St. Martin - 2 Itineraries - from 18 August 2007
St. Martin - 72 miles from Virgin Gorda and 4 miles from Anguilla
Watch out for Proselyte (Man-of-War) Reef when approaching from the south
From west, stay 1 mile off Pointe Basse Terre (always extending westward)
Announce arrival to customs, police, harbormaster on VHF Ch. 12
Ray, Brian, and Marilyn's Itinerary 1
D - docking; M - mooring; A - anchoring
- Oct 27 - Sleep on boat in Oyster Pond, St. Martin (French)
- Oct 28 - Orientation - Sail to St. Barts Gustavia - D or Anse de Colombier M, A
(Customs necessary? Provisions for Anse de Colombier?)
- Oct 29 - Overnight in St. Barts
- Oct 30 - Grand Case A (Customs again?)
- Oct 31 - Marigot D
- Nov 1 - Anguilla - Road Bay A - customs, Roy's Bayside Grill in Sandy Ground - funkiest beach in Caribbean
- Nov 2 - Anguilla - Crocus Bay A (anchor); snorkel in Flat Cap Point(use lots of line to anchor) - Prickly Pear Cays and Seal Island Reefs (snorkeling, crystal clear water)
- Nov 3 - Grand Case A - Captain's dinner (customs again?)
- Nov 4 - return to Oyster Pond - clean up
- Nov 5 - depart Oyster Pond, St. Martin
Ray, Brian, and Marilyn's Itinerary 2
- Oct 27 - Sleep on boat in Oyster Pond, St. Martin (French)
- Oct 28 - Orientation, then sail to Grand Case A (Customs?)
- Oct 29 - Marigot D
- Oct 30 - Anguilla - Road Bay customs, Roy's Bayside Grill in Sandy Ground
- Oct 31 - Anguilla - Crocus Bay (anchor); snorkel in Flat Cap Point(use lots of line to anchor) - Prickly Pear Cays and Seal Island Reefs (snorkeling, crystal clear water)
- Nov 1 - Orient Bay A or Ile Pinel A (Customs necessary? Provisions for Orient Bay?)
- Nov 2 - Gustavia, St. Barts D (Customs necessary?)
- Nov 3 - Anse de Colombier M, A or Gustavia D
- Nov 4 - return to Oyster Pond (more Customs?) - clean up - Captain's dinner
- Nov 5 - depart Oyster Pond, St. Martin
Taken from A24 Chart - Anguilla, St. Martin & St. Barthelemy
- Heading north or south, currents can be on the beam, setting you off your rhumbline
- Take frequent headings
Oyster Pond Harbor, St. Martin - N18 03.00' W063 00.40'
- Completely Protected
- Can be tricky entering
- Some like a short line on the dinghy, some like a long one
- Sunsail VHF 74
Orient Bay, St. Martin - N18 06.20' W062 59.90'
- Reasonably protected anchorages in northern & southern ends
- Unprotected entrance - unwise to enter in rough conditions
- Do not enter when sun is in your eyes
- Good navigation notes on chart
- Large open bay subject to rolling onshore seas
Ile Pinel Anchorage, St. Martin - N18 06.20' W063 01'
- Good for overnight stop
- Good navigation notes on chart
- Perfect Robinson Crusoe Island
- Sometimes gets rolly
- Sandy beaches, waving palms, highest hill 100 feet.
- Anchor between Petite Clef and Ile Pinel; avoid Petite Clef
Grand Case, St. Martin - N18 06.80' W063 03.80'
- Anchorage generally good for overnighting
- Occasionally rolly
- Gastronomic center of St. Martin
- Rocher Creole - snorkeling
- Shallow entrance; need good light
- Stay clear of Pointe Molly Smith
- Windy anchorage due N of town pier
Marigot, St. Martin - N18 04.90' W063 06.10'
- Leave plenty of swinging room
- Marina Fort Louis - normally calm - 150 berths, showers, toilets - can pay to use facilities
- Immigration
- Stay clear of Ferry Channel
- Marina Port La Royale - very protected - max draft 6.5 feet
- Entrance to Simpson Bay Lagoon
Crocus Bay, Anguilla - N18 13.30' W063 04.50'
- Excellent overnight anchorage (sandy) in most protected part of 2 Mile long Bay
- Anchor south of Pelican Point
- Anchor fair way out - swell could take you toward shore
- Use plenty of scope
- Moorings in Little Bay, or put an anchor in sand on the beach and another anchor to the west
Prickly Pear Cays, Anguilla - N18 15.70' W063 10.70'
- Paradise, but not good in winds > 20kts or if northerly swell
- no overnighting
Seal Island Reef, Anguilla
- Anchoring forbidden
- Mooring
Road Bay, Anguilla - N18 12.00' W063 05.90'
- Main port of entry
- Pleasant anchorage
- Shoals on southern shore - keep clear
- Northern tip - shoal
- Anchor anywhere (except in shipping channel!)
- Normally excellent overnight anchorage, even in moderate northerly swells
- Late night music at Johnno's - Wed to Sat
- Under 20 tons, no charge (we're approx 9 tons)
- Customs & immigration - 8:30 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 16:00
- Departure tax $3 per person
Ile de la Fourche, St. Barts - N17 57.30' W062 54.70'
- Between St. Martin and St. Barts
- Tie up to moorings - no charge
- Bay protected from north and east
- Inhabited only by goats
Gustavia, St. Barts - N17 54.30' W062 52.00'
- Protected harbor under normal conditions; winter swells
- Moorings in harbor
- No hurricane hole
- Anchor well clear of other boats; keep fenders out
Anse de Colombier, St. Barts - N17 55.50' W062 52.80'
- Perfect beach
- Yacht moorings
- Well protected spot
- Good overnight spot
- Wind swings around
- Sand and grass anchoring; make sure anchor set
Phillipsburg, St. Martin - N18 00.40' W063 03.30'
- No hurricane hole, keep out in seriously disturbed weather
- Good anchorage in normal conditions
- Cruise ship wakes
Simpson Bay, St. Martin - N18 01.30' W063 06.90'
- Good overnight anchorage, sand
- Swing bridge (opens at 8, 11, and 1730)
- Jet skis