| Although the sailing season in the South | | | | The charming French islands of |
| Eastern Mediterranean runs from mid-May | | | | Martinique and Guadeloupe have long been |
| to the end of October, there is still | | | | an attractive alternative to the |
| significant demand from European sailors | | | | traditional winter destinations for |
| for charters in waters warm during the | | | | frost-bitten Brits, but one that they |
| long, cold Northern winter. | | | | seem determined to ignore. A quick |
| Traditionally the Caribbean has been the | | | | connecting hop to Paris and a direct |
| main beneficiary of this. The British | | | | flight from there to either French |
| have tended to go to the ex-colonies - | | | | island is an altogether more attractive |
| the Virgin Islands, Antigua, and | | | | option; when you get there the Gallic |
| Grenada. This always has two problems. | | | | charm (and excellent food) is much in |
| Travel costs are high and/or inflexible, | | | | evidence; and there are plenty of yachts |
| and the area is equally popular with | | | | to charter from companies every bit as |
| North Americans to the point that it | | | | well equipped and more flexible than |
| gets very crowded. Getting there from | | | | their neighbours in the English speaking |
| the USA is seriously cheap and easy, and | | | | Caribbean! The cruising opportunities |
| there is little or no time difference. | | | | are almost the same. |