Mullet Bay
Baie de Mullet · Mullet Beach
18°02.3'N 63°06.9'W
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for good holding in 2–4m clean sand. Mullet Bay is sheltered from the NE trade winds. Use 70m as standard alarm. In any westerly swell the bay becomes exposed — check forecast before committing to overnight.
About This Anchorage
Mullet Bay is a quiet bay on the western Dutch side of Sint Maarten, immediately west of the Princess Juliana Airport runway end. The bay offers good protection from the prevailing northeast trade winds and has a clean sand bottom with reliable holding. The Mullet Bay Resort, a legendary Caribbean resort from the 1970s–80s, was destroyed by Hurricane Luis in 1995 and its site has remained largely undeveloped, giving the bay an unusually peaceful atmosphere compared to the busy marinas of Simpson Bay Lagoon just 1nm to the north. The main hazard is aircraft noise — departing aircraft climbing over the bay on runway 28 takeoffs are extremely loud. No facilities ashore. The beach itself is beautiful and usually uncrowded — one of the best Dutch-side beaches for a quiet afternoon stop.
Protected From
E · NE · N · SE
Exposed To
W · SW · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Weekly mooring fee applies to all Sint Maarten waters
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- No mooring buoys
Restrictions: Dutch customs clearance required (report to Simpson Bay or Philipsburg); no anchoring in airport safety zone (check current NOTAM); weekly mooring fees apply; no development ashore (resort site is private property — do not trespass).
Hazards
- !Aircraft noise: runway 28 departures pass directly over the bay — extremely loud; plan anchor position away from immediate runway axis
- !Exposed to west and southwest — check forecast before overnight; westerly swell uncommon but possible
- !No facilities ashore — self-sufficient only
- !Simpson Bay Bridge just north — bridge fees and scheduling apply if transiting to lagoon
Skipper's Tips
- →One of the quietest beaches on the Dutch side — peaceful alternative to the busy marina scene of Simpson Bay Lagoon
- →Good overnight anchorage in the NE trade wind season if you can tolerate aircraft noise — the departure aircraft pass overhead roughly every 15 minutes during peak hours
- →Excellent swimming beach — clear water and clean sand; limited watersport operators mean less traffic than other beaches
- →Easy access to Simpson Bay Bridge (1nm north) for lagoon transit if needed
Facilities
No facilities at Mullet Bay. Simpson Bay Lagoon (1nm north via bridge) has complete provisioning.
Nearest provisions: Simpson Bay Lagoon marinas (1nm north) (1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. Sheltered from NE trades — comfortable overnight in settled trade wind conditions. June–November hurricane season — no shelter.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
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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