St. Eustatius (Statia)

Statia is a bit off the beaten path for most cruisers, even though it isn’t far from St. Martin. Because of this, I have only visited one time to date. But I plan on returning soon and exploring the island again.

Tourism is not the main industry for this Dutch island, it is bunkering fuel. The northwest section of the island hosts many large fuel tanks and there are always freighters anchored off the shore.

The main anchorage outside of Oranjestad is somewhat open and can get uncomfortable, but the island is certainly worth visiting more than once.

When I visited, I was with another boat and we rented mopeds and drove around, getting to see most of the island. In addition, the trail up to the Quill is worth taking and since most of it is in shade and it is well-kept the trip up isn’t too strenuous.

The story is that Statia was the first nation to recognize the newly formed country of the United States of America on November 16th, 1776. This was the “first salute” and historians still argue about the event.