TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Heineken Regatta help

Have chartered sailboats from SXM a few times but never for a busy regatta. All the racing begins and ends in Simpson Bay this year but the boat hails from Oyster Pond. Have to decide whether to fight hundreds of other boats, the times of the bridge openings and anchor inside, wait for ferry to pick up, or just go back to Oyster Pond each night?? How far a drive is it from OP to SB? We have a van.

If traffic is not too bad..... 30 minutes

SXM??? Wendell

Another option besides going back to Oyster Pond every night, or anchoring inside Simpson Bay Lagoon (and dealing with Bridge opening times) ...

is to NOT go into the Lagoon, but rather to anchor in Simpson Bay! Lots of boats do just that, it is good holding ground, and the Heineken Regatta Committee runs a Water Taxi service for boats registered in the Regatta.
The Water Taxi Service runs between boats anchored in Simpson Bay (not the Lagoon) to the Yacht Club's Dock (no where else).
The Water Taxi service is free to Crew of boats registered in the Regatta, it is not available to the public.

Thanks Rasp! That has been mentioned to me. We are not staying on the boat so I not too concerned with how rolly it might get there. Is it crazy parking situation outside the bay though? I would love not to be a slave to the bridge (or the water taxis for that matter but prefer that). Also, since I am picking your brain, if the finish is outside SB, my recollection is it would take about an hour to power to OP. Does that sounds about right?

As for parking during Regatta, if you are getting to the Yacht Club early in the morning, finding a spot is not that difficult. After 10 or 11 a.m. and later is a different story.

As for motoring a sailboat to Oyster Pond...
to be honest, I haven't spent much time in Oyster Pond.
Last time I moved a sailboat from Simpson Bay to Oyster Pond
was two or 3 years ago. I think it may be a bit over an hour, but don't really remember, for when I did it I was under no time restraints and was not in any hurry (even did a little side tour into Great Bay for passengers).


You're not staying on the boat! Wimps! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />