SXM sits at 18°N in the northeastern Caribbean, firmly within the trade wind belt. This guide covers the best time to be here for boat work, what to expect from the weather day to day, and the honest picture on hurricane season.
The sailing season
The season is starting, trades are picking up, most services are fully operational, and you can secure boatyard time before the Christmas rush. November and early December are arguably the best months to arrive.
The anchorages are full, marine services are at maximum demand, and boatyards are busy. If you need a haul-out during these months, book it before you arrive — do not expect to find availability on spec.
Services fully available, temperatures rising, prices may be slightly lower. Good window if you want a quieter experience. By late May you need to be planning where to go for hurricane season.
Official hurricane season. Peak risk August through October. Not a time to be in SXM without a serious plan. See the hurricane section below.
Daily conditions in season
The northeast trade winds are generally 12–20 knots during the day, easing overnight. The Simpson Bay anchorage can be choppy in the afternoons when the trades pick up — this is normal and passes by sunset. The lagoon is well protected from the sea state, though you will feel the wind.
Brief squalls are possible at any time of year but are most common in the summer months. In season, mornings are typically calm before the trades fill in by late morning.
Weather resources
Do not rely on a single forecast source. Use at least two.
GRIB-based wind and sea state forecast. Good for planning multi-day passages. Shows wind strength, direction, and wave height over time.
passageweather.com →Highly visual, accessible, and good for getting a quick picture of current and forecast conditions. Multiple model layers. Free app available.
windy.com →The definitive source during hurricane season. Monitor from the moment a system enters the Atlantic. Email and RSS alerts available.
nhc.noaa.gov →Issues local watches, warnings, and advisories for Sint Maarten. The official Dutch-side source for severe weather alerts.
met.gov.sx →Comprehensive marine weather forecast broadcast at 09:00 daily on 91.9 FM. Island-wide reception. Particularly useful when offshore connectivity is limited.
French maritime rescue coordination centre broadcasts a marine weather bulletin for Saint-Martin and Saint-Barths. Announced on VHF 16, broadcast on VHF 64 at 09:00, 12:30, 20:00, and 22:00.
Daily at 08:00 on VHF 10. Includes a marine weather report and local cruiser reports on current conditions. Invaluable for real-time local knowledge that no forecast model provides.
The official French meteorological service for the French Antilles including Saint-Martin. Online forecasts and the source data behind the CROSS marine bulletins.
meteofrance.gp →Hurricane season
Hurricane season runs officially from June 1 to November 30. The peak risk period is August through October.
The official position of both the Port of Saint-Martin and the Sint Maarten authorities is clear: the lagoon, Marigot Bay, and Great Bay are not designated hurricane shelters. Many experienced sailors choose to take their boats south to Grenada or Trinidad for the season.
If you plan to leave the boat in SXM during hurricane season, see: