St Barts Island is a great destination for skippers from the world over. An article by local resident Ellen Lampert-Gréaux in All At Sea sums up St Barts’ appeal.

Ms Lampert-Gréaux knows St Barts very well. As an American who has married a St Barts man whose family descends from the first French inhabitants of the island, she has a very good eye on St Barts.

Here, she tells us about skippers ought to expect what when calling in St Barts. Here are some titbits from her article:

The Port of Gustavia, the island’s only marina, can handle boats up to 60 meters (180’) at the dock, while larger mega-yachts anchor out in the harbor and run their guests in via tenders.
In the height of the winter season, the docks are full, as are the limited moorings in the inner harbor, so boats of all sizes anchor further out and there is a continuous flurry of dinghies zipping back and forth to the dock.
Be sure to let the port office know that you have arrived—and when moving about the harbor, remember that the maximum speed is just three knots. Skippers should also be sure not to anchor in the entry channel to the port.

It is a beautiful sight to witness some of the most beautilful yachts in the world crowding St Barts’ tiny Gustavia harbor. If you want to see these boats, the best times are Christmas, New Year’s Eve and April for the St Barts Bucket. I was lucky to aboard a small ship during this year’s bucket. The site for the 2008 St Barts Bucket (sister to the Newport bucket) is already live.