7-Night St. Barths & Anguilla — Elegance in the Northern Leewards

Day 1 — St. Barths: Embarkation

Board at Gustavia Harbour — the miniature French Riviera capital of St. Barths. A walk through the duty-free boutiques, the Swedish Clock Tower and the Fort Gustav above the harbour. Welcome dinner at Le Select (where James Taylor wrote 'Mexico') or the elegant La Gloriette on the beach.

Day 2 — Colombier Bay

Sail to the remote northwestern bay of Colombier — accessible only by yacht or a 30-minute mountain hike. Anchor in the clear water and spend the day at this completely undeveloped cove. The estate above was once the property of David Rockefeller; the views across the bay to Saint-Martin are extraordinary. A perfect day of seclusion.

Day 3 — Grand Cul-de-Sac

A sheltered lagoon-like bay on St. Barths' northeast coast — calm water ideal for kitesurfing (Hookipa Surf School based here), excellent French restaurants (Le Ti St. Barth, the legendary party restaurant) and a beautiful setting with the island's hills behind. Overnight at anchor.

Day 4 — Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten

Sail 25 miles northwest to the island divided between France and the Netherlands. Marigot on the French side has an excellent market, fresh baguettes and Gallic atmosphere; Philipsburg on the Dutch side has casino hotels and duty-free shopping. Maho Beach (where aircraft land directly over the beach) is a surreal BVI attraction. Anchor at Grand Case — the 'Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean', with over 30 restaurants on a single street.

Day 5 — Anguilla

Sail north to Anguilla — just 5 miles from Saint-Martin but a world apart. Low, coral, impossibly tranquil. Shoal Bay is one of the world's great beaches; Meads Bay, Barnes Bay and Rendezvous Bay are equally beautiful. The Cap Juluca (Belmond) and CuisinArt resorts are both available for day visits or dinner. Overnight at anchor off Shoal Bay East.

Day 6 — Anguilla: Second Day

A full second day on Anguilla — the pace is deliberately unhurried. Hire a car to explore Road Bay (Sandy Ground), the extraordinary collection of local art at the Devonish Collection, and Cheddie's Carving Studio. The Wednesday and Saturday fish fry at Sandy Ground is a cultural highlight. Sunset at the Dune Preserve — Bankie Banx's legendary driftwood bar on Rendezvous Bay.

Day 7 — Return to St. Barths

A final morning at anchor before the return passage to Gustavia. An afternoon in the boutiques of Gustavia (Hermès, Cartier, Bulgari — all present) and a final dinner at Bonito, the finest restaurant on the island, with views across the harbour to the lights of the yachts.

Day 8 — Disembarkation

Farewell breakfast before disembarkation. Gustaf III Airport (the famously dramatic approach) connects to Sint Maarten (SXM) for international flights; a water taxi to Saint-Martin is an alternative.