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 once to date. But I plan to return soon and explore the island again.

Tourism is not the primary 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 undoubtedly worth visiting more than once.

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

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