One of the catamarans we’ve come to know in the British Virgin Islands, Lolalita, is currently a French West Indies boat charter. Unfamiliar with the area? Trust these experts!
The couple owners/operators, Ernie and Megan Schlobohm, know the French West Indies well. And took some time from their busy hosting and sailing to answer a few questions about the islands.
The appeal of the French West Indies
- What is appealing to you about the French West Indies?
- We love the French West Indies for many reasons, mainly its culture. It is a part of the Caribbean like no other, with Dutch, French, and other cultures mixing in an island flair. The people are kind, the food is fabulously inventive, and the land activities are abundant. The islands are set a bit further apart, so longer sails are possible. We recommend extending the 9-10 day charter to see more without feeling hurried.
- Have you run charters there before?
- Ernie has run several charters in the French West Indies in the last 15 years on various boats, and we have done several charters there together on Lolalita for the past three years. It’s our summer season location of choice!
- What areas do you hope to explore with guests?
- A typical FWI charter starts and ends in St. Maarten (SXM), and we are typically able to visit Anguilla, St. Barths, Nevis, St. Kitts, and Saba. There is some diving, fine dining, nightlife, sailing, snorkeling, beach combing, historic sites, and always a chance for cocktails overlooking a beautiful sunset.
Activities
- What are some of the “must-see” activities in the Frech West Indies
- Grand Case (French St. Martin) for Harmony Nights (weekly carnival celebration)
- Dive at Roche Creole (just outside Grand Case)
- Orient Beach (French St. Martin)
- Anguilla is quiet, peaceful, secluded
- Rendezvous Bay (Anguilla) and Crocus Bay (Anguilla) national park area, a beautiful anchorage with phenomenal snorkeling, just outside the anchorage is a wreck dive.
- Sandy Island (Anguilla), like Sandy Cay in the BVI)
- Tintamarre, the island known for its healing mud, great place for nude sunbathing. Dive at Tintamarre (part of the national park).
- Mullet Pond Bay (St. Martin) and Cupecoy (St. Martin) for a nice anchorage and beach.
- Port Gustavia, St. Barths for its nightlife and fine dining, and shopping
- Scrub Island (north of Anguilla), Grotto swim, hike
- Il du Forsche (dive and lunch
- Dive Marine Preserve les Gros Islets (St. Barths)
- Columbié Beach (St. Barths) has lots of turtles
- Saline Beach (St. Barths) (big houses on a beautiful beach)
Saba is absolutely gorgeous – lush green, preserved, untainted. My favorite in the Caribbean for this reason. Saba has amazing diving, but it has to be done in rendezvous style as per local laws, also great hikes, and great dining “in” the volcano crater. Saba is a bit harder to charter because it lacks anchorages; there are some mooring balls but we have to get permission from the dive shops to use them. It’s worth the hassle– it’s so beautiful!
Ready to explore for yourself? Let’s begin designing your French West Indies boat charter experience.
Contact us at 1-321-777-1707 or complete this form to discuss your vacation plans.
