Dénébola is a monohull sailboat which sails to help you discover the Bay of Robert and its islets, in particular Islet Madame with its white seabed and Islet Chancel with its iguanas.
You board the sailboat from the small beach at Pointe Fort. You’ll be greeted by Délice who will explain the relaxing day ahead.
At the end of the briefing, Bastien, your captain for the day, will pick you up with the dinghy equipped with its electric motor and take you aboard the boat.
The day is divided into several stages.
In the morning, you’ll head for îlet Madame. A sailboat can’t sail into the wind, so you’ll have to take to get there.
Once on the islet, you can enjoy a swim in the white depths and admire the underwater flora and fauna nearby, thanks to the presence of a coral reef.
Whenever possible, you’ll have lunch on the islet on shaded tables or at anchor on the boat.
In the afternoon, you sail to Islet Chancel.
The captain changes her hat to that of a guide and shows you the treasures hidden on this islet.
You may be lucky enough to spot iguanas delicatissima, a species endemic to Martinique.
Navigation is exclusively by sail. The only time the engine is used is when leaving îlet Madame to head for îlet Chancel.
Dénébola favors the use of sails throughout the day, to ensure that passengers can relax completely without engine noise. This allows a real reconnection with the ocean, as you can hear the sound of the water sliding against the boat’s hull.
What’s more, the boat has comfortable bench seating, so you’ll feel right at home once you’re seated. You can forget about lower-back pain at the end of the day. The benches are far more comfortable than the seats you’d find on a catamaran.
The day takes place in small groups. The maximum capacity of the boat is 9 passengers. This allows you to have a more intimate day and get to know the other passengers.
What’s more, there’s no music on board, either during crossings or during meals.
This not only helps you relax on board, but also ensures the tranquility of nearby marine and terrestrial species. You can enjoy the sound of the ocean and surrounding species on your sailing trip.
Dénébola is keen to emphasize his love of the environment and the importance of protecting it.
That’s why, during the morning briefing, we explain the eco-gestures to be respected during the day at sea.
You’ll be reminded not to let anything fly overboard while sailing, and to be careful where you step on the seabed, as you mustn’t trample the seagrass beds. The latter are home to sea urchins that you could injure, but which could also injure you in return.
If you’re going to observe the coral reef with flippers, we remind you to stay horizontal on the surface of the water and not to kick your feet at their level, as you could injure the fragile corals and gorgonians.
As for stopovers on the islets, you may find plenty of small shells of all kinds that you’re tempted to pick up. However, on the îlets du Robert, they are an important part of the ecosystem.
What’s more, Délice de Dénébola has produced educational brochures (in collaboration with Ané, a marine biologist).
They cover 8 themes on the flora and fauna to be observed on the islets and white bottoms of Robert. These brochures will help you learn more about the species.
Last but not least, this environmental aspect also involves training the captain in eco-actions.
This is put into practice on the boat with the use of reusable crockery and the cleaning of the deck with sea water.
A good day on the sailboat Dénébola is not complete without a good lunch.
For this, we work with local farmers (An griyav’la) who produce fruit and vegetables.
All the juices and meals you can enjoy on board are made by them to enhance your sailing experience. (for those taking the all-inclusive package)
You can enjoy, among other things, chicken marinated in old rum, sweet potato or banana gratin, papaya accras or local apricot juice.
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