of tips for French clearance:
1. Boat length in meters
2. to find "United States" on the computer, type "eta" and the correct prompt will appear in the drop down. (the keyboard layout is different)
3. Note that European dates are day/ month/ year (as it really should be everywhere)
4. Currency in Euros instead of EC's however the US $ frequently is accepted. Clearance may have a couple of Euro fee.
5. If you use the Doyle guidebook, it may say that you can clear at Grande Anse D'Arlet at P'ti Bateau restaurant. The restaurant was closed when we were there 3 weeks ago so no clearance. The moorings are free but difficult to lift from the bow. The municipal dock has been upgraded so much nicer than it was in the spring. A nice little stop probably the closest distance from Rodney Bay. We "Q' flagged then moved on to clear in and out at St. Pierre. St. Pierre is one of our favorite stops. Anchoring area has been recently restricted to protect the historic wrecks but we had no problem finding a spot. Tour the DePaz rhum distillery if you get the chance. 10 Euro taxi ride. We have hiked both ways or taxi'd up and hiked down.
Have a great time!
6. Internet is a challenge or non-existent in many French islands.

Thanks to everyone who responded for great information....very helpful. I think we will probably spend 2 days exploring Martinique and the remainder of the time hanging out around St Lucia. Wish we had time to journey further south but our time is constrained by our daughters spring break. The summer of 2015 looks like a good time to spend 2 weeks on a sail to St Vincent and the Grenadines and on to Grenada. We will be in the BVI 2 weeks this summer. Thanks again for all the help.

Post a trip report - we're thinking about Martinique next Fall, possible sooner.

For what its worth, you could head south with 7 days - little tight, but we did it with 8 days. Started in St. Lucia and went as far as the Tobago Cays and back. Helps if you get a really early start out of St. Lucia and on our return, we left Bequia before sunrise so we'd have some time at the Pitons our last night.

What was your first destination after leaving St Lucia and what was the duration of that sail from Bequia to the Pitons? Thanks

My advice if you're planning only 2 days in Martinique is to stay in St. Lucia. Half a day to Le Marin and a 1/2 day back = 1 day. You'll never be able to see Sainte Pierre on that schedule. Save Martinique for another time when you can sit back and enjoy what this Island has to offer.

We left the base (noon start) and headed for the Pitons and spent our first night there. Left later than we should have and headed for Blue Lagoon St. Vincent. I think we left between 9am and 10 and got there just about 5pm.

The return we planned on leaving at 4 or 5 (I forget which) and ended up waiting almost an hour as some strong showers came through, so we waited for it to clear. I think we got to the Pitons by 3pm maybe? Saw some whales go past as we sailed between St. Vincent and St. Lucia!

You guys have given me a lot to think about...that's part of the fun of this trips....the planning. It would be cool to see some whales!

We saw quite a few whales and dolphin this fall on our trek from Grenada to Antigua, especially between St. Vincent and St. Lucia, near the Pitons. Last year as well. Can't say they will be there when you get there. Hope so.

We've decided to spend one and half days at Ste. Anne. Once arriving from St. Lucia can I just anchor off of Ste. Anne and take a taxi or bus into Marin to clear customs or do I need to take the boat directly to Marin?
Thanks, Billy

Sounds like you just want to say you’ve been to Martinique.

Lets see, you’ll waist minimum 3 hrs. clearing in by the time you taxi or bus in. Same clearing out, unless you can in and out at the same time. I don’t know if that’s even possible. Last time I was there we stood in line at the Marina Office for 45 minutes waiting to use the computer.

If your still hell bent to do this in 1 ½ days - sail in to Le Marin and at least save the taxi/bus fares. Take this for what it’s worth – you’re trying to put 10# of stuff in a 5# sack