Saba - Statia

Antoine's view

Often overlooked by sailing yachts that cruise along the Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe or Antigua to Saint Martin or St Barth, for instance, Saint Eustatia, better known as Statia, and Saba, both part of the Netherlands Antilles, are yet worth a visit.

Statia has the privilege of boasting a fort from where were for the first time saluted the colours of the brand new American flag, at the time of the American Revolution. The island, once dedicated to sugarcane cultivation, has become very quiet, only a few tourists visit it. The anchorage below the fort is a little rolly, but it is always a pleasure for me to make a short stop in islands like this one, much quieter than the islands in the French Antilles, and where the clock seems to have stopped running.

Saba consists of a sleepy volcano, with an almost perfect conical shape, which can often be seen from Saint Martin?s heights. The island doesn?t have any good anchorages : one can tie up for a short time inside the harbour, but it is better to go and tie up to one of the mooring buoys that have been set in the lee of the island, off its western shore. All the underwater depths of Saba have been classified a nature reserve, so do not even think of dropping an anchor there!

If, like I did, you make the effort of climbing the road, or one of the stairways, that reach the island?s centre where, on the highlands, is the capital, curiously named ?The Bottom?, you?ll discover an island that has remained quiet, lovely cottages clinging to the volcano?s steep flanks, small villages covered with flowers: another island where the calendar seems to have stood still!