There are no mooring fees on the French side.
On the Dutch side, a weekly or daily fee is applied for all boats, except
fishing boats and boats registered locally.
From 30 to 46’ (9 to 14m): $10
From 47’ to 66’ (14 to 20m): $15
From 67’ to 92’ (20 to 28m): $25
From 93’ to 118’ (28 to 36m): $45
Over 118’ (over 36m): $85
Saint Martin arranges numerous points of moistenings the most important of
which are:
Marigot Bay
Well protected, except in case of north swell, this anchorage is obligatory
for all boats visiting the island and the only place on the French side to
take care of the clearance required upon arrival, as well as when leaving.
The captain must present himself to the border police (PAF), located at the
maritime terminal, and open seven days a week from 9:30-11:30am and from 2:00-4:00pm.
Passports and orginal documents for the boat must be presented.
Boats can anchor in the bay or on the pontoons at Marina Fort Louis (VHF 16
– 05 90 51 11 11). This Marina has a secured dock for dinghies, which
can also be tied up along the waterfront between the maritime terminal and
the market.
Located just a few steps from the center of the city, Marigot Bay is the perfect
place to for shop for provisions or fill up with water and fuel (see directory).
It takes just five minutes in a motorboat to get to Marina Port la Royale,
in the heart of town; or to the boatyards of Sandy Ground, which are located
in close proximity to a large number of nautical and qualified professionals.
Marina Port La Royale & Lagon
Bordered by outdoor
cafes, restaurants, and shops, Maria Port
La Royale, right in the heart of Marigot is pleasant place to visit at any
hour of the day. Access to the Marine and the very well protected anchorage
in Simpson bay, is via the channel at Sandy Ground and it's drawbridge, with
a depth of 2,2meters (6,6ft). The bridge openings are monday-saterday at 8:15am,
2:30pm and 5:30pm, and sunday at 8:15pm and 5:30pm. Boats going out have priority.
Several boatyards offer a large variety of services insidethe lagoon. Régine
Hée, captain of Marina Port La Royale (VHF16 - 0590- 872 043- semregine1@wanadoo.fr),
is responsible for the bridge openings (0590 290 475 at opening times). Passage
is free. Marina Port La Royale offers all boaters a range of services including
mail, fax, and telephone as well as Internet access with Wifi. Marina services
also include: restrooms, showers, and washing machines and dryers, until 7:00pm.
Boats can purchase water, as well as blocks of ice. Maximum draft: two meters
(6.5ft).
Friar’s Bay
Never very crowded, Friar’s Bay is a peaceful spot to stop for a quiet
lunch or enjoy a swim, just a few minutes from Marigot. It is advisable to
anchor on the east side of the bay, which is more protected. The north side
of the coast is a pretty spot for snorkeling. On the beach you can rent kayaks
and chaise lounges, and there are places serving both lunch and dinner. A
long-standing tradition is the big Full Moon Party that takes place every
month at Kali’s Beach Bar, under the light of the full moon, of course!
Happy Bay
The mooring spot is not used very often as it becomes quite uncomfortable
as soon as there are sea swells, and it is often better to anchor south of
the south foreland. However, there is a beautiful beach usually deserted other
than a few nudists enjoying the privacy. An abandoned hotel on the hillside
was a victim of hurricane Luis in 1995 and has never reopened even though
it has been renovated.
Grand Case Bay
Less frequented than Marigot Bay and well protected, except from the rare
north swell, Grand Case Bay is the most picturesque anchorage in Saint-Martin.
It is the perfect place to anchor on the first or last day of a cruise between
Marigot and Anguilla.
Sailors can tie up at the smaller pontoon for easy access to the center of
the village, which has a small supermarket, several grocery stores, a bakery,
and newspapers…
There is no lack of choice when it comes to the bars and restaurants that
line the beach and the boulevard.
At twilight, Grand Case sparkles with the magic of the caribbean’s spectacular
sunsets, often followed by that famous green flash. During the winter season,
every tuesday night, the boulevard that runs along the waterfront is closed
to all traffic, and local bands get everyone into a good mood, with hips swaying
to the rhythm of drums, trumpets, or guitars.
On Sunday morning, just a few steps from the pontoons, the enthusiasm of the
local gospel choir makes a detour to the catholic church worth your while.
Anse Marcel
A bit sleepy right now, during the renewing of the Radisson hotel, Anse Marcel
is like an island inside the island.
The anchorage can be subject to northeastern swells, and is bordered by a
pretty beach.
Since the winds here change quickly, be sure to leave enough room for the
boat to swing about when anchored.
The marina, located in a hurricane hole, has an incredible sense of peacefulness.
One gets to the marina via a narrow channel, with a maximum draft of nine
feet (2.8 meters).
It has 150 berths for boats up to 27 meters. The marina office can be reached
on VHF channel 16, seven days a week, from 8:00am to 12:00pnm, and from 2:00-6:00pm,
or by telephone 05 90 87 31 94. Ashore, you will find a few good restaurants
and a sophisticated sport center.
Pinel Island
A popular tourist destination, Pinel Island is a perfect little paradise,
but often overrun with crowds. Fortunately, tranquility is restored after
4:30pm every afternoon when the last ferry has taken the day-trippers back
to Saint Martin. The island is included in the Marine Park, which means that
jet skis and fishing are prohibited.
Access to Pinel by boat is tricky and it is best to use the passage between
Green Cay and Pinel. The anchorage is located in front of the beach, on a
bed of sea grass that can be slippery.
The village of Cul-de-Sac is easily accessible after tying your dinghy to
a pontoon and walking about 10 minutes. A grocery and drug store, located
on the main road, are well-stocked.
Tintamare
The name of this undeveloped little island comes from the Spanish “tinta-mare:”
The color of the sea. A crystal-clear turquoise that you want to dive into
immediately, in the anchorage located on the southwest of the island, in front
of a beach of soft white sand.
Uninhabited, Tintamare is part of St. Martin’s natural reserve and is
environmentally protected
A very pretty site for snorkeling along the length of the north point is accessible
by just a few flipper strokes. A coral labyrinth shelters dozens of species
of tropical fish in a garden of underwater plants that have regenerated after
years of degradation caused by Hurricane Luis in 1995.
Wearing at least a pair of flip-flops, it is possible for those curious enough
to adventure behind the beach into the scrub. The landscape includes the hulls
and motors of airplanes abandoned by pilots and those engaged in contraband
when an airstrip here was active from 1944-1952.
Peacocks are among the only full-time residents of Tintamare, along with some
hens and roosters, a reminder that a farm once flourished on the islet, belonging
to the family of Louis-Constant Fleming, president of the Collectivity of
Saint Martin.
Green Cay
One of most interesting things about Green Cay is its proximity to Orient
Bay, and the internationally known (clothing optional) Orient Beach. The mooring
zone is within the Marine Park but becomes untenable when there are swells
from the north. However, the snorkeling site just east of Green Cay is superb.
Using a dinghy to reach Orient Beach is often difficult.
On shore, you’ll find everything you need: restaurants, clothing stores,
souvenir shops, and water sports (windsurfing, Hobie Cats, kite surf, parachutes
jet-skis, «banana boats»…).
Oyster Pond
While access to the bay at Oyster Pond is somewhat tricky, there is total
protection once you are inside, and Captain Oliver’s Marina is one of
the safest in Saint Martin. It is also the closest point to the island of
Saint Barthélemy.
Located in the hurricane hole at Oyster Pond since the 1980s, the marina has
space at its docks for 150 boats. Services include fuel, both gasoline and
diesel, as well as showers, restrooms, fresh water, electricity (110V and
220V), a chandlery, and groceries. The marina office can be reached on VHF
channel 16, or channel 67, from 8:00am-5:00pm.
It is possible to anchor, but hard to find enough space to do so among the
numerous moorings installed by the charter companies.
What is unusual about this site is the fact that it actually straddles the
French-Dutch border. Captain Oliver, who in real life is called Olivier Lange,
was behind the development of Oyster Pond, where he also runs a hotel, and
a restaurant, along with providing all the ingredients for a great vacation.
Great Bay – Philipsburg
Except if you want direct access to the duty free shops along Front Street
in Philipsburg, mooring in Great Bay, which can be choppy, is not an obligation.
There are lots of options for refueling and provisioning, and the boat yard
at Bobby’s Marina is equipped with an 88 ton Travelift that is used
for repairs and maintenance.
If you enter or leave the Dutch side of the island by boat, don’t forget
that the Immigration Department and the Clearance office must clear all boats.
In Great Bay, the Immigration office is located just at the entrance to the
port, and is open from 7:00am-6:00pm every day.
The Clearance Office is open from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00-4:30pm Monday to
Friday, and from 9:00am-12:00pm Saturday and Sunday. It is closed on public
holidays.
Philipsburg has a large enough dock to host the world’s largest cruise
ships and the construction of a second dock is in process. Certain days, there
may as many as five or six of these “giants of the sea,” in port,
or anchored in the bay, delivering as many as 15,000 passengers to the islands.
Simpson Bay and Its Lagoon
It is possible to anchor in Simpson Bay, especially if waiting for the opening
of the bridge. The access channel through the bridge is 56.5 feet wide (17.22
meters) and 20 feet deep (6.09 meters). The bridge is raised three times a
day (see details below).
Inside the lagoon, it is possible to drop the anchor or to dock in one of
the marinas (see marinas information).
Mooring in the lagoon is paid on a weekly or partial-weekly basis, and the
cost is from $10 for boats of 29 to 46 feet (9 to 14 meters), to $85 for boats
longer than 118 feet (36 meters). Immigration formalities can be taken care
of at the office on the road, right next to the bridge, Monday through Friday,
from 8:00am-12:00pm, and from 1:00-5:00pm; Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am-5:30pm.
Long Bay
The mooring at Long Bay, in front of the hotel La Samanna, does not get crowded
and is a nice spot to stop for lunch or a swim. But the water can get rough
and it is not recommended to anchor here for the night. The beach at Long
Bay deserves its name as the white sands stretch for over a mile.
As for La Samanna, it is the most luxurious hotel on the island, and its restaurant
lives up to its reputation for fine dining.
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