Caribbean

The West Indies/Martinique

The West Indies archipelago is 4.760 km (2.000 miles) long, it stretches as an arch from the occidental end of Cuba to the small Dutch Aruba Island off Venezuela.

The Windward Islands form the oriental part of the arch and stretch over about 1.000 km (630 miles) from the Virgin Islands to Grenada.

Martinique is located in the middle of this arch surrounded North by Dominica and South by St. Lucia. Here are various sailing areas you may choose from:

- South of Martinique to the Grenadines sailing to St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines.
-Guadeloupe and its dependencies les saintes and Marie Galante. With one or two additional stops in La Dominique, a perfect itinerary for 7 to 10 days.
- The leeward islands from Guadeloupe to St Martin passing by Antigua, Barbuda, Saba, St Kitts, Nevis, St Barth and Anguilla. The English Virgin islands: Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyck and Anegada.
- The American Virgin islands: St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.

Martinique

Indians used to call it “Madinina, flowers’ island”, because of its lush tropical vegetation. It is right in the middle of the West Indies archipelago and is part of the Windward Islands. Martinique is about 7000 km (4400 miles) far from France and 440 km (270 miles) from the American continent. It is the most Southern island of the French West Indies. Its two nearest neighbours are the English-speaking islands Dominica and St. Lucia.
Martinique is 70 km (44 miles) long and about 30 km (20 miles) wide and its surface is 1100 km² (420 square miles). A French State since 1946, this island will delight you thanks to its geographical, botanical and social diversity.

Climate, Winds and Sea

The West Indies have excellent weather conditions all year around with average temperatures, 22° C to 30° C about the same in winter and summer. The climate is tropical, warm and humid.

TWO MAIN SEASONS

December to May is the dry season with maximum sunshine. Summer, from June to November, the weather is more humid with small showers that bring a nice refreshment.

The sea temperature is about 27° C (80° F), up to 30° C (86° F) in August and September.

With nearly 3000 sunny hours a year, nice weather is almost guaranteed. Bad weather never lasts very long, so suntan lotion is necessary!

WINDS

The Westward islands are located in the trade winds area, generally blowing east and rarely above force 6.
From December to May the trade winds are dominating and the weather forecast is steady with winds blowing East, Northeast from 15 to 25 knots.

From June to November the weather is usually warmer and more changeable with winds blowing Northeast, South from 10 to 20 knots.

THE SEA

Sea is calm to slightly rough on the West coasts and may be rough to very rough in the channels between the islands. The East swell is frequent but soft. The North swell may be strong.