Travel RESOURCES Star Clippers: 1-800-442-0551 www.starclippers.com Barb & Ron Kroll publish the tripplanning website: www.KrollTravel.com Fun day in the sun The next day, we cruised through Sir Francis Drake Channel to Jost Van Dyke. e azure sea surrounding the small island enticed some passengers to explore the coastline on two-man RIBs (rigid inflatable boats). Others swam, snorkelled and viewed the activities from the deck. For spectacular scenery, it was hard to beat Saint-Barthélemy, named by Christopher Columbus in 1496 after his brother Bartholomew. Over the years, the name evolved to St. Barth (the “h” is silent) and St. Barts. After browsing for souvenirs in the picture-postcard town of Gustavia, we climbed between the red-roofed buildings to the hilltop stone clock tower above town. We enjoyed the panoramic views, and then descended to the horseshoe-shaped harbour where elegant yachts creaked at their moorings. To explore the 21-square-kilometre island’s hilly roads, we booked an ATV shore excursion. Leaving the traffic and shoppers behind us, we followed the paved road towards the airport. The tiny airstrip, wedged between the hills, is a tourist attraction. Propeller planes make whiteknuckle swan dives to land, and then brake to a stop just before kissing the beach at the end of the runway. Each turn in the road offered spectacular views of rocky coastlines, small turquoise bays filled with yachts at anchor and dozens of beaches. Some were untouched, with talcum powder-soft sand and clumps of sea grapes. Other crescents of white sand bordered picturesque coves with gin-clear water. Between colourful fishing boats pulled up on another beach, we spotted the Star Flyer anchored in the bay. “Hey, there’s our ship!” we boasted. The highlight of our journey was the view from the lighthouse at the fort above Gustavia. We arrived at dusk, just in time to see the setting sun silhouette the Star Flyer against a gilded sea. On the horizon, the islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, Saint Eustatius, Saba and Les Petits Saints stood out like rough-cut emeralds and amethysts against the tangerine sky. At our feet, the lights of Gustavia flickered on, mirroring themselves in the tranquil harbour. It was an indelible image that remains with us today. Every few weeks, the Star Flyer and its twin ship – theStar Clipper – cross paths in the Caribbean. Elated that the event coincided with our trip, we watched from the deck railing as our magnificent mirror image sped by with wind-filled sails. It was another unforgettable memory. After the captain’s dinner, we climbed to the upper deck for a stroll. It was a dark, moonless night, but the stars were so bright that they made the inky black sea sparkle with diamonds. Above us, 36,000 square feet of sails reflected the starlight as they captured the trade winds. Even today, the recollection transports us back more than a century to when the early mariners circled the globe on their clipper ships. Gustavia and harbour below hilltop fort, St. Barts Viewing beaches and bays on St. Barts’ coast Star Flyer at sunset in Gustavia Harbour, St. Barts View from beach of Star Flyer anchored in the bay Viewing Star Clipper from railing of the Star Flyer CSANews | FALL 2016 | 29
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