Orient Bay
Baie Orientale · Orient Beach
18°05.2'N 63°01.3'W
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for fair holding in 3–6m sand/weed. Orient Bay is the most exposed anchorage on the island — use 80–100m alarm radius to allow for variable holding in weed. In NE trades above 15kt the anchorage becomes very uncomfortable. Day stop only recommended in typical trade wind conditions. Never overnight here in strong NE or E conditions.
About This Anchorage
Orient Bay (Baie Orientale) is one of the most photographed beaches in the Caribbean — a 2km sweep of white sand on the northeastern coast of French Saint-Martin, backed by a strip of beach bars, watersports operators, and restaurants. The beach is famous for its clothing-optional southern section (Club Orient naturist resort). From a sailing perspective, Orient Bay is the most exposed anchorage on the island, facing directly into the NE trade winds and Atlantic swell — the 3–6m sand/weed bottom gives fair holding at best, and the anchorage should be treated as a day stop rather than an overnight destination. Pinel Island and its Réserve Naturelle mooring field lies just north across a shallow channel (not navigable by keelboats). The rewards for stopping here are the exceptional beach and the easy access to the best snorkelling on the French side (Green Cay and surrounding reef).
Protected From
W · SW · S
Exposed To
NE · E · N
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring; no mooring fees
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- No mooring buoys
Restrictions: No anchoring in coral or seagrass (Réserve Naturelle eastern boundary); stay in sandy anchoring zone south of Green Cay; watersports speed limits within 300m of beach; day stop recommended — not suitable for overnight in trades; channel to Pinel Island is shallow and not navigable by keelboats.
Hazards
- !Most exposed anchorage on the island — faces NE Atlantic swell directly; NOT suitable for overnight in trade wind conditions
- !Mixed sand/weed bottom: fair holding only — anchor drag risk; probe to find sandy patches before setting anchor
- !High watersports activity (jet skis, kite surfers, windsurfers) in the bay — maintain watch and keep clear of watersports zones
- !Réserve Naturelle northern boundary near Green Cay — no anchoring in coral; use sandy areas only
- !Very crowded beach with day-trippers — dinghy landing can be busy; use designated beach landing areas
Skipper's Tips
- →Day stop only — anchor in the morning in calm conditions, enjoy the beach, depart before trade wind swell builds in the afternoon
- →Green Cay (just north of the anchorage) has excellent snorkelling — the reefs are within the Réserve Naturelle and well protected
- →The famous naturist section is at the far south end of the beach (Club Orient resort) — the north section of Orient Beach is mixed
- →Karibo Beach Bar and Kontiki are the most comfortable beach stops with good food and shade
- →When leaving, depart NW toward Tintamarre or Marigot — do not attempt the shallow Pinel Island channel in a keelboat
Facilities
Multiple beach bars and restaurants along Orient Beach. Karibo Beach Bar, Kontiki, Kakao Beach, and others accessible via dinghy or by walking from a beach landing. No fuel or water — return to Marigot or lagoon for fuel.
Nearest provisions: Marigot (7nm) (7nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May (day stop only). In active NE trades the bay is uncomfortable and anchor drag risk is high. June–November hurricane season — do not use as hurricane shelter.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
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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