Sunset in the marina in Anse Marcel.
Click to enlarge.
In 2004 we chartered a boat out of St. Martin and spent 10 days sailing around the island as well as neighboring St. Barts and Anguilla (see photo of us on left from that trip). Even then, we felt an inexplicable connection with this island. I think it has something to do with the fact that like us, the island is a mixed marriage between two countries and therefore as a French/American couple, we fit right in, not only because we speak two of the three main languages spoken here, but because many people here are internationals like ourselves and have a love of sailing.
When we began thinking about where to to base our boat and our business in the Caribbean, we were attracted to this island for other reasons. To start, St. Martin is French which means fiscally, culturally and medically it’s home for us. It is therefore a perfect place from which to run the Caribbean arm of Taka Technologies, our consulting business. It also makes my Frenchman very happy as he can find his French newspapers, baguettes, cheese, saucisson and a decent bottle of French wine in the local shops.
Patrice goes and gets a fresh baguette every day.
Moreover the fact that the other half of the island, St. Maarten, is actually more ‘American’ in style than Dutch really appeals to me. I love its large modern supermarkets and hardware stores bursting with U.S. products, its cinemaplex with all the latest films in English and an abundance of American style eating establishments and watering holes. You may never think of me the same way after this, but yeah, I confess, I’m a girl who enjoys a Big Mac once in awhile.
Then there is the joy of the direct flight. When we lived in Trinidad, it took us more than 24 hours to get home as there were no direct flights to France from there. St. Martin is a Caribbean transportation hub and has an excellent international airport on the Dutch side with non-stop flights; not only to the U.S. where my family resides, but every day to France, effectively cutting our travel time to Paris by less than half. Pas mal!
Then there is the joy of the direct flight. When we lived in Trinidad, it took us more than 24 hours to get home as there were no direct flights to France from there. St. Martin is a Caribbean transportation hub and has an excellent international airport on the Dutch side with non-stop flights; not only to the U.S. where my family resides, but every day to France, effectively cutting our travel time to Paris by less than half. Pas mal!
Finally, it is a sailor’s paradise With many beautiful anchorages, several active and well-maintained marinas, an abundance of excellent ship chandlers and marine experts and its proximity to several other interesting islands, it’s a sailors paradise and the perfect place to keep Taka Trois. Moreover, Anse Marcel, where she is moored, is a ‘hurricane hole’* which gives us some peace of mind during the upcoming hurricane season.
So that being settled and now that our ‘sabbatical year’ is coming to an end, what’s next for the crew of Taka Trois? Tune in next week to find out.
*Definition: Hurricane holes are deep, narrow coves or inlets that are surrounded by a number of sturdy trees which block the wind and provide a tie-off for anchor lines, preferably far enough inland to avoid the most severe winds and tides, yet close enough to reach under short notice.
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