Guadeloupe – Cruising in the French Territorial Waters
Guadeloupe looks like a charming butterfly when you are approaching it by plane. But also on land, this Caribbean island holds a great variety of surprises in store for its charter guests. Exotic atmospher blends in with the French colonial heritage and with the African and Asian roots of the population. Numerous neighboring islands and islet, great sailing facilites and lvey weather throughout the year mean that you have to sail in Guadeloupe at least once in your life.
Sea & Coast
Even if it’s regarded as a whole political entity, Guadeloupe island is actually a group of 5 separate islands which makes it an archipelago, set in the warm waters of the Caribbean, between Antigua and Martinique, in a group well known to the Yacht Charter experts, the Antilles.
Politically, Guadeloupe is an overseas district of France but once you get here, you realize the islands are the definition of a tropical paradise. The five islands of the archipelago are Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Desirade, Les Saintes and Marie Galante. The relief on all is volcanic, as on most of the Antilles, with a total of 306km of coastline and high mountainous centers (the maximum altitude is 1467m), where Yacht Charter tourists can enjoy the scenery as well as the hot springs.
The tropical climate is favorable for dense tropical jungle vegetation, which has been declared a national park in 1989. There are numerous species, both trees (kapok trees, rubber trees, mahogany, chestnut) but mostly flowers (several types of orchids, hibiscus, lillies) which adorn the jungle with their colors and smells. The coastal regions have mangrove forests that span up close to the beaches, providing shade for the Yacht Charter groups.
Weather-wise, there are no distinct differences between the seasons in Guadeloupe, the temperatures varying by 5 degrees, thanks to the trade winds used extensively by Yacht Charter sailors travelling around the Antilles. Though most people arrive in winter as a tropical getaway, the best time to visit is in summer because there are less people and the prices are lower. The downside is that rain showers are more likely to occur during summer, but they never last long.
Culture & History
Guadeloupe is an interesting mix of European (French), African and Asian culture, coupled with the native traditions. After being discovered by Christopher Columbus, the islands were fought over by France and Britain which used them as plantations for spices and citrus fruit, which explains the large African population brought in as slave labor centuries ago.
The main Yacht Charter center is Point a Pitre on Grande-Terre, followed by other important settlements such as Gosier, St. Anne and St. Francois. Though the atmosphere is distinctly exotic, a traveled Yacht Charter sailor will surely spot the French influence in the menus of the bistros, on the promenade and in the shops, making it that more appealing.
Seamanship & Experience
It’s been said that the best way to enjoy Guadeloupe is by boat around the islands, getting to inaccessible beaches and coves or small fishing villages on some forgotten stretch of coast. The main harbor and base for most Yacht Charter companies is Point a Pitre and this is where you’ll find most of the infrastructure and facilities you’ll need for your sailing holiday.
The shoreline is generally well defined but there are numerous islets and islands that could prove hazardous during low tide, though the region is known to Yacht Charter regulars for its small tidal ranges of about half a meter.
The winds blow round the year from the northeast to the southwest, the only thing that differs between seasons is the speed: in summer it’s between 10 and 20 knots while in the winter it’s closer to 15 and 25 knots. This predictable trend makes it easy for Yacht Charter skippers to plan their day trips or itineraries accordingly.