Essential Information

• Address & Map
• Arrival & Departure
• Sailing Information
• Banks & Money Exchange
• General Information
• Electrical, Phones & Music
• Activities
• Provisioning
• Health & Safety

Address & Map

Address

Sunsail Preferred Partner
SPARKLING CHARTER GUADELOUPE

1 porte de la Marina Bas du Fort
97110 POINTE A PITRE
Tél. + (590) (0)5 90 90 85 75
Fax + (590) (0)5 90 90 88 19
guadeloupe@sparkling-charter.com
 

Location

The base is located in the Marina of Pointe à Pitre, on the Lagon Bleu shore, about 8km from the airport. Pointe a Pitre is a lively Creole town with a fascinating atmosphere and traditional daily markets (except for Sundays). The town can be visited by dinghy or by bus, using the regular bus service that stops at the marina entrance. Cabs are also plentiful.

Base Open Hours

Open every day from 8:00 am to 12 noon - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Sunday from 8:00 am to 12 noon. It is closed on December 25th and on January 1st

Base/Shore Facilities

The Sparkling Charter base is located in Bas du Fort Marina at Gosier with water & diesel.

Facilities (5 minute walk): Provisioning, Ice, Showers, Laundry, Bar & Restaurants, diving center, car rental, and shops

Back to Top

Arrival & Departure

Flights

Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend travelling light and using folding luggage.

Lost or damaged luggage whilst flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance.   You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewelry, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.

If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.

Airport

Pointe à Pitre Airport facilities include some small shops, a bureau de change, a restaurant and a bar.

Transfers

We may organize and reserve your transfer to the base (payment at the Sparkling charter base or on contract).
In case of late arrival, the taxi driver will take you directly to the boat.
from the airport to the base in the Bas du Fort Marina:
from 1 to 4 passengers :   35 €
from 5 to 8 passengers :   70 €
from 9 to 12 passengers : 105 €

Luggage

We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally your luggage may arrive at the base after you do.
Please pack using soft-sided bags, as these are easier to store on your yacht.

Passport and Visas

Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return. Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.
It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure relevant visas are obtained where necessary. Sparkling Charter cannot be held responsible for refusal of entry or travel due to lack of visas. If you are in any doubt please contact your Embassy for full details.

Customs and Immigration

There is no departure tax in Guadeloupe

Before leaving the airport, you will have to clear Immigration and Customs.
A landing card will be given to you on the plane, along with a Customs declaration form. It is not possible to take fresh food into most Caribbean islands and airlines will assume no liability for perishable articles that may be confiscated by Customs.
The Customs and Immigration Office can be accessed by foot (15 minutes) or by dinghy (5 minutes).
Customs fees are free during the week and two euros on Saturdays and Sundays.

On Arrival

Your boat is ready to welcome you. Beds are done and linen at your disposal (towels, dish towels…).
Depending on your time of arrival, the base manager will welcome you or will leave the boat open for you.

Formalities

The day following your arrival, the skipper has to get the boat papers from the Sparkling Charter office before customs clearance (customs opening hours: Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, Wednesday from 7 am to 1 pm. Closed Saturday & Sunday (go to the port office, pay 2 € in that case).

After verifying the boat inventories, the technical check out will be carried out.

Insurance & Deposit

All our boats are insured against all risks for yachting with an excess depending on the boat value.
The corresponding deposit is to be paid upon embarkation (cash or Visa, Mastercard).
By taking the surrender of excess insurance (obligatory with a skipper), you partially reduce the excess and only a residual deposit of 765 € is to be left upon embarkation.
Special conditions in case of participation in regatta. Please consult us.
Cancellation insurance may be offered.

On Departure

At the end of your charter, your yacht will need to be vacated by 11 am so you must return to the base the day before by 5pm.

Before departing your boat, you will need to debrief and do a return inventory with a technician and fill an evaluation form reception.
At the end of each charter, a diver checks the hull. The evaluation and debriefing are to let us know if you have encountered any problems with the boat or broken anything during the trip, this enables us to rectify problems for the next charter.

Please gather and place your used linens for return inventory, empty all cupboards and fridges of food and throw away, return snorkel gear and any lifejackets borrowed from reception and ensure that the boat is handed back to Sparkling Charter in a clean and tidy state.  We reserve the right to charge for boats left less than shipshape.

Back to Top

Sailing Information

Available Fleet & Specs

Sailing Licenses

Although no sailing licences are required for cruising in Guadeloupe, we strongly advise that you take any sailing certification on vacation with you.  This may be useful should you be contacted by Customs or Port Police.  Prior to your arrival at the base, the Skipper and 1st Mate will be required to fill in a Sailing resume to confirm that you have the necessary skills. The skipper must be a minimum of 21 years of age.

Mooring Fees and Taxes

There is no fee to anchor overnight in a bay in Guadeloupe. Marinas cost minimum 40 € per night, depending on the boat size.   Each national territory , Antigua, Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts charges fees. These are cruising permits, harbor dues and custom clearance fees.

DOMINIQUE (Official currency is EC dollar)
Clearance fees: Roughly 4 $EC (= 1.50 €) per pax + 1 $EC (= 0.50 €) for the boat
Mooring fee: Average 25 $EC (= 7.50 €) per night

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA (Official currency is EC dollar)
Clearance fees: Roughly 3 $US (= 2.50 €) per pax + 10 $US (= 8 €) cruising permit + port entry : 5 $US (= 4 €)

NEVIS & ST KITTS (Official currency is EC dollar)
Clearance fees: Roughly 10 $US (= 8 €)

ST BARTH (Official currency is EC dollar)
Mooring fee: 50 € maximum, depending on boat size

ST MARTIN (Official currency is EC dollar)
Clearance fee: Roughly 5 €

TORTOLA (Official currency is EC dollar)
Clearance fee: Roughly 750 $US (= 600 €) maximum, depending on boat size and number of passengers
Mooring fees: Average 25 $US (= 20 €) per night
National Park - Norman Island The Cave: 30 $US (= 24 €)

Area & Sailing

Sailing Conditions

Guadeloupe is a Level 2 sailing area.
Experience levels are based on the sailing conditions and length of passages within your chosen sailing area.  Follow the link for more information on the sailing conditions.

Night Time Sailing

You are not permitted to sail at night unless it has been agreed with the base manager prior to departure.

Cruising Area Limits

Navigation zone permitted: 19°N-9°N / 58°W-68°W. From the BVI to Venezuela,Los Roques, Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao, excluding Cuba and Haiti.
Venezuela, Los Roques, Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao are unusual navigation zones for bareboat charterers.
It is strictly forbidden to sail alone. Two person minimum on board.

Charts & Pilot Book

All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht.  We also recommend the Sailors Guide to the Leeward Islands from Anguilla to Dominica by Chris Doyle.

Skippered Charter Information

The skipper’s time is booked from 12:00pm to 11:00am in 24-hour periods. He will welcome you on board if you arrive after the base is closed. The next morning, he will help you with check out procedures and inventories.

The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht at all times. He is not permitted to dive with you, nor leave the vessel overnight. He must conduct a safety brief with you before leaving the dock regardless of the duration of his contract with you.

For “check out charters” (anything less than the full duration of the charter) the check out skipper’s time is booked from 5:00pm to 6:00pm to allow for a meet and greet in the evening and go over basic systems, then a full day with you the next day. This skipper is required to give you a thorough briefing on all aspects of the yacht and dinghy and a chart briefing.

The skipper will be required to give you as much information as you require concerning the yacht and its systems, sailing skills and navigation in general.

The skipper fee does not include food or beverages for the skipper and these are therefore your responsibility. It is suggested that you discuss this on the first day with the skipper and establish whether you will give the skipper cash for meals, whether you have included him in your provisioning or whether you will accommodate him as part of the group for meals ashore.

The skipper must have his own cabin. We prefer not to put the skipper in the bow due to the shared heads and size of the cabin. If you expect him to stay in the bow, please let us know well in advance so that we can choose the appropriate (small) skipper.

For one-day check out skipper’s it is your responsibility to get the skipper back to the base. If you prefer not to come back to the base you must pay for his expenses (ferry, taxi, etc.) to get him back to the base.

The average tip for a skipper is 15 to 20% of the skipper’s fee. This is, of course, at your discretion.

Fuel

The approximate cost is 1.5 Euro per liter.  The Fuel station is located in the marine en route to the Sparkling Charter Base. 

Coolers

Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge. Please sign these out and return them clean and undamaged otherwise there will be a charge for replacement. Only one per boat.

Back to Top

Banks & Money Exchange

Currency

The official currency of Guadeloupe is the Euro.

All the major French banks are represented on the island. There are also bureau de change in all of the main towns. Banking Hours -Mon-Fri 8:00 am -12 noon and 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, some are open Sat 8:00 am -1:00 pm (closed Wednesday afternoon).

Credit Card Information

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. ATMs are available in every town. (at the Sparkling Charter base only Mastercard and Visa are accepted)

Back to Top

General Information

Language

The language of Guadeloupe is French.

Cost of living in Guadeloupe

Expect to pay up to 50€ (without drinks) for a swanky dinner, and approximately 16€ for a moderate dinner and if on a budget eating at a local street vendor or little eatery will set you back about 5$ (USD) (without drinks and per person).

Restaurants

Restaurants tend to close at approximately 11pm

Local food in Guadeloupe is a wonderful mix of French meets Creole with a bit of African and South-East Asian thrown in. It's often hot and spicy, with lots of fish specialities. Dishes include lobster, turtle, red snapper, conch and sea urchin. The more formal restaurants will require appropriate dress.

Auberge de Vielle Tour
Montauban
97190 Gosier
Tel. (+590)5/90842323
Just near Pointe-à-Pitre, the Auberge de la Vieille Tour, has become a regular port of call in the French West Indies for those seeking gourmet cuisine. Built around a 18th century windmill above a 7-acre (2.8 hectare) tropical garden cascading down to the sea, this sumptuous restaurant and hotel offers breathtaking views of the little neighbouring islands.

Restaurants closed during September – Low Season
If you decide to travel in low season there is likely to be a limited choice of restaurants to eat ashore and you should provision accordingly. This would be a perfect time of year to enjoy a BBQ off the back of your boat.

Tipping

Tipping is standard and expected in all restaurants / bars and for other services undertaken during your holiday. The rule of thumb is generally 10-15% of the amount charged. Some establishments automatically add this onto the bill.

Shopping

The area surrounding the marina is very cosmopolitan. The Champion supermarket is about 10 minutes by foot and this is open from 8 am to 8 pm every day, except for Saturday and Sunday when it’s open from 8am to 12 midday. It is also open from 8am to midday on Bank Holidays. US$ are accepted in the Marina supermarket but the exchange rate is not very good – it is advisable to take Euros.

Worthwhile purchases are French imports, including perfume, wine, liqueurs and Lalique crystal. Local items include fine-flavoured rum, straw goods, handmade lace, bamboo hats, voodoo dolls, and objects of aromatic Vetevier root.
Traveler's checks give a 20% discount in some shops.

DVD / Internet / GPS Packages

Available in Internet cafes at Saint-Francois, Sainte Anne, Mare-Gaillard and Pointe-à-Pitre; there are also terminals in some larger post offices and public buildings.

Hotels

Hotel Village Soleil, La marina Bas-du-fort  97190 Gosier - Guadeloupe F.W.I     

• Tel : 0590 90.85.76 
• Fax : 0590 90.93.65   
• Mail: hotel.village.soleil@wanadoo.fr
• Website: www.hotel-village-soleil.com

Five minute’s walk from the base. This is a basic hotel, but has a pool and a restaurant, although there are better and cheaper restaurants close by the base. Cost is 84 Euros per room per night inclusive of breakfast and tax. Reservations can be made through Sparkling Charter's Guadeloupe base.

Back to Top

Electrical, Phones & Music

Electricity

The standard voltage on all yachts is 12 volts.  All Sparkling Charter boats are equipped with inverters 12V/220 to use electronic equipment that is 220v

Mobile phones

Unfortunately, boat phones are not available in Guadeloupe
Phonecards (télécartes) are necessary to make calls from public telephones.
Mobile phones work in most areas on the island and there is good coverage.
Your mobile phone may work when in  Guadeloupe but please check with your service provider for coverage details and call costs. You will need to activate international roaming on your contract.

Music/Ipods

All boats are fitted with a radio and CD player and some with an Ipod plug-in. If you wish to listen to your IPOD whilst sailing you will need to bring along an I-trip or FM radio transmitter.

Back to Top

Activities

Diving

The islands are a divers' paradise, described by Jacques Cousteau as among the top 10 dive sites in the world.

The best places to dive or snorkel are around the preserved underwater sanctuary of the Pigeon Isles in the crystal-clear Cousteau Reserve, which is filled with multicoloured fauna. Glass-bottomed boats operate at several marine nature reserves on Petite-Terre and Basse-Terre.

Snorkeling

We have a range of snorkeling gear which you may wish to use. We are limited on children’s sizes so if you have your own you may wish to bring them with you.

Walks in Grande-Terre

There are 263 hectares (650 acres) of mangrove swamp and a marine park where you can see birds such as pelicans and doves - and along the cliffs of the Atlantic coast. You can also take a kayak or pedal boat into the mangroves from the village of Port Louis.

Car Rental

Since Guadeloupe is a large island with many interesting places to visit, renting a car is the best way to get around. Vehicle rentals can be arranged in advance by calling the large, international companies, most of which are based at the international airport. Local car rental companies operate from the airport and other island locations on the island. Most larger hotels offer car rental services to their clients. Traffic rules and signage are the same as in France. Renters must be at least 21 years of age.

For stays of 20 days or less, a valid driver's license is needed. For longer stays, an international driver's permit is necessary. Car rental companies will provide drivers with emergency contact information.

Back to Top

Provisioning

CORA / Bas du Fort:
Monday to Saturday 8am – 7:30pm (10 minutes from the base)
Phone: 0590 836 900

CHAMPION / Marina:
Monday to Saturday 8am – 7:30pm, on Sundays 8am – 12:30pm  (5 minutes from the base)
 
For provisioning  deliveries onboard (list on request)
Appro Marine Guadeloupe:
Email: appromarine@orange.fr
Mobile: 06 90 83 84 88
Phone: 0590 23 83 37
Fax: 0590 23 41 59

Back to Top

Health & Safety

Illness or Injury

If you are sick and visit the doctor or hospital during your trip please have a member of your party contact the Sparkling Charter base manager as soon as possible.
If you will need to make a travel insurance claim please contact your claim insurer’s emergency medical service immediately.
Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.

Safety

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets harnesses we leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
We have a limited supply of children’s life jackets (age 4+ only) if you have your own children’s life jacket we would encourage you to bring it along.
We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck.
Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy.

Back to Top