Philipsburg Great Bay
Great Bay · Philipsburg roadstead
18°01.0'N 63°02.9'W
Depth
3–5m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m for good holding in 3–5m sand. Great Bay is exposed to the south — increase alarm to 90m in any southerly swell. In southerly conditions above F3 the bay is uncomfortable and potentially unsafe overnight. This is primarily a day-stop anchorage for town access; most cruisers overnight in Simpson Bay Lagoon and day-trip here.
About This Anchorage
Great Bay is the open roadstead anchorage in front of Philipsburg, the bustling capital of Sint Maarten (Dutch side). The bay sits immediately south of the island's mountainous interior, facing the Caribbean Sea to the south. Philipsburg is the commercial heart of the Dutch side — duty-free shopping (electronics, spirits, jewellery, cosmetics at 20–30% below US mainland prices since 1939), vibrant Front Street and Back Street with restaurants and nightlife, and the main Dutch customs and immigration office for vessels arriving by sea. The Princess Juliana Airport approach path crosses just west of the bay — aircraft landing on runway 10 pass at extremely low altitude over Maho Beach (immediately west of Great Bay), creating one of the most dramatic aviation spectacles in the world. Great Bay is best used as a day-stop for town access; most sailors overnight in Simpson Bay Lagoon and daysail or take the water taxi to Philipsburg.
Protected From
N · NE · E · NW
Exposed To
S · SW · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Weekly mooring fee applies to all vessels in Sint Maarten waters
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- No mooring buoys
Restrictions: No anchoring within 200m of cruise ships while ships are in port; VHF 16 for Philipsburg Port Authority; Dutch customs clearance mandatory at port entrance; firearms and cash >USD $11,000 must be declared; cruise ships in port Oct–Apr — check schedule; day stop recommended — open southern exposure makes overnight uncomfortable in any southerly swell.
Hazards
- !Open southern exposure — exposed to southerly swell; day-stop anchorage only in most conditions; uncomfortable overnight
- !Cruise ship exclusion zone: 200m from cruise ships while in port; cruise ship wash is significant — keep clear
- !Princess Juliana Airport aircraft approach to west — extremely loud; aircraft 20m AGL over Maho Beach
- !Dutch customs clearance mandatory — office at commercial port entrance; arrive during office hours
- !Weekly mooring fees apply — pay at port authority or Sint Maarten Harbour Authority
- !High commercial and tourist boat traffic in Great Bay — maintain anchor watch
Skipper's Tips
- →Anchor in the southeast corner of Great Bay away from the cruise ship berths — better holding and more comfortable
- →Check the cruise ship schedule at www.sintmaartenharbor.com before arriving — two large ships in port make the anchorage very crowded
- →Dinghy ashore to the Pelican Beach landing dock and walk to Front Street — duty-free shopping is excellent for electronics, spirits, and jewellery
- →Watch the aircraft approach from Maho Beach (15-minute walk west) — one of the most dramatic aviation spectacles in the world
- →For overnight, return to Simpson Bay Lagoon via the west around the point (2nm) — much more comfortable than staying in open Great Bay
Facilities
Extensive restaurants, cafés, bars, and duty-free shops in Philipsburg. Dinghy ashore to beach landing. Water taxi available to Bobby's Marina and other marinas. Fuel available at Bobby's Marina (Simpson Bay Lagoon, accessible by dinghy around the point or water taxi).
Nearest provisions: Philipsburg Front Street (100m dinghy to beach) (0.1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May (day stop only). Cruise ship season Oct–Apr brings high traffic. Hurricane season June–November — no shelter in open Great Bay.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
Philipsburg Great Bay is exposed to southerly swell — anchor drag overnight can put you ashore before you wake. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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