St Lucia offers a good choice of yacht charter and includes bareboat yacht charter, luxury crewed yacht charter, skippered yacht charter, monohull and catamaran charter and both sail and motor yacht charter.

St Lucia was first visited by Europeans in about the year 1500 and first colonized successfully by France who signed a treaty with the native Caribs in 1660. Great Britain then took control of the island from 1663-1667 before going to war with France over it fourteen times. The British finally took complete control of the island in 1814. On February 22, 1979 St Lucia became an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations. The island nation celebrates this every year with a public holiday.

St Lucia is a small, lush tropical island that is still relatively unknown. The twin Pitons soar over 200 feet from the sea and shelter the tropical rainforest below, they are located between Soufrière and Choiseul on the western side of the island. The diversity of white sand beaches and lush green mountainous terrain make the cruising ground of St Lucia a wonderful location for a yacht charter. St Lucia will enchants visitors with dramatic mountain scenery, tropical rain forests, waterfalls and secluded beaches. Further inland, the rain forests shelter wild orchids, giant ferns and birds of paradise. You can visit Soufriére, the world's only drive-in volcano, or relax in the earth's rejuvenating heat in the sulpher pools at Diamond Baths. Other tourist attractions include the Botanical Gardens and Pigeon Island National Park, which is home to Fort Rodney, an old British military base.

During the months of the summer winds in St Lucia prevail at 10 - 20 knots from the northeaSt The winter will see 15 - 20 knots generally from the eaSt The trade winds are consistent and make a yacht charter at anytime of the year a pleasure.

The major airport on St Lucia is Hewanora International. It has daily flights from London and weekly Dusseldorf and the USA via Miami. US Dollars and the Euro are used. Major credit cards may be accepted in hotels, restaurants and some shops. English is the official language and it is spoken widely throughout St Lucia

Marigot Bay offers a pristine and unspoiled landscape. You may recognize Marigot Bay from the 1960's movie Dr. Doolittle. Although it has undergone significant changes since then, the beauty remains in tact. Marigot has 24/7 security and is a port of entry for the island. Located here are a first class resort and spa as well as many yacht charter companies. Opening onto the Caribbean sea, Marigot Bay is conveniently situated 20 minutes South of Castries, the Island's Capital City, 45 minutes South of Pigeon Island National Park and 60 minutes North of the majestic Pitons.

Rodney Bay is a well protected lagoon and a good yacht anchorage. There are many opportunities for provisions, fuel and water, boat repairs and anything else a sailor could possible need. Even laundry drop-off service is available. Rodney Bay is also a customs checkpoint and the marina provides tie up for this purpose. The holding ground is not the best in the lagoon and many sailors have reported anchor dragging in the middle of the night. Some of the best beaches are located a just a short dinghy ride away. There is also a car rental agency for those who want to spend the day exploring interior St Lucia. Visit Pigeon Island National Park, which is home to Fort Rodney, an old British military base. Don't miss the incredible Friday night "jump-up" at Gros Islet on Rodney Bay. The most popular local drink in St Lucia is Rum punch, also called "Rocket Fuel," "Jungle Juice," or "The Baby Maker."

Vieux Fort is located in the most southern part of St Lucia. It is the second-largest town on the island and a popular anchorage for yacht charters. In recent years a new modern part of Vieux Fort has been erected, yet if you walk along Clark Street and its surrounding roads, you will still see what is known as "The Old Town". On Fridays stroll through the open market where you can buy local goods such as fruits, ground provisions and spices. It also home to the largest fish market in St Lucia where you can buy some of the best and tastiest fish in the world, from coral fish to tuna.

One-way yacht charter options are available to Martinique, St Vincent and the Grenadines or Grenada. Check with your charter company for more details.

Diving: St Lucia's warm clear waters and numerous spectacular reefs and marine life offer a perfect environment for both beginners and expert divers. Many hotels offer scuba diving facilities and snorkelling equipment and there are a number of independent dive centres offering short boat dives, night dives and a variety of scuba courses.

The island of Martinique is situated in the eastern Caribbean Sea and has a total surface area of 435 square miles. Martinique is one of the 26 regions of France and thus, part of the European Union, and therefore the Euro is the local currency.

There are two gambling facilities available in Martinique, one in Schoelcher and the other in Trois Ilets. The larger of the two is the Casino Bateliere Plazza, situated in Schoelcher, which has six table games and 140 slot machines open between 9 pm and 3 am. This Martinique casino has two restaurants with bar facilities, as well.

The other Martinique casino, which is situated in Trois Ilets, is called Le Meridien Trois Ilets and is placed in a hotel resort with the same name. The Le Meridien Trois offers two table games open between 9 pm and 3 am and 40 slot machines open between 10 am to 3 am. The hotel on the same property offers a total of 279 rooms and suites, as well as three restaurants with international and local cuisine and one bar. The resort offers a large number of activities besides gambling such as local shows, shopping arcade, tennis court, swimming pool, and a spa and health center, as well.

The official language of Martinique Island is French. In tourist-frequented places such as casinos, restaurants, hotels, and bars, you will usually find English speaking personal. However, it is not a requirement; therefore, the slightest knowledge of French will be very useful while visiting this exotic island. The legal age to gamble in any Martinique casino is 18 years or more, and photo identification will be requested at the entrance of a casino without which you may not be allowed entry to the same.

Martinique casinos are not the only form of gambling available, as both the locals and tourists can enjoy horse race betting at the Hippodrome de Carrere Lamentin in the city of Lamentin which features harness and thoroughbred racing. The horse racing facility in Lamentin also offers two restaurants where you can find snacks, local, and international cuisine.

Basic knowledge of French can help you enjoy the spirit of gambling in Martinique, as there are places where English is not spoken at all, such as the horseracing track. However, you will find that the warm hospitality of the local residents will make you feel right at home even without speaking the language.