Grand Case Bay
Baie de Grand Case · Grand-Case
18°06.1'N 63°03.5'W
Depth
1–3m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for good holding in 1–3m fine sand. Grand Case is exposed to NE trade swell — increase alarm to 80m in active trade winds. In strong N or NE conditions above F4, the bay becomes uncomfortable and potentially unsafe for overnight — proceed to Marigot or the lagoon.
About This Anchorage
Grand Case is internationally known as the 'gastronomic capital of the Caribbean' — a small fishing village on the north coast of French Saint-Martin where a single beach road (Blvd de Grand Case) is lined with lolos (casual waterfront grills), fine restaurants serving lobster thermidor, Creole cuisine, and French-Caribbean fusion, and beach bars accessible directly by dinghy. The anchorage in the bay offers 1–3m of clean fine sand with good holding, and the atmosphere ashore is quite unlike any other Caribbean anchorage — genuinely French in its food culture, relaxed, and beautiful. The bay faces north-northeast and is exposed to the NE trade swell, making it less comfortable than the lagoon in strong trade wind conditions, but the sunset views and culinary rewards make it one of the most popular overnight stops on the island when conditions allow.
Protected From
S · SW · SE · W
Exposed To
N · NE · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free; no mooring fees currently
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- No mooring buoys
Restrictions: Stay clear of western headland shallows (<1.5m within 400m of western point) and fishing lines; French side — same clearance rules as Marigot apply; Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin borders the bay on the east — no anchoring in coral or seagrass zones (use sandy areas only); no jet skis or motorized watersports within 300m of beach.
Hazards
- !Exposed to NE trade swell — in active NE trades (typical Dec–Apr), the bay can have uncomfortable beam swell overnight
- !Western headland shoal: depths <1.5m within 400m of the western point; fishing lines laid in shallows — stay clear
- !Réserve Naturelle eastern boundary: no anchoring in coral or seagrass; stay in the sandy anchorage area in the centre/west of the bay
- !No fuel or water ashore — provision fully before arriving; nearest fuel at Marigot (4nm)
- !Very popular at weekends (French side visitors from the island) — bay can be crowded with day boats and watersports
Skipper's Tips
- →Arrive early afternoon to get a good sandy anchoring spot clear of the beach and the western shoal
- →Book a restaurant ashore for dinner — Grand Case restaurants fill up in high season; reservations recommended for fine dining
- →The lolos at the north end of the beach road serve the best value grilled lobster in the Caribbean — eat here for lunch, reserve a restaurant for dinner
- →Check the forecast carefully before committing to overnight: if the NE swell is above 1.5m, sleep will be poor — depart to Marigot or lagoon after dinner
- →Dinghy landing directly on the beach — pull up on the sand or use the small dock at the centre of the bay
Facilities
Exceptional — Grand Case Blvd has 20+ restaurants from casual lolos (grilled lobster, ribs, fish) to fine French-Caribbean dining. Some of the finest food in the Caribbean is available by dinghy from this anchorage. No fuel or water ashore — return to Marigot or lagoon for fuel.
Nearest provisions: Marigot (4nm) (4nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. Best in settled NE trades when the swell is below 1m. Avoid in strong northerly swell events (January–February). Not recommended June–November (hurricane season) as bay is exposed.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
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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