Anchorage· Sint Maarten (Dutch side)· Leeward Islands
Simpson Bay Anchorage (outside the bridge)
18° 1.8′ N · 63° 5.9′ W · approximate
The big open roadstead off Simpson Bay beach, right outside the lagoon bridge - the default first stop for boats arriving from the south or west, a short dinghy ride from Customs, Immigration and the whole Simpson Bay strip.
Practical
Coordinate is approximate: a point in open water inside Simpson Bay just southwest of the bridge channel, checked against the OpenStreetMap coastline - pick your spot visually. Sand bottom with good holding in roughly 10-20 ft (Money for Mangos, 2026). Protection is limited and it can roll when swell wraps in; keep clear of the bridge channel and the fairway (anchoring in fairways and entrance channels is prohibited). The mooring balls here are for local boats only. Dutch-side fees apply: customs clearance by net tonnage (US$2 for 1-99 t) plus a weekly harbour fee by length (US$20 for 8-13 m, US$40 for 13-18 m; 2026). Dinghy to the police/Customs dock at the bridge (pick-up and drop-off only) or the St Maarten Yacht Club. Security: noonsite reports dinghy/boat boardings and theft - lock the dinghy and outboard. Expect flies and sand gnats in calm weather.
Best for
Clearing in on the Dutch side and staging for the Simpson Bay Bridge openings
Season
Best in settled easterly trades; rolly in southerly swell; leave for the lagoon or another island in hurricane season
Nearby
- Pelican Rock (Simpson Bay)0.1 NM away
- La Patrona (Simpson Bay Resort Marina)0.2 NM away
- Kim Sha Beach0.4 NM away
- Skip Jack's Seafood Grill, Bar & Fish Market0.4 NM away
- Laundry for Cruisers (Simpson Bay & Cole Bay)0.5 NM away
- Market Garden (Simpson Bay)0.5 NM away
- Rancho (Palapa Marina)0.5 NM away
- Simpson Bay Lagoon Fees & Bridge Fees0.5 NM away