From Marigot Bay in St. Lucia to Saint-Pierre in Martinique - Amazing 2 1/2 Weeks on the Catamaran Sailboat "Wanderlust" in the Caribbean, with Chris, Cornelia, Viatrix and Ernst (April 2026)

  

  

Chris, Cornalia, Viatrix and Ernst Tremann: We're a German/American family from Munich who decided to ditch the rat race and sail the Caribbean. Join us as we explore on our catamaran "Wanderlust!" 

 

Annette and I took up the invitation and joined them for 2 1/2 weeks, from Marigot Bay in St. Lucia to Saint-Pierre in Martinique. They were already beyond the mid of their trip and on their way back to the home port of Wanderlust, in the British Virgin Island. 

 

During our trip, I posted regularly on facebook about our wonderful experience. This posting on schiller-wine blog puts all the individual facebook postings in one place. There will be a few more postings, all on indiviual dinners, but not many as most of the time we had dinner on the boat.   

 

I, Annette, so much enjoyed this boat tour. I always felt very much home in the water: I love the seas, bobbing waves, swimming, tropical weather, raw nature, and this boat tour provided all of this. Living on a sailboat makes you aware of how much humanity depends on nature, and how small we are in this universe. You cannot sail without wind, you cannot live without fresh water, you cannot see without light, you cannot cook without some source of energy. Being together with our daughter, son-in-law, and two grandkids age ten and eleven in this relatively confined space was such a joy and taught me once again that teamwork and respect for one another are the most important skills for living in harmony and to overcome daily challenges. I felt honored to be part of this close-nit, adorable family for a delicious moment.

 

April 5

 

Washington DC to Montreal, Canada

 

 

Dinner at @Gaspar Brasserie Francaise in Montreal/ Canada. The steak tartare Bison was amazing as was the Madiran

 

April 6

 

Air Canada flight from Montreal to Martinique. 

 

German Pinot Blanc from Weingut Robert Weil Wilhelm Weil Robert Weil Junior on the flight.

 

 

By taxi from the International Airport in Fort de France, Martinique (EU) to the express ferry boat port. 

By Express Boat from Martinique (European Union, French Departement D' autre Mer) to St Lucia (Independent Country), 90 minutes by express boat, following our flight from Montreal to Fort de France with Air Canada. Going by speed ferry, procedures were similar to taking a plane on an international flight, including checking in your luggage.

By driver to Maribo Bay, about 30 km south of Castris. 

By small ferry boat to Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort in the Marigot Bay. Access to the hotel was by boat only.

 

April 7

 

Waiting at Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort for the Wanderlust Boat with Cornelia Schiller Tremann Chris Tremann Viatrix and Ernst to pick us up for a 2-week boat ride with them. They are on their way from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to St. Lucia. In fact, if they are late a day or so, we would not mind, because we really enjoy it here. But it appears they are on schedule to reach St. Lucia (further south of us) this afternoon. The wind is good. 

 

Annette working in the tropics for the forthcoming Tuscany Tour by Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours and upcoming tastings with the American Wine Society and German Wine Society - Washington DC in Washington DC

Annette: Was not too shabby to work there on the balcony with gorgeous views and a visit of a beautiful bird sitting on the reiling. This is a dreamlike spot on the planet. 

 

Happy Hour a Chateau Mygo - Luxury vacation villas and waterfront dining in the heart of Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia - and Dinner at Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort 

 

April 8 

 

Relaxing at the hotel and waiting for Wanderlust to arrive.

 

Wanderlust arriving.

 

 

Ernst, Viatrix and Cornelia Schiller Tremann transferred us from Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort to the Wanderlust Boat by dinghy boat, with our luggage. Ernst skillfully drove the boat. 

 

 

Happy Hour a Chateau Mygo.

 

 

Dinner at the charming @The Mangrove Restaurant, tucked into a Mangrove stand, with Annette Schiller Chris Tremann Cornelia Schiller Tremann and friends.

 

 

Again, transfer was by dinghy boat with Captain Ernst. 

 

 

April 9

 

Today, we started to move, from Marigot Bay up north to Rodney Bay, past Castris, the Capital of St. Lucia, by motor only, because the main sail was not operational.

 

Life of a skipper. Today, my son-in-law Chris Tremann climbed up the mast (65 feet, 20 meters) to fix the problem, after Chris an I had gone to a hardware store to buy a new rope. 

 

 

Happy Hour and Dinner on the boat.

 

April 10

 

Vegetable and fruit shopping. 

 

 

Trip with the dinghy boat to the mainland for some food shopping and for customs formalities. 

 

 

Afterglow in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia. 

 

April 11

 

Unexpectedly, we could not sail to Martinique today, because the engine of the Wanderlust Boat would not start. Fortunately, our Captain Chris Tremann was able to fix the problem and we are ready to move tomorrow morning. After the engine problem was fixed, we went to the gas station to fill up the diesel tanks of the Wanderlust and the dinghy boat as well the water tank of the Wanderlust. Dinner was on the Wanderlust with take-out food from a local restaurant on the mainland (where Annette and i had out Happy Hour drink). Transfer by dinghy boat.  

 

April 12

 

Putting up the q flag, raising the anchor, raising the sail and off to Martinique. 

 

 

4- hour trip from St.Lucia to Martinique (European Union), under sail. On-line customs clearing. Anchored in the southern part of Martinique, in Les Anses-d'Arlet. With our dinghy boat to the beach. Swimming. Grocery shopping, including a bottle of French Rose. Back to the Wanderlust. Sundowner. Dinner on the boat. 

 

 

April 13
 

Viatrix and Ernst in homeschooling classes (Monday to Friday) and Annette Schiller working on her upcoming Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours in Italy and Germany and her upcoming American Wine Society and German Wine Society - Washington DC tastings in Washington DC. Invitation emails for the Pinot Noir/ Chardonnay comparative Burgundy/ Germany tasting went out today.

 

We sailed from the south of Martinique (Les Anses-d'Arlet) to the Fort de France bay, the Capital of Martinique, where, for the first time, we are staying in a marina. Captain Chris Tremann skillfully docked the boat in the marina slip. It was quite an operation with Cornelia, Viatrix and Ernst heavily involved. No need for a dinghy boat in the next few days, as long as we are in the marina. 

 

 

Dinner with our grandchildren Ernst and Viatrix on the Wanderlust while their parents Cornelia Schiller Tremann and Chris Tremann are out for a date night dinner. 

 

April 14

 

First full day in the Marina des Trois Ilets. The Wanderlust did not move and will not move in the next few days. Fresh baguette for breakfast. Nice beach in walking distance. Viatrix and Ernst busy with homeschooling between 9am an 2pm. We have a rented car and went to a shopping mall where we bought an immense amount of food (for the days when we do not have easy access to food). 

 

 

Dinner at the marina restaurant -Restaurant La Marlne Trois Îlets. I had a Plateau du Pecheur with a Vin Blanc en Carafe . 

 

"One for the road" drink on the roof of the Wanderlust. 

 

April 15

Second day in the marina: 

 

In the morning, Annette and I went to Fort de France by ferry boat to visit the old part of the city, including Les Halles, while Viatrix and Ernst (homeschooling) and Cornelia and Chris (working) stayed on the boat. The marina slip of the ferry boat is just next the slip of Wanderlust. 

 

 

In the afternoon, we learned about the slave trade triangle Europe, Africa, America. 

 

 

Apero was at the beach and dinner on the boat.

 

April 16

 

Third full day in the @La Marina Les Trois Ilets: We all stayed on the boat in the morning. In the afternoon, Chris Tremann Cornelia Schiller Tremann Viatrix and Ernst took the ferry boat to Fort de France to explore the city, while Annette Schiller and I went to the beach. Apero and dinner on the boat. For the apero we tried a cider from Normandy. Dinner was German style - cold cuts and cheese, but all from France. All bought at the E.Leclerc supermarket in Fort de France a couple of days ago. Among others, we had a Jambon de Bayonne and a Roquefort from Papillon, difficult to find outside of France. The day ended on the rooftop of Wanderlust. 

 

April 17 

 

Last full day in the marina: 

 

In the morning Annette Schiller Cornelia Schiller Tremann and I went to a local fruit and vegetable store and to the Carrefour to stock up. Chris Tremann and Cornelia will not have access to such a large supermarket for weeks. I focused on wine for the remaining days of Annette and me on the boat. 

 

 

In the afternoon Cornelia Chris Via and Ernst went to a mini golf course, while Annette and I stayed on the boat. Dinner in a local restaurant and after dinner drinks at the beach. Annette had a Pina Colada. 

 

April 18

 

We left Fort de France in the morning and went to the bay of Saint-Pierre, where Chris and Cornelia will stay for the next 7 days. Captain Chris, with the help of his crew Ernst Viatrix and Cornelia, skillfully moved the Wanderlust out of the slip of the marina and then raised the sails, because the wind was good. It took us 2 hours along the coast of Martinique up to the north. In Saint-Pierre, we are not in a marina but the boat is moored in the bay and the dinghy boat needs to be used again if you want to leave the boat. 

 

Before the total destruction of Saint-Pierre in 1902 as a result of an volcanic eruption, Saint-Pierre was known as "little Paris of the Caribbean".  

 

We arrived in Saint-Pierre at lunch time and had a delicious vegetable soup made by Cornelia on the boat for lunch, with a glass of Rose. 

 

After lunch, Cornelia, Annette and I went to Saint- Pierre by dinghy boat to check out the stores and restaurants.

We ended up in a beach restaurant for a drink, which is just in front of Wanderlust. Chris, Viatrix and Ernst, who had stayed on the boat, came over to take us back to the boat.

 

After watching the sunset with a glass of Rose de Gascogne we had another lovely dinner on the boat, this time barbecue with a nice Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny.

 

April 19 

 

First full day in Saint-Pierre: We spent the morning on the boat. 

 

After lunch, we visited the amazing zoo of Martinique. Getting there was a bit tricky, because we did not know where to leave the dinghy boat. But Captain Ernst found a palm tree, where we could lock up our dinghy boat. 

 

Comment by Annette Schiller: The Zoo is amazing: it is much more than a Zoo: it is a walk through history, through a beautiful lush tropical garden with a close up view of a careful selection of animals in their habitat. The Location is what is left of an old sugarcane plantation where Sugar and Rhum had been produced. The plantation was burried in ashes and lava after the Mont Pelee volcano erupted in 1902. Nature took over and now the tropical trees and plants created a perfect jungle garden to house many rare species. You can see a jaguar, a python, an ant-eater, sloths, beautiful colorful tropical birds, just to list a few, in their more or less natural habitat. Beautifully done!!!!! 

 

 

 

Happy Hour with saucisson sec, a wonderful sunset and dinner on the boat. Dinner was again German-style cold cuts and cheese, but all from France. As blue cheese, we had a Bleu de Causse The rouge was a @Vinsobres, a cru from the Côtes du Rhône Weine.

 

 

April 20

 

Second full day in Saint-Pierre, essentially on the boat: Except for 2 dinghy boat trips to the market to buy fresh fish, we spent the whole day on the Wanderlust. Home-schooling; working; reading; swimming; apero (Cidre de Bretagne Brut); perfect sunset; barbecue dinner (potato gratin and grilled red snapper with an IGP @Cotes de Thau).

 

Home-schooling and working 

 

First trip 

 

Swimming

 

Second trip

 

 

 

Apero (Cidre de Bretagne Brut); perfect sunset; barbecue dinner (potato gratin and grilled red snapper with an IGP @Cotes de Thau).
 

April 21

 

Last full day in Martinique:

 

Chris Tremann and Cornelia Schiller Tremann went on an extensive hike in the tropical forest in the morning, while Annette Schiller and I stayed on the boat with Viatrix and Ernst. 

 

 

After lunch, we all went by dinghy boat (with Captain Ernst) to Saint-Pierre to visit a museum and several ruins related to the volcanic eruption in 1902 that killed up to 30.000. 

 

Apero, including a swim, was at the beach restaurant and bar close to our boat.

 

 

The sunset was spectacular, again. 

 

 

From the beach restaurant, after sunset, Captain Chris brought us back to the boat, where we had dinner, including a nice @Bouchard Aine et Fils Cremant de Bourgogne.

 

April 22 and April 23

 

Returning from Martinique: This was a 2-day trip. Chris Tremann took us by dinghy boat from the Wanderlust to the center of Saint-Pierre, where a pre-ordered taxi was waiting for us, which brought us to the Airport of Fort de France, Martinique. My last meal on French territory was a sandwich Jambon Emmental, a French classic. Air Canada brought us safely to Montreal, where we spent the night. I enjoyed an excellent German Pinot Noir from Weingut Karl May , Rheinhessen, for dinner. They final stretch was on United Airlines the following day into Washington Dulles International Airport