Private Sailing Tour: Salt River Bay Pirate Waters & Shipwrecks

Two hours sailing over cannons, bones and ballast stones where pirates anchored, fought and sank.

A private sailing tour of Salt River Bay, St. Croix, where you sail past five pirate shipwreck sites and the forts that changed the island's history. The bay itself was a pirate nest for two and a half centuries: used by Conquistadors, Buccaneers and notorious captains like Henry Morgan, Jean Martel and Samuel Bellamy. You choose your group size (1 to 6 people) and call to schedule your departure time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sail and explore pirate shipwrecks

• Park near Salt River Marina boat ramp
• Board FOLLY at the dock by restaurant
• Sail into Salt River Bay and learn history
• Hear stories of pirates and famous visitors
• Visit Pirate Jean Martel's ship RENOWN wreck
• See two Dutch shipwrecks from 1650 invasion
• Explore Fort Flammand battle site
• Visit final resting place of John and Martha ship

The experience

The tour runs on FOLLY, a red sloop with a pirate flag docked at Salt River Marina. Once aboard, you sail into the bay and hear the story of the 1716 battle between Pirate Captain Jean Martel's 22-gun JOHN AND MARTHA and 8-gun RENOWN against the 32-gun HMS SCARBOROUGH: the wreck sites lie beneath you as the guide walks through what happened. You pass the final resting place of Martel's JOHN AND MARTHA, the RENOWN wreck site, and two Dutch shipwrecks from a failed 1650 invasion attempt, sunk by Fort Flammand just inside the cut into the harbor. The guide also covers the stories of other famous visitors (Captain Kidd, Blackbeard and more), and how Conquistadors used St. Croix.

Fort Flammand itself was the site of five battles that shifted the course of history on the island. The bay is also an ecological preserve: mangroves line the shore, sea turtles and large tarpon move through the water, and coral reefs sit below the surface. Water, sodas and beer are provided. Bring anything else you want. The tour runs 2 hours. You pick your group size at checkout (1 to 6 people) and call the operator to confirm your departure time.

What’s included

• Water, sodas and beer throughout the sail.
• a live English-speaking guide who covers the pirate history, shipwreck sites and the five battles at Fort Flammand.
• access to all five wreck locations and the fort site.

Options for this experience

6 options

Sailing for 6 people, schedule by phoneUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed time

Sailing for 5 people, schedule by phoneUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed time

Sailing for 4 people, schedule by phoneUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed time

See 3 more options

Sailing for 3 people, schedule by phoneUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed time

Sailing for 2 people, schedule by phoneUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed time

Sailing for 1 person, schedule by phoneUp to 1 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed time

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Stanford Joines

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to sail directly over the wreck sites and hear the stories of the battles and pirates that shaped them: the guide walks through what happened at each spot as you pass over it, which is how the history becomes real instead of just names on a map.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What pirate shipwrecks will I sail over on this tour?

You'll pass the wreck of Pirate Captain Jean Martel's JOHN AND MARTHA, sunk in the 1716 battle with HMS SCARBOROUGH; the RENOWN wreck site; and two Dutch shipwrecks from a 1650 invasion attempt, all lying on the bay floor beneath the boat.

How long is the sailing tour?

The tour runs 2 hours from start to finish, including all five wreck sites and fort stops.

What's included in the tour price?

Water, sodas and beer are provided throughout the 2-hour sail. Bring any other food or drinks you prefer.

How do I book and what group sizes are available?

You choose your group size at checkout (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 people) and then call the operator to schedule your departure time.

What is Fort Flammand and why does it matter to this tour?

Fort Flammand, also called Fort Salee or Fort de Sales, sits just inside the cut into Salt River Harbor and was the site of five battles that changed the course of history on St. Croix. The tour includes this stop as part of the bay's pirate and colonial story.