Held in Spring 2023 (9-12 March), the inaugural Between the Bays event not only offered participants the chance to enjoy two of the Caribbean’s finest hotels but also allowed them to discover the islands they are located on. Hosted by BOAT International and Belmond, the four-day event welcomed superyacht owners and charterers of yachts over 24 metres to come together to explore this pristine corner of the Caribbean.
The experience started at Belmond’s Cap Juluca resort in Anguilla. Sitting in the north of the Leeward Islands, Anguilla may be just over 10 nautical miles from the celeb-laden yachting hub of St Barths but it has a distinctly different vibe. The low-key island is famed for its tropical vegetation and welcoming culture as well as 33 pristine white sand beaches – including Maundays Bay where Cap Juluca is located.
Ideal for visiting superyachts, the island is also surrounded by numerous uninhabited islets and cays. One of the most famous is the picture-perfect Prickly Pear Cay. Technically two islets separated by a small waterway, the island’s glistening sands are home to a barefoot barbeque restaurant.
Anguilla is also one of the best diving and snorkelling locations in the Caribbean. The island is surrounded by reefs filled with schools of Trigger, Angel and colourful Parrot fish. There are also numerous wrecks that can be explored, including El Buen Consejo, a Spanish galleon that was sunk during the colonial years and still has its cannons and cargo intact.
The island of Anguilla may be proud of its natural beauty but there is still plenty of five-star luxury, especially at Belmond’s Cap Juluca resort. Making the most of its position on one of the world’s best beaches the resort hugs this perfect crescent of sand. Featuring Greco-Moorish architecture Cap Juluca is named after Anguilla's native Arawak Rainbow God. This connection to Anguilla’s cultural history is threaded throughout the resort, including at its Arawak Spa which offers a menu of Anguillan-inspired treatments.
After two nights in Anguilla, the Between the Bays fleet will enjoy a cruise in company to the island of St Martin. With its international airport and marina facilities, the dual nationality island of St Martin is a popular destination to start or end Caribbean itineraries.
The island offers a unique blend of French, Dutch and Caribbean cultures. This is because after 140 years of French and Dutch settlers battling for its control, they decided to divide the territory between them. This history can be seen across the island, for example the former Dutch defences of Fort Willem I and Fort Amsterdam offer breathtaking views over the island and out to sea.
St Martin may be best known for its scenic landing strip – where planes appear to skim over the top of swimmers and beach bars at the end of the runway – as well as lively nightlife, but it has plenty more to offer. Marigot is the island’s alluring French capital and offers vibrant fruit and fish markets, patisseries selling macarons and Bacchus, and chic boutiques.
To see St Martin from another point of view you can head into its rainforest-covered interior. Loterie Farm is a 135-acre nature sanctuary where hikers can walk through mango and soursop trees under the lush jungle canopy, or you can take on the challenge of Saint Martin’s highest peak – Pic Paradis. Other on land activities include horse riding through a private seaside estate or zip-wiring down the mountainside in the Rockland Estate.
On the water, superyachts in the know head to the uninhabited island of Tintamarre. Situated off the northeast corner of St Martin, the former mid-century aviation strip offers the opportunity to snorkel with hawksbill turtles and stingrays.
On the opposite corner of St Martin from Tintamarre are the white sandy shores of Baie Longue, which are home to Belmond’s La Samanna. Seamlessly blending French Riviera chic with a Caribbean twist, the resort has been a favourite hideaway for dignitaries and VIPs since it opened in the early 1970s.
Despite its high-profile status, there are plenty of touches to connect the resort with the surrounding island including "Do Not Disturb" signs created by local artist Sir Roland Richardson. The resort also showcases French culinary traditions that have permeated life in St Martin at its L'Oursin restaurant.
Further information about Between The Bays.
To find out more about the event please contact: events@boatinternationalmedia.com.
For more details about event logistics please contact: Clare Jempson, Event Operations Director, +44 (0)208 545 9383, Clare.jempson@boatinternationalmedia.com