Marinas

Since hurricane Irma, marinas and anchorage situation on the island has changed a lot. Below is an update of what to expect.

If you proceed with the purchase of a vessel, this section will give you information as of where you may want to keep your vessel, should it be for short or long term.

From North to South, clockwise:

Pinel Island anchorage (french side)

A few yacht owners have their vessel on mooring in this little piece of paradise. While beautiful, the problem with surveying a boat down there is the lack of facilities, namely shore power and dock water. So some checks won’t be possible.

Captain Oliver’s Marina, Oyster Pond (on the border between french and dutch side)

Captain Oliver’s used to be home of both Sunsail and The Moorings, but was totally destroyed by hurricane Irma. As of August 2018, not much progress has been made for its reconstruction.

Bobby’s Marina and Yard, Philipsburg (Dutch Side)

This is where Bobby Velasquez started his business 35 years ago. The boat yard is on the premises. It’s a very busy area as close to the cruise ship dock, where more than a million passengers disembark yearly to visit the island. One stone throw from Front Street and its duty free jewelries and electronic stores.

Simpson Bay area (Dutch Side)

The beating heart of the yachting on the island. You’ll find there numerous marinas, namely:

Isle Del Sol: specialized in mega yachts, base price US$10 million. Please contact us for your surveying needs on such vessels.
Simpson Bay Marina: a pretty high end marina. Rates are higher than some other marinas on the island, so it means you’ll be dealing with a seller who was certainly keen on maintaining his yacht to certain standards.

Cole Bay area (Dutch Side)

Great location in terms of proximity of all marine related businesses:

Island Water World Marina: with a shipchandlery on the premises, a yard, and reasonable rates, it’s a great place to leave your vessel.
Lagoon Marina: very conveniently located also, close to all suppliers, with reasonable rates.
Port de Plaisance: high end marina, within a resort which includes a casino, it’s home for both mega-yachts and sailboats. Rates are definitely not low.
Blue Pearl Marina : the newly built docks are ideal for catamaran. It’s at the bottom end of the lagoon, in a shallow area, so keel boats cannot be accommodated there.

French Side of Simpson Bay Lagoon

A lot of owners like to leave their vessel on anchor in the lagoon. Place is reasonably safe, and no extra fee is needed at the difference of the Dutch Side of the lagoon, where a weekly must be paid.

Marigot area (French Side)

Marina Port la Royale: was totally destroyed following hurricane Irma and was not reconstructed as of April 2022.
Marina Fort Louis: outside the lagoon, on the Caribbean side, it’s a beautiful spot – you don’t have to go through a lifting bridge to go out at sea – but sadly not open for business yet, as hurricane Irma damages are not yet all repaired (6 years later, welcome to Caribbean).

Port Lonvilliers, Anse Marcel (French Side)

Dream Yacht Charters purchased the marina & settled a fleet there. It is a genuinely nice and secluded area, very nicely renovated since the total destruction of hurricane Irma in 2017.