Marigot Bay (French Capital)
Baie de Marigot · Marigot
18°04.1'N 63°05.7'W
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for good holding in 2–4m sand. Increase to 90–100m in northerly swell conditions (December–February when northerly swells wrap around the island). Monitor forecast carefully — Marigot is comfortable in trade winds but uncomfortable in northerly conditions.
About This Anchorage
Marigot is the capital of French Saint-Martin — a collectivité territoriale of France and an integral part of the European Union. The bay sits on the northwest coast of the French side, directly south of the Simpson Bay Lagoon bridge, and offers a charming market town atmosphere with excellent French bakeries, waterfront restaurants, a Wednesday and Saturday morning market (fresh fish, spices, local produce, French goods), and the superb Fort Saint-Louis on the rocky promontory above. Customs and immigration clearance for the French side is handled at the Ferry Terminal on the waterfront — EU nationals arriving from EU ports face no formalities, but all others must clear here. Marina Fort Louis adjacent to the anchorage offers berths with full facilities. The anchorage is sheltered from the south by the island but exposed to northerly swell in winter — check forecasts before committing to overnight in strong northerly conditions.
Protected From
S · SE · SW · E
Exposed To
N · NW · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Mooring fee €0.25/m/day (days 1–3), rising to €0.35/m/day (beyond 3 days); currently applicable in Marigot Bay only
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- Available — use in preference to anchoring
Restrictions: French clearance mandatory: captain must report to Immigration at Ferry Terminal Waterfront (online pre-registration recommended); EU vessels from EU ports — no customs formality; non-EU vessels must declare; maximum stay French side 18 months; no anchoring in ferry lanes; respect Ferry Terminal approach fairway.
Hazards
- !Exposed to northerly swell Dec–Feb — uncomfortable overnight in strong N conditions; swell wraps around NW headland
- !Ferry Terminal approach fairway — do not anchor in ferry lanes; high-speed ferries to Anguilla and St. Barths operate daily
- !French customs clearance required for non-EU/non-Schengen vessels — Immigration office at Ferry Terminal; plan arrival during office hours
- !Mooring fees apply — do not assume free anchorage; pay at Marina Fort Louis office
Skipper's Tips
- →Arrive early in the morning to catch the Wednesday or Saturday market — fresh fish, local spices, and French goods at excellent prices
- →Fort Saint-Louis (1789) on the promontory above town is a 10-minute walk and gives superb views over the anchorage and lagoon
- →Marina Fort Louis fuel dock offers duty-free fuel — fill up if departing to Anguilla or St. Barths
- →Pre-register online via the French Maritime Prefecture Antilles-Guyane system (officiel: www.dmar.gp) before arrival to speed clearance
- →The Simpson Bay Bridge is 1nm south — if transiting to the lagoon, time your Marigot stop around bridge opening (VHF 12, 0930/1730)
Facilities
Excellent waterfront restaurants (French cuisine), boulangeries, cafés. Marina Fort Louis has fuel dock and full marina services. Market Wednesdays and Saturdays for fresh provisions.
Nearest provisions: Marigot town (50m dinghy ashore) (0.1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May (high season). Best Dec–Apr when trade winds are steady from NE and northerly swell events are brief. Low season June–November is quieter but hurricane risk is present.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
Simpson Bay Lagoon is the busiest cruising anchorage in the northern Caribbean — anchor drag in a crowded lagoon overnight can be catastrophic. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously and alerts you before drift becomes dangerous.
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