Small boat excursion
 

Hello

We'll be (4 of us, smallest is 5) in St Martin (french side, with a car) in first half of feb.
do you know somebody you'd recoomend to go on a boattrip to Antigua or another close island ?
Ideally we see it as a one day cruise-arrival, sleeping on the boat, and back.

thanks.

Antigua is over 100 miles from St. Martin, that's a long way across a lot of open water. Unless you are experienced "blue water" sailors you might want to think twice about making such a trip, especially with a 5 YO.

A power boat would probably take about 12 to 14 to make the (one way) crossing and a sailboat would probably take at least twice that time.

Cost wise a moderate size power boat but big enough to make the crossing will probably run you around $1,500 to $2,000 a day (double that if you want something comfortable enough to sleep in). Figure around $800 a day for a decent size sailboat capable of making the crossing.

Rethink your plans and consider taking a day sail to Anguilla - you can sail there in about 90 minutes.

Ooops - obviously Anguilla would be a better idea.
Thanks, I didn't check carefully the distances (yet) - so indeed, I should ask for 'an exvcursin on a sailboat towards an island within easy reach of St Martin.

There are quite a few companies that run "day sails" to Anguilla (and other nearby cays like Prickley Pear and Tintamarre) from SXM. Most also do private charters as well. Check out the following:

http://www.stmaarten-activities.com/en/activities

https://www.bluebeardcharters.com

http://sxmdeals.com/st-maarten-excur...nguilla-tours/

http://www.funtime-charters.com

FYI - Anguilla is the closest island to SXM - about 7 miles. It's an easy sail across a fairly protected channel. St. Barth's is a little further away - about 20 miles but most of it is across open water which can be pretty "wavy", especially on the upwind leg. It may not be a suitable trip for a 5 YO or those prone too motion sickness - for what it is worth the ferry to St. Barth's is nicknamed "the vomit comet" so that should give you some idea of what the trip could be like.

Anguilla and St Barth's are usual trips from SXM. We took a day trip to St Barth's which included lunch and car rental which we really enjoyed. I don't remember it being too rough but I do recall the 15min ferry to Anguilla being very wavy.

Thanks you !
Great info.