Sailin'Soun: Skippered Sails Aboard Chanse from Gustavia
Trade the beach club for a teak deck with captains Jean & Virginie.
Why Go
Most visitors 'see' St Barth from a chaise longue in Shell Beach; Sailin'Soun hands you the wheel of a 13.4-meter monohull and lets you see the island the way it was meant to be seen — from the water, with the trade winds in the mainsail and Gustavia shrinking behind the stern.
The Experience
Chanse is a 13.40m monohull sailboat berthed at Bateau Chanse in Port de Gustavia, and she's the whole reason this outfit feels different from the flotilla of catamaran party boats crowding the harbor. Captains Jean and Virginie run a small, skippered operation — never a bareboat rental — so you get the local knowledge that comes from actually living the seasons here: which anchorages stay glassy when the swell wraps around Colombier, where the turtles graze off Île Fourchue, which coves empty out by four when the day-trip catamarans peel back to Sint Maarten. The boat is rigged to be genuinely easy — Jean will hand you the helm the second you look curious about it — but it's still a real sailboat, so you feel the heel, hear the winches, and understand why people fall in love with this kind of travel. Group sizes stay small, kids are welcomed rather than tolerated, and the whole thing can be privatized if you want the deck to yourselves.
What to Try
The half-day is the crowd-pleaser and a perfect first taste, but the sweet spot is the day-plus-sunset combo: you sail out for a swim-and-snorkel morning at a lee-side anchorage like Colombier or Île Fourchue, drift back through the afternoon, then stay aboard as the light goes gold over Gustavia's red rooftops with a glass of something cold in hand. If you've got the time (and a group), the multi-day cruise across to Anguilla, St Kitts, or the outer cays is the version regulars book once and then never stop talking about.
Insider Tip
Book directly through sailinsoun.com or by WhatsApp to +590 690 727 007 rather than a concierge — you'll skip the markup, and Jean and Virginie can actually shape the itinerary around what you want (a specific snorkel spot, a quiet cove for lunch, a slower sail with kids) instead of running the standard concierge script. Ask about the private charter rate if you're four or more; it's often barely more than booking individual seats and you get the boat to yourselves.
The Practical Stuff
Departure: Bateau Chanse, Port de Gustavia (the dock is a five-minute walk from anywhere in town — no transfer needed). Bring: reef-safe sunscreen, a hat that ties on, a light layer for the sunset return, and a swimsuit under your clothes. Cash isn't necessary; the crew handles bookings and payment via the website. Sea conditions in the lee of St Barth are typically gentle, but if you're prone to motion sickness, take something before you board rather than after. Contact: +590 690 727 007 or sailinsoun@gmail.com.
Pair It With
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — A sun-and-salt day on Chanse begs for a post-sail massage — 6e SENS is the closest quality wellness spot for melting the sea legs out of your shoulders.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — After a sunset sail back into Gustavia, Abyss is a short stroll from the dock and a natural place to keep the maritime mood going over dinner.
- 1493 Lodges St Barth (Colombier) — Stay on the Colombier side and you'll recognize the anchorage you swam in that morning right below your terrace — the Sailin'Soun sail becomes part of a broader 'quiet St Barth' itinerary.
- 4 Sea Zone St Barth Guide — Handy for airport transfers on either side of your sailing day, especially if you're flying in on the famously short St Barth approach and want zero logistical friction.
