Sustainable, eco-friendly sailing: a different, more responsible way to explore the sea.

FAQ – Eco-Friendly Sailing & Martinique Itineraries

Welcome to the Madinvoileverte.fr FAQ. Here you'll find everything you need to plan a sailing tour of Martinique that respects the environment, marine safety and local heritage.

SAILING TIME & PACE

How many days does it take to sail around Martinique without rushing?
For a complete tour combining relaxed sailing, cultural stops and time ashore, we recommend 9 to 10 days. This pace means about 2 to 4 hours of sailing per day, leaving the rest of the time for shore visits and wildlife watching.

Which direction is best for sailing around the island?
The most classic and comfortable route is via the south (counter-clockwise): leaving Le Marin, sailing up the Atlantic coast with the trade winds on the beam or behind you, then coming back down via the north and the Caribbean coast. The opposite direction is much more technical and demanding, as you sail upwind and into the swell.

TECHNICAL AREAS & SAFETY

Is the passage between Le Prêcheur and Le Robert difficult?
Yes — it's the longest, most exposed and most technical stretch around the island. You sail through the Dominica Channel and along the windward (North Atlantic) coast, with no shelter or emergency anchorage for dozens of nautical miles.

How do you sail safely from the north to the Atlantic coast by catamaran?

1. Choose the right weather window: wait for trade winds below 12–15 knots and swell under 1.5 m (5 ft).
2. Motor-sail: hoist the mainsail (with 1 or 2 reefs) and support it with the engines at moderate revs (2,200–2,400 rpm) to counter leeway.
3. Follow the right depth contours: stay close to shore (50–100 m) in the lee of Mount Pelée, then head well offshore (100–200 m) along the Atlantic coast. Keep at least 2 to 3 nautical miles from the Caravelle lighthouse.
4. Leave at dawn: weigh anchor at 6:00 a.m. from Anse Couleuvre to reach the eastern reef passes before 2:00 p.m.

Is the Passe de l'Écurie (Le Robert) safe to navigate?
It is navigable but tricky, winding between coral reefs. The golden rules:

• Sail only when the sun is high (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), with the sun behind you, to "read" the water (dark blue means channel, turquoise means reef).
• Use fully up-to-date electronic charts (Navionics).
• Post a crew member on the bow to watch for coral heads.
• Turn back and shelter at La Trinité (Baie de Cosmy) if a strong swell is breaking in the pass.

ENVIRONMENT & REGULATIONS

Can you anchor freely in Baie du Trésor (Caravelle)?
Anchoring is strictly prohibited at night by order of the Nature Reserve, and allowed during the day only, in the north/northeast part of the cove on sandy bottom (14°46.250' N, 60°53.200' W). Do not go beyond the old Château Dubuc jetty or approach the mangroves.

What are the rules on Îlet Chancel in Le Robert?
Îlet Chancel is home to the Lesser Antillean iguana, a critically endangered endemic species.

• Access: land only on Trapèze beach and follow the marked trail to the sugar plantation ruins.
• Prohibited: feeding the iguanas, entering the closed forest, lighting fires or bringing pets.

How can I protect the seabed when anchoring in Le François or Le Robert?
Drop anchor only on clear sand (the "fonds blancs"). Anchoring in seagrass beds (dark areas) is strictly prohibited: they are the essential habitat of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).

RECOMMENDED CULTURAL STOPS

Which historic stops should not be missed?

• South: the town of Le Marin and the historic church of Sainte-Anne.
• Southwest: Les Anses-d'Arlet and the Savane des Esclaves in Les Trois-Îlets.
• Central Caribbean coast: Fort-de-France (Fort Saint-Louis, Schœlcher Library).
• North Caribbean coast: Saint-Pierre, the "Venice of the West Indies" (ruins of the 1902 eruption, memorial museum).
• Atlantic coast: the ruins of Château Dubuc on the Caravelle peninsula.