Let me tell you about a New Year's celebration that makes the ball drop in Times Square look like a neighborhood block party.
Here's the scene: You're anchored in crystal-clear Caribbean water, learning to sail by day, and by night you're watching fireworks explode over a harbor packed with $100 million superyachts. Jeff Bezos's support vessel is anchored next to you (yes, his yacht has its own yacht). Leonardo DiCaprio just dinghied past. And that absurdly large vessel blocking half the harbor? That's Roman Abramovich's Eclipse – at 533 feet, it has two helipads, a submarine, and a missile defense system. I'm not making this up.
Welcome to St. Barts during New Year's week – the most outrageously spectacular sailing playground on the planet.
Look, I've built Sailing Virgins on taking people on adventures. Usually, that means pristine beaches, hidden coves, swimming with turtles – you know, connecting with nature and all that good stuff. And we still do that. But our New Year's week sailing from St. Martin? This is adventure of a completely different flavor.
The adventure here is being part of what I can only describe as the world's most exclusive floating party. St. Barts transforms into what locals call the "St. Moritz of the Caribbean," except instead of ski slopes, you've got mega-yachts, and instead of après-ski, you've got beach clubs where champagne flows like water.
Last year, 173 superyachts descended on tiny Gustavia Harbor for New Year's Eve. That's not a typo. One hundred and seventy-three floating palaces, each trying to outdo the next. We counted at least a dozen helicopters landing on various yacht decks in a single afternoon. It's absolutely bonkers.
Here's the beautiful irony: While the billionaires are stuck on their floating hotels with professional crews, you'll actually be sailing. You'll be at the helm, trimming sails, navigating between these giants, and earning your sailing certification while witnessing one of the most exclusive gatherings on Earth.
The contrast is part of what makes it magical. By day, you're learning to anchor properly, understanding wind patterns, and mastering sailing fundamentals with our instructors. By evening, you're watching the yacht crew from some Russian oligarch's boat set up a temporary nightclub on their aft deck. You can't buy your way into this experience – you have to sail into it.
We launch from St. Martin – either from Marina Fort Louis or Anse Marcel – and that first sail to St. Barts is when reality hits you. As you approach Gustavia, the horizon fills with masts and superstructures that look more like floating buildings than boats. Your 45-foot catamaran suddenly feels delightfully nimble.
The thing about sailing during this week is you get access that money literally cannot buy. Those mega-yachts? They're paying €1,000+ per day just for mooring. Many can't even enter the harbor because of their size. But you? One evening you'll anchor in Colombier Bay – this insanely beautiful spot only accessible by boat or a 20-minute hike. You'll have front-row seats to the action while still finding peaceful moments to actually learn and practice your sailing skills.
I'm not going to lie – watching the uber-wealthy at play is endlessly fascinating. You'll see tenders (that's fancy talk for dinghies) worth more than most people's houses, ferrying guests between yachts. You'll watch yogis leading sunrise sessions on deck (yes, billionaires really do travel with their yoga instructors). You'll see beach clubs like Nikki Beach and Bagatelle transform into scenes that feel lifted from a movie.
Image thanks Sebastian Martinon
But here's what I love most: While all that circus is happening, you're living a completely authentic sailing adventure. You're learning real skills, earning legitimate certifications, and becoming part of our sailing community. There's something deeply satisfying about sailing past a $200 million yacht under your own power, knowing you could take a boat anywhere in the world with the skills you're learning.
December through January is peak sailing season here for good reason. We get steady northeast trade winds at 15-20 knots (perfect for learning), water temperature at a bathtub-warm 80°F, and virtually zero chance of bad weather. These are literally the best sailing conditions you'll find anywhere.
The passages between islands are short and sweet – St. Martin to St. Barts is only about 12 nautical miles. Even beginners feel comfortable, but there's enough variety to keep things interesting. Plus, when you need a break from the glitz, we sail to places like Tintamarre Island – completely uninhabited except for sea turtles and the odd adventurous iguana.
Look, I won't pretend the parties aren't spectacular. New Year's Eve in St. Barts is legendary. Fireworks light up the harbor at midnight (and again at 2 AM because why not?). Le Ti St-Barth becomes a cabaret where dancing on tables isn't just allowed, it's encouraged. Eden Rock charges €500 per person for their New Year's Eve party, and it sells out months in advance.
But you know what's cooler? Watching those same fireworks from your boat's deck, champagne in hand, with your new sailing crew who've become instant friends. There's something pure about earning your celebration through a week of sailing, rather than just buying your way in.
Every year, people make the same resolutions: get fit, learn something new, have more adventures. This trip checks all those boxes in the most spectacular way possible. You'll be active all day sailing, you'll earn internationally recognized sailing certifications, and trust me, this qualifies as adventure on steroids.
The window for this experience is incredibly small – really just the week between Christmas and New Year's, and maybe the week after. That's when St. Barts becomes this bizarre, beautiful collision of extreme wealth and Caribbean sailing culture. It's like Burning Man for billionaires, except you're sailing through it rather than just observing.
Our St. Martin to St. Barts New Year's sailing course isn't just about learning to sail (though you'll definitely do that). It's about being part of something absolutely extraordinary – a front-row seat to one of the world's most exclusive gatherings, while actually developing the skills and confidence to sail anywhere.
We're taking two boats this year, maximum 10 students total. This isn't something you can replicate or buy your way into later. When you're telling this story years from now – about the time you learned to sail while watching billionaires play in the Caribbean – people won't believe you.
But you'll have the photos, the certification, and most importantly, the skills to prove it.
Adventure doesn't always mean roughing it. Sometimes it means sailing into one of the most exclusive parties on Earth and knowing you earned your spot there.
See you in St. Barts.
Ready to sail into the extraordinary? Our New Year's Week Caribbean course runs December 28 - January 3. Limited spots available. Because while the billionaires are watching, you'll be sailing.
Want to learn more about our St. Martin to St. Barts New Year's sailing adventure? Check out course details here or contact us directly. This is one week you'll be talking about for the rest of your life.