Once every 2 years, the ag2r transatlantic race infects the island with sailing fever, and islanders scan the horizon, waiting for the first boats to announce the conclusion of the race that has linked two distant ports - Lorient in Brittany and Gustavia in St. Barth - for the past 14 years.
Seeing the race fleet in the harbor, all 24 of the boats floating quietly side by side, it would be difficult to imagine the weekend brouhaha. Weather and sailing conditions were so good that, unlike 2 years ago, boats actually arrived a little sooner than first expected, Friday May 11 for the leader. The skippers were feted, as was their due, but the people here were all waiting for the real boats to come in, which is to say, the St. Barth entries. The faster of the two, St. Barth Assurances, sailed by Richard Ledee and Markku Harmala, arrived on Saturday around breakfast time. The second St. Barth entry, Avis, sailed by Luc Poupon and Jeff Ledee, arrived Saturday in the late afternoon, just in time for cocktails. This may seem insignificant, but when you're a race fan, though you may get up in the middle of the night and head down to the harbor, chances are you'd rather stay home in bed and probably will. The fact that the locals sailed in at such family-friendly hours made for an exuberant crowd that filled the quay throughout the weekend.
The festivities ended on Sunday evening with a night dedicated to Brittany. Crepes and cider, washed down with the music of a rock group flown in from Brittany for the occasion, were festival fare, as were the cheering, and laughing, and back-slapping and hand-shaking and eating and dancing and drinking that have now faded.
Locally, May signals the beginning of low season. As its name implies, low season is that dry trek across the economic desert that all tourist-based local businesses must learn to survive. As vacancies increase, accommodation rates are lowered, sometimes by half, as villa renters and hoteliers use price incentives to lure customers to them.
May is also the time for taking stock of business performance during the high season, determining whether the year will be remembered as a good vintage or as a dud. No official figures are actually ever published by hotels and restaurants, but it would be safe to say that, overall, this season was better than most people feared. If November and January were write-offs, the remaining months were well frequented. The average drop-off in figures was contained at around 20% for this season. Though this island fared better than surrounding ones after September 11, the island's tourism professionals are wasting no time in thinking about the kinds of initiatives that can be taken to improve St. Barth's market position in the Caribbean-bound travel market. A seminar on just that topic, organized in tandem with the tourism office of Guadeloupe, will gather travel professionals and other thinkers to kick the idea around.
Simultaneously, political focus will be drawn to Guadeloupe as this department, like the rest of France, approaches the legislative elections. Saint Barth, St. Martin and some parts of Basse Terre, in Guadeloupe, comprise the department's 4th voting district. Unless there's a major surprise, St. Barth's will be represented in the national assembly by one of the two candidates from Guadeloupe. The outgoing representative, Philippe Chaulet, who hails from Chirac-led republican territory, will be facing Victorin Lurel, an outspoken Socialist who has been actively cultivating a relationship with St. Barth. The candidature of Louis-Constant Fleming, from St. Martin, is the newsworthy item in the legislatives. His chances for actually being elected are negligeable, but the fact that he is even running is a pretty strong political statement: the northern leeward islands, worlds away from continental Guadeloupe, have a voice of their own, and they intend to make it heard.
Yves Bourel
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
