A Caribbean Adventure

Located in the heart of Terres Basses on the western coast of sun-splattered St Martin, Long Bay is the first beach you find on the French side when cruising north from the Dutch side. Aptly named - it’s one of the longest beaches on the island, Long Bay is a two-mile stretch of sugar-white sand and impossibly turquoise water that reaches from the resort at La Samanna at one end to Pointe du Canonnier at the other. It is also one of St. Martin’s quietest beaches—only the gentle lapping of the waves stir the stillness. We’ll anchor here in the bay and, after taking lunch on board, you can take an afternoon swim off the stern, or explore the beach’s rocky outcrops with a kayak or paddleboard. Tender ashore in the evening for a cocktail and dinner ashore at L’Oursin, the restaurant bar at the La Samanna hotel, with incredible sunset views.

After an overnight cruise, you will awake at anchor off Shell Beach, a pink sand paradise that takes its name from the millions of intricate shells that line the shore. A morning swim here could be likened to taking a dip in a tropical bath, so invitingly warm is the water here. Lunch can be taken at the famous Shellona, perched on the sands, where Greek chef Yiannis Kioroglou wows diners with his authentic Mediterranean fare. If you can tear yourself away from the sunbeds - Shellona is known for its live music and Ibiza-esque cool – then there’s plenty of adventure to be found in the afternoon. For divers among the group, the famous Pain de Sucre Dive site is just a tender ride away, in an inlet just off Gustavia harbour. It consists of a rock ridge that begins at 15m and reaches about 30m. Accessible to Open water and beginner divers, here you can spot Grey reef sharks, big eyed jacks, nurse sharks barracuda, and turtles among the beautiful corals.

Reposition to anchor in Saline Bay, that stretches along St Barths’ South East Coast. Wild, blonde, and totally undeveloped, with sand dunes that melt into the aquamarine sea, Anse de Grande Saline feels like a private paradise –with barely a home, hotel or restaurant in sight. Great for swimmers, the beach has a lava outcrop on the left side that is best explored with a snorkel and mask. Lunch can be taken at L’Espirit Saline, where Chef Jean-Claude cooks up a stir with a daily changing menu – or for those who prefer more solitude, your crew can prepare a beach barbecue directly on the sand. But to really experience the beauty of Saline, you’ll need to experience it from the water. Take a jetski - or a kayak – and glide through some of the clearest, most beautiful water on the island.

An early morning cruise will bring us to Toiny Bay, on the “cote Sauvage” of St Barths, a glittering bay that extends beneath one of the island’s most undeveloped hillsides. The bay is renowned among surfers for its fast, barreling, Atlantic waves, but for those who prefer a more leisurely pace, it is also home to the prestigious 5-star hotel, Le Toiny and its Beach Club, where you can enjoy cold cocktails with your feet firmly in the sand.

Today we will cruise to the Grand cul-de-sac marine reserve, on the Atlantic side of St Barths. While technically the longest beach on the island, it has several rocky outcrops that punch into the sea, giving it a spectacularly secluded feel. There’s more beach than meets the eye, too. The slither of sand that dusts the shoreline is just the surface, with the beach slowly extending into shallows that bathers can wade through until they find themselves quite far out at sea. Protected by a coral reef, the beach boasts lagoon-like waters that are perfect for swimming and watersports, and with consistent trade-winds, are popular with kite-surfers. Take a break from a fun-filled day of watersports for a leisurely lunch at Plage, that offers feet-in-the-sand casual dining just steps away from the water.

Arguably one of the most photogenic bays on St Barths, the lively sands of St Jean scallop out on either side of Eden Roc hotel, which sits proudly on a rocky promontory. For fun seekers and fun lovers, the bay offers plenty of attractions, from Nikki Beach to Eden Roc’s own Sand Bar. Mornings can be spent here sipping cocktails or trying your hand at your yacht’s collection of water toys, or, for those who prefer a quieter affair, Lorient Bay is just a tender ride away. Protected by an expansive reef, here snorkelers can glimpse turtles as they skull back and forth in the waves.

After enjoying breakfast at anchor in Petite Anse, to the west of Flamands Bay, today you will head ashore to explore the island on foot. The best trail is the Goat Path, which winds through the hills to the stunning Colombier Beach, an unspoiled, secluded spot which can only be reached by boat or on foot. It’s sometimes referred to as Rockefeller beach, as the surrounding land was once owned by David and Peggy Rockefeller, and you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of their villa in the hills. After cooling off from the hike in the sea, you’ll be picked up by tender. Anse de Colombier has lots on offer for divers, and you can spend the afternoon here diving its south and south eastern reefs. Here you will spot beautiful hard and soft corals with an amazing variety of colourful reef fish, as well as turtles, rays, and great barracuda.