Land On little St. Barts (which is linked administratively to Guadeloupe, a department of France), the water claims most outdoor activity. There is no golf and only three tennis courts: the St. Barth Beach Hotel, the Hotel Manapany near the beach at Anse des Cayes and the Taiwana Club on the Anse des Flamands have one each. The Manapany has the only lighted court. The development of walking trails from La Petite Anse is in an early stage, but the tourist office (27.60.08) in Gustavia's City Hall can advise on routes that can be taken.The island has no high-rises and the largest of its 36 hotels, the PLM Jean Bart, has just 50 rooms. However, that will change with the opening, scheduled on Nov. 30, of the new, 80-room Guanahani in Grand Cul de Sac on the north shore. The hotel was supposed to open last winter as Le Warwick, but the opening was postponed, legal difficulties were blamed and then a new management was appointed. With the addition of the Guanahani, the island's total of hotel rooms will go up to about 600. In addition, there are hundreds of villas and apartments for rent. Sea St. Barts's position about midway between Antigua and Virgin Gorda, two major yachting centers, help make the island a popular place to drop anchor, particularly at Gustavia, Public, Corossol and Colombier. All necessary boat supplies are stocked at Loulou's Marine in Gustavia (27.62.74), where the bulletin board logs a lot of useful information on the local boat scene. One of the many charter boats available is the 38-foot Gin Fizz, which takes six passengers on full-day sails from Gustavia to the uninhabited Ile Fourchue. The sails cost $50 a person, including lunch, and can be booked through Sibarth (27.62.38). Similar trips from Gustavia can be had on the Zavijava for $70 to $75 a person, with lunch and open bar. Arrangements can be made through Loulou's Marine.
Deep-sea fishing expeditions are run on the Bertram by Pierrot Choisy, who can be reached through the College Mireille Choisy in Gustavia (27.61.22), and La Marine Service (27.64.50) on the port's Quai de la Marine is a fully-equipped scuba-diving center. For wind surfing, rentals and lessons are available at St. Barth's Wind School near the Tom Beach Hotel in St. Jean; Jack's, also in St. Jean, and Wind Wave Power at St. Barth Beach in Grand Cul-de-Sac.
Many of the hotels provide sunfish, and elsewhere they can be rented. Michel Mantez of the Colombier Sports and Cultural Association (27.61.07) can supply information on water-skiing, equipment and instruction. The sport is permitted only in the Bay of Colombier and only between 8:30 A.M. and 3 P.M. Transportation From St. Maarten (Dutch side) on Winair and from St. Martin (French side) on Air Guadeloupe; from St. Thomas on Virgin Air; from Guadeloupe on Air Guadeloupe. Catamarans sail daily from Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and a yacht from Marigot, St. Martin.