June 2018 | w w w.boatinternational.com
of fitness, you can start to think about your role in the boat and what
your limiting factors may be,” she says. “Try and think about your
positions in the boat and what is limiting you in them. Is it core
strength? Is it quad strength? Is it flexibility in your ankles or knees?”
Despite being relatively fit, Clark ’s words and my inability to stand
on a heeling boat motivate me to push a bit harder, which is exactly
what BodyHoliday is designed for. A vast blackboard is filled with
classes so you can take your pick, from the aforementioned beach boot
camp to yoga, spinning and meditation. As well as the on-site facilities,
St Lucia’s mountainous landscapes provide the perfect fitness
playground for running, mountain biking, climbing and hiking. The
bold take on one half of St Lucia’s most famous landmark – the Gros
Piton. The four-hour challenge is certainly more of a climb than
a walk (even if there are no ropes involved) but you are rewarded at the
top with spectacular views across southern St Lucia. There are also
opportunities to abseil down the 37 metre gorge of the River Doree or
hike Mount Gimie, the tallest point in the West Indies. Every Sunday
a handful of guests do the Quadrathlon, an eight mile all-terrain bike
ride, a run of over two miles, a 30 metre abseil and a kayak paddle of
over a mile. While the distances may sound achievable, few finish –
return headwinds on the kayak make it a game for the ultra-fit.
After a busy few days I opt for a slightly more relaxed activity and
head out on an X-Treme 26 for a cruise down to BodyHoliday’s sister
property – the couple-focused Rendezvous. Sailing down St Lucia’s
west coast is a reminder of why
the rainforest-cloaked island is
a popular superyacht cruising
ground. Leaving the bay we
sail past the small resort of
Cap Maison – location for US
television series The Bachelor- and round Pigeon Island
National Park. One of the most
important monuments of
St Lucia’s history, the island
was joined to the mainland
by a causeway in 1972. It is home to the ruins of defences built by the
British and the French as they fought over the island (which famously
belonged to each side seven times).
The Rendezvous sits on a slice of perfect St Lucian sand further
down the bay. And, after a slight altercation with a rock as we enter the
bay, we drop anchor to be picked up by a Hobie Cat and enjoy lunch with
our feet in the sand at its beachside restaurant. Our sail back is equally
spectacular and a true test of the X-Treme 26’s ability to sail upwind. She
makes it feel easy and the return leg takes less than five minutes more
than our downwind course to lunch. It goes without saying that it’s a
completely diferent experience from superyacht cruising – decidedly
less comfortable but considerably more exhilarating.
FLY
To avoid St Lucia’s notoriously twisty roads,
BodyHoliday can organise helicopter
transfers from the airport to the landing strip
in Castries (just a 15 minute drive away). Not
only will it save you from motion sickness but
it also ofers a stunning bird ’s-eye view of the
tropical island. Don’t worry if you like to pack
heavy, your bags can follow by car.Saskia Clark, left,
prepares to take
Sophia Wilson
sailing on a
Hobie Cat