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St Kitts is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. We have been there twice, once in 1998 on Passe Partout, and the second in Feb'03 via Jet. The Jet goes to windward much batter than the boat.
We have some pictures we took in a recent trip we took there (via plane, not boat this time)
Some useful links:
Official ST Kitts and Nevis site
The Port Zante
Marina in St. Kitts is now habitable again.
The owners of Port Zante are now in the final stages of rebuilding the Marina from damage inflicted by hurricanes George and Lenny and in the process they have redesigned the entrance and protective breakwater so to render the marina calm and safe from surge.
As has been documented in this Bulletin and other cruising guides, the Port Zante Marina became untenable if there was the slightest swell from the South or West. We stayed there in April ’97 and while convenient, it was difficult or dangerous to get on and off the boat, and tedious to live onboard with such motion. This has been documented in the December ’99 Bulletin.
St Kitts was hit by two hurricanes in the last five years: Lenny and George. Between the two, the entire Port Zante area was almost completely destroyed. As of now, the Cruise ship dock has been rebuilt on the South face of the Port and it is configured as a single long wharf, not as the “Y” shape originally built and probably still shown on charts.
The marina has been re-opened in the same location but this time with a huge rock jetty built on the South side and over the single cement wall originally there. While still under construction as of Feb 2003, it is now completely calm within the marina. Plans call for a complete reconstruction including the finger piers, lighter marks, etc. There are slips, but you must board from the bow or stern. There are pilings about 35’ from the cay from which to rig docking lines.
Extreme care must be taken while approaching the marina at night as many of the original pilling groups from the cruise ship pier are still there. While some are lit, it is probably not safe to count on that. Also, it pays to give the rock jetty a little wider berth than had to be taken with the old cement wall. There are temporary Red markers in place to guide entering sailors, and a Green port hand light on the west marina wall.
The entry procedures are the same as documented in Doyle’s cruising guide: contact customs and the Port Zante marina on ch. 16. You will probably have to go over to the commercial pier to clear customs, but this can be done by taxi after securing in a slip. Fresh water, electricity, and cable are available. Contact “Chucky”, the Marina Manager, on Ch 16 or 68 to arrange a slip and line handlers to help you dock. Chucky said Chris Doyle recently stopped by so look for updated information in the next Leeward Islands Cruising Guide. US cell phones work well on most of the island, but roaming charges could be huge.
The current rate sheet quotes US$0.40/ft/day (0-40’), US$0.60/ft/day (40’-70’). Most places now seem to accept US$ or EC$. You can arrange all details at the Port Zante main office near the cruise ship pier. Port Zante is busy when cruise ships come in, now averaging about 1-2 per day. Also, the marina can get busy on weekends with charter boats from St Martin, but there are usually slips open. Fuel is now available directly on the eastern dock. There is a guard stationed 24/7 at the marina. Maximum beam in most slips is about 15’ and they can accommodate a few multi-hulls in extra-wide slips. The marina depth is said to be 13’, but care should be taken near the new rock wall being built as some boulders may have rolled away from the base of the wall. You can call Port Zante at 869-466-5021.
A few notes on St Kitts: The island is undergoing an increasingly faster transition from a sugar based to tourism based economy. They are estimating, in fact, that this may be the last year for a sugar harvest. The still operating sugar train now shares the track with the St Kits Scenic Railway. It is a narrow gauge rail trip around the island over a much improved roadbed in double decked cars. We took this 4+ hour ride and it was one of our most enjoyable experiences in the Caribbean. Well worth the US$90 or so that it cost per person.
Most of the sand has been washed away from Frigate Bay beachand White House beach (the Monkey Beach Bar is still at the former and a great place for sunset.) At White House beach this has resulted in a 300 year old wreck being uncovered which now provides a popular snorkeling site. Much beach front activity has moved to South Friar’s Bay where many beach bars exist within easy dingy rides of the anchorages described in Doyle.
St Kitts is still one of the prettiest spots in the Caribbean and with the addition of a safe, calm marina, can be enjoyed for days while exploring the island.
