Sunday May 9th, 2010 The Renaissance Islands, St. Martin
09 May 2010 | St. Martin
Steve/Marg
Photo: The Baths, Virgin Gorda
The French and Dutch sharing an island is really quite bizarre. They have different laws, currency, language (many people on the French side don't speak English) and the electrical outlets are the European standard on the French side - 220 volts, 60hz (50hz is standard in France) and the usual North American 110 volts, 60hz on the Dutch side.
The US currency gets a break on the French side because many shops take it as par and the Euro is worth 20% more. On our first day, we went into a grocery store on the Dutch side and got sticker shock. The only thing we thought we may be able to afford was Presidente beer from the D.R. It was $15.00 US for a 12 pack. We calculated that if we split a chicken breast and a piece of celery, we could survive, but for how long? Then we spotted, in small print, another price ... the much lower price, in US dollars. All the items were priced in Netherlands Antilles florin (large print), even though you never see the "Netherlands Antilles florin" currency and the check outs are full US dollars. The florin is worth just more than half US dollars, making the Presidente $8.00/12 pk...now we are talking.
However, I bought the home brew "Heineken" for $18.90/24 pk. Living high now. It takes a while to get over sticker shock... we left the store with almost nothing but the beer... To be enjoyed tonight and regroup for tomorrows shopping.
Marg: We are in Simpson Bay Lagoon. It is a large bay harbor and seems very well protected and the holding is wonderful. However the winds do whip all day and the water is not that appetizing; so, there will be no cleaning the bottom here.
Yesterday we arrived to St. Martin at the break of day and dropped anchor in Marigot Bay. "Vanilla" arrived a little later than us and decided to continue through the Sandy Ground Bridge at 8:15 am (the French bridge) and ended up checking into the Dutch side of St. Martin. After dropping anchor and sleeping a few hours, we decided to check in to St. Martin (on the French side at the maritime terminal on the waterfront in Marigot) on Monday.
Turns out that both sailing vessels could have done it differently and saved some money. And the funny part about the whole experience is that we (English speaking) have cleared in and will clear out of the French side of St. Martin and Sylvain and Lise (mostly French but also English speaking) have cleared into and will have to clear out from the Dutch side...
Both s/v did it wrong:
Vanilla: they checked in on the Dutch side, paid a weekly fee for anchoring in Simpson Bay Lagoon (on the Dutch side of Simpson Bay Lagoon), paid a clearance fee (both arrival and departure) and paid a fee for each use of the Dutch bridge (as required when you enter or leave the anchorage). The worst of deciding to check into the Dutch side, is that there are some great anchorages all around St. Martin (most on the French side of the island) and "Vanilla" being from Quebec, wanted to go but couldn't because they would have to first clear out of the Dutch side of St. Martin, then clear into the French side of St. Martin before entertaining the idea.
Lion's Paw: we paid to anchor in Marigot Bay, and for the use of clearing into the maritime customs (where the ferry's and large cruisers clear in and out off), we think we paid $31US = $20Euro for customs (the price was determined by the length of our boat and 2 days anchorage). It's not really clear what we actually paid for but that's what the customs officer told us. Keep in mind, not once did he confirm that the information I punched into the computer was correct and not once did he even look at our passports or the departure papers (that we paid for when we cleared out of BVI's)... So, like all the islands, Steve says, they just want their money.
FYI: when you go into the customs office (on the French side), the computer keyboard is totally screwed up. I'm a blind typist and when I looked up at what I had punched in.. Well it was pretty much comical.... It turns out that their keyboard is totally different.. Say no more!
What you should do:
Is enter St. Martin via Marigot Bay, drop anchor if you have to, but as soon as you can, go through the "French" bridge (Sandy Ground Bridge) and enter Simpson Bay Lagoon and drop your anchor on the French side of the lagoon. You will have no anchoring fees and you can go to customs on the French side just inside the Port la Royale (which is not mentioned in any guide book). It is on your right, along the first dock in a white building)... Ask other cruisers on the net for advise.
Steve; "I'm glad Canada is a big country and we seldom cross a boarder."