Saint Lucia - Helen of the West Indies
It's easy to fall in love with Saint Lucia, and many people coming here actually do, meaning they return to its sandy, palm-lined beaches and deep blue waters year after year. and for boaters it's even more fun exploring the island and the rest of the Lesser Antilles in the vicinity.
General Info
Few places on earth can compare in beauty with the islands of the Caribbean Sea, which is why they’re such a popular holiday destination and like a Mecca for any Yacht Charter enthusiast, with good trade winds, marvelous anchorage spots, not to mention fair weather throughout the year.
And from all the islands, Saint Lucia stands out on the eastern side of the Caribbean, bordering the Atlantic, as part of the Lesser Antilles, in between Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The first visit from A European was made in 1500 and the first settlers came here in 1660 after the French signed a treaty with the native Carib people. The island was under British rule from 1663 to 1667, fighting over it with France for the next centuries, finally assuming total control in 1814. But this constant fighting by both nations over Saint Lucia gave the island the nickname “Helen of the West Indies”.
Other than being the perfect and most romantic place to go sunbathing or swimming (beaches here regularly end up on the world’s best list), Saint Lucia is also a sailing paradise, and the local government has taken active measures to encourage and support the Yacht Charter industry.
A good place to start your adventure would be Rodney Bay, a huge bay on the western side of the island with only a small opening to the sea which provides perfect calm waters and lots of mooring places at the marina. The other popular place for the Yacht Charter crowds is Marigot Bay, on the southwestern part of the island. Smaller than Rodney but equally beautiful, it takes the elongated shape of an inlet or an estuary rather than a proper bay.
Law & Order
While the Caribbean is very easy to sail and is accessible to most beginners, some experience is required and if the Yacht Charter company feels you don’t have enough it will advise in taking along a seasoned skipper which they provide. If however you do have prior sailing experience and/or a sailing license, you can have it recognized here and head for the waters in no time. British nationals in particular will find it easy in Saint Lucia since the country has been long under Britain and is regarded as a commonwealth state.
This is also the perfect place to take up sailing for the first time, as many Yacht Charter companies provide sailing courses both on bareboat and crewed ships that can be done during your vacation without cutting into the fun. You can apply for Basic courses (such as Competent Crew, Day Skipper) or for the more advanced Coastal courses.
Entering Saint Lucia requires a valid passport for anyone except British nationals who need only to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or a driver’s license. This is valid for a stay up to 6 months, after which you’re going to have to apply for a resident visa. The rest of the Yacht Charter tourists will need a passport and a visa. Other countries that are exempt from the visa system are the United States, Canada and other commonwealth countries. Once obtained, a visa is valid for a 3-month period.