SXM offers a wide variety of anchorages — from sheltered lagoon berths surrounded by marine services to quiet, scenic bays with nothing but a beach. Your choice depends on why you're here.
For detailed depths, coordinates, waypoints, and current cruiser reports, use Navily — it has good coverage of SXM anchorages with recent user updates.
Where should I go?
Boat work to do
Simpson Bay Lagoon
Arriving, waiting for the bridge
Mullet Bay or Simpson Bay (outside)
Dutch-side clearance, no lagoon
Great Bay, Philipsburg
French-side base, no bridge
Marigot Bay
Best shelter on the island
Anse Marcel
Best dinner ashore
Grand Case (conditions permitting)
Day trip / snorkelling
Tintamarre or Pinel Island
Simpson Bay Lagoon
The lagoon is twelve square miles of protected water straddling the French and Dutch border, with more than six marinas, multiple boatyards, and the island's highest concentration of marine services. Access is via the Simpson Bay Bridge (Dutch, VHF 12) or the Sandy Ground Bridge (French, VHF 16) — both on fixed schedules.
Simpson Bay Lagoon
HoldingGood — mud/sand. Many areas 2–4 m. Check chart carefully before anchoring.
AccessBridge transit required. Simpson Bay (Dutch, VHF 12) or Sandy Ground (French, VHF 16).
CharacterBusy, well-equipped, slightly industrial. Not scenic — but everything you need is here.
Cole Bay (Dutch side) — closest to Budget Marine, Island Water World, and most boatyards
Simpson Bay area (Dutch side) — well-serviced, close to restaurants and shops
French side of the lagoon — quieter, dinghy access to Marigot
Some privately managed moorings are available in the lagoon for longer stays — ask at marina offices or check with other cruisers on arrival.
French side anchorages
Marigot Bay
AccessDirect from sea — no bridge required
HoldingGood. Paid mooring balls available, managed by Port of Marigot. Anchoring also possible outside the mooring zone — anchoring is free.
AshoreWalking distance to Marigot town, market, chandleries, and French-side customs
MarinaMarina Fort Louis — 150 slips, 3.7 m draft, fuel dock. marinafortlouis.com
Anse Marcel
AccessDirect from sea — no bridge required. Northeast coast.
CharacterAlmost entirely enclosed bay. One of the most sheltered anchorages on the island. Beautiful setting.
Watch outWind swirls in the basin and affects each boat's swing differently — you may find yourself unexpectedly close to a neighbouring boat. Allow extra room when anchoring.
ProvisioningLimited nearby — Grand Case is the nearest option
MarinaAnse Marcel Marina — boutique berths, fuel, VHF 16/11
Grand Case
AccessDirect from sea — no bridge required
ExposureOpen to the north and northwest — comfortable in the trades but rolly with any northerly swell
AshoreThe island's best dining — a single main street lined with restaurants from simple lolos (local charcoal BBQ) to high-end French and Creole. Worth the stop.
Wind funnels between the hills flanking the bay and the anchorage can be gusty. Holding is not reliable — set your anchor carefully and check it holds before going ashore.
Friar's Bay
CharacterSmaller, pretty bay on the north coast between Marigot and Grand Case. Calm in trade wind conditions.
NotePopular with day boats and weekenders — can be busier at weekends
Happy Bay
CharacterTucked just around the headland from Friar's Bay. Smaller and more secluded. Good holding, beautiful beach.
ExposureBest in settled trade wind conditions — exposed to any northerly
Tintamarre
LocationUninhabited island and nature reserve, ~3 miles northeast of Orient Bay
CharacterGood anchorage off the west coast in settled conditions. Excellent snorkelling and deserted beach.
FacilitiesNone — bring everything you need
RulesManaged by the French Nature Reserve. Take a mooring ball where available to protect turtle nesting areas. Overnight stays require permission from the reserve.
Pinel Island
LocationSmall nature reserve island just off the northeast coast near Cul-de-Sac Bay
CharacterShallow, calm anchorage in trade wind conditions. Popular with charter boats and day visitors.
NoteAnchorage is small and shallow. No facilities for cruisers.
Green Cay (Orient Bay)
CharacterSmall islet at the southern end of Orient Bay. Well-protected anchorage between the cay and the main island. Orient Bay beach is close — busy during the day, quieter in the evenings.
Dinghy landingDifficult — lee shore with swell on Orient Bay. Limited cruiser facilities ashore.
Oyster Pond
LocationEast coast, straddling the French/Dutch border. Reef-protected lagoon with a narrow entrance channel — follow the markers precisely.
MarinaCaptain Oliver's Marina, 150 berths
Marine services are limited. The state of the anchorage and marina is uncertain following Hurricane Irma and subsequent land disputes between the Dutch and French sides that have hindered rebuilding. If you have significant work to do, plan to move to the lagoon.
Dutch side anchorages
Mullet Bay
CharacterJust west of Simpson Bay. Calmer and less trafficked than anchoring directly off the bridge. Good holding.
Best forOvernight stop before a morning bridge transit. Better than Simpson Bay outer anchorage for extended waiting.
Simpson Bay (outside the lagoon)
CharacterPrimary waiting area for boats queuing for a bridge opening. Reasonable holding, busy with traffic near the bridge.
Best forShort-term staging only — not suitable for an extended stay
Great Bay (Philipsburg)
AccessDirect from sea — no bridge required
ExposureOpen to the south — comfortable in the prevailing northeast trades, but exposed to any southerly swell. Busy with cruise ship tender traffic during the day.
Best forDutch-side customs clearance, or a brief stop on passage. Bobby's Marina and Dock Maarten are both here.
Marinas
Rates change frequently — always contact the marina directly for current prices and availability. VHF 16 is the standard hailing channel unless otherwise noted.
French side
Marina Fort Louis
Marigot Bay
Slips150
Max draft3.7 m (12 ft)
BridgeNot required
FuelYes — ultra-low-sulphur diesel
Walking distance to Marigot town, the market, and French-side clearance.
marinafortlouis.com →
Anse Marcel Marina
Anse Marcel
Slips125
Max draft3.5 m (11 ft)
BridgeNot required
FuelYes
VHF16/11
Quiet, boutique marina in an enclosed bay. Best shelter on the island. Limited marine services nearby.
Time Out Boatyard (TOBY)
Sandy Ground, lagoon
BridgeRequired
FuelYes — Polypat, in the bridge channel
A small number of berths alongside boatyard facilities. Primarily oriented toward boats being hauled or having work done.
timeoutboat@hotmail.com →
Geminga Boatyard
French lagoon, near Marigot
BridgeRequired
CraneTo 30 t, boats to 50 ft
Small number of berths with direct lagoon access. Specialists in welding, sailmaking, and yacht architecture.
JMC Boatyard
French lagoon
BridgeRequired
Small number of berths. Contact directly for current availability.
Marina Royale
French lagoon
Currently not open to visiting yachts.
Dutch side
All in Simpson Bay Lagoon unless noted.
Simpson Bay Marina (IGY)
Dutch lagoon
Max LOA180 ft (55 m)
Max draft4.0 m (13 ft)
FuelYes
One of the largest and best-equipped marinas on the island. Fuel, restaurants, provisioning, 24-hour security, laundry.
igymarinas.com →
Lagoon Marina
Cole Bay
Slips30
Max draft2.7 m (9 ft)
Well-positioned for Cole Bay marine services — close to Budget Marine and most boatyards. Lagoonies Bar and Café on site, popular with the cruising community.
lagoon-marina.com →
Island Water World Marina
Cole Bay
Slips56
Forklift haulTo 29 ft
Attached to the Island Water World chandlery. Convenient for electrical, mechanical, or outboard work.
islandwaterworld.com →
Rockstar Marine Yard
Airport Road, Simpson Bay
BridgeRequired
Max lift45 tonnes
Full-service boatyard and marina at 34 Airport Road. Haul out, hard stand storage, mechanical and electrical, fibreglass and painting. Previously Bobby's Airport Road — same location, new management.
rockstarboatyard.com →
Porto Cupecoy Marina
Near French border
Slips48–54
Max LOA200 ft (61 m)
FuelYes — high speed
Mediterranean-style luxury marina. Access via the Causeway Bridge — confirm opening schedule for larger vessels before approaching.
portocupecoy.com →
Port de Plaisance Marina
Dutch lagoon
Large marina within a residential and commercial complex. Full amenities, yacht club atmosphere.
portdeplaisancemarina.com →
Palapa Marina
Dutch lagoon
Slips22 superyacht berths
Max LOA240 ft (73 m)
Boutique, high-service superyacht facility.
Isle de Sol Yacht Club (IGY)
Snoopy Island
Dedicated superyacht marina with yacht club facilities including tennis, pool, and gym.
igymarinas.com →
Skyport Marina
Airport Road
Sint Maarten's newest superyacht marina, closest to Princess Juliana airport. Drive-up design for crew transfers and provisioning. 24-hour security.
skyport.sx →
Blue Pearl Marina
Dutch lagoon
Smaller marina. Contact directly for current availability.
Bobby's Marina — Philipsburg
Great Bay, Philipsburg
BridgeNot required — direct sea access from Great Bay
Lifts75-ton and 100-ton travelifts + crane
FuelYes
The island's oldest marina. Space for ~60 boats on the hard. Primary destination for boats being hauled on the Dutch side. On-site Island Water World chandlery, 24-hour security.
bobbysmarina.com →
Dock Maarten Marina
Great Bay, Philipsburg
Max LOA100 m
BridgeNot required
VHF87
Full-service marina. ISPS compliant. Popular with larger vessels wanting to avoid bridge transits.
dockmaarten.com →