Should you sail in Simpson Bay?

CAUTIONSail only if you are experienced and prepared. Sailing score 65/100 · Saint Martin. Strong wind — experienced crew only. Marine data unavailable. Better window around Today 12:00 PM.

About sailing in Simpson Bay

Simpson Bay Lagoon straddles Dutch and French Saint Martin — a hub for Caribbean charter fleets and island-hopping.

Best time to sail

December through April for steady trades; avoid peak hurricane months August through October.

Sailing notes

Shallow lagoon entrances and bridge openings require timing; busy traffic near Princess Juliana airport approach.

Wind and local conditions

Northeast trades 15–25 knots in winter; summer trades lighten with occasional tropical wave activity.

What SailCall covers

Wind, seas, rain, visibility, and pressure for today's coastal day sail, using WeatherAPI.com forecast and marine data. Wave outlook is included; tide times are not yet — check a local tide table before harbor entry. Not a chart plotter or passage planner.

Should I go sailing today?

Simpson Bay

CAUTION

Sail only if you are experienced and prepared

65

Sailing score

Next 24 hours

Hourly sailing comfort at the harbor — today and tomorrow are local to the marina.

No strong sailing windows in the next 24 hours.

Boat type

Showing Keelboat wind thresholds

Tomorrow
Now1pm7pmTmr 1amTmr 7am
GoodFairPoor

Hover or tap an hour for details · Next 24 hours

Better window around Today 12:00 PM

At harbor: Sat, Jul 4, 12:00 PM (Atlantic Standard Time)

The call

You could sail near Simpson Bay today, but strong wind — experienced crew only.

Location

Simpson Bay, Saint Martin

18.0425°, -63.0960°Open in OpenStreetMap

Today's seas

No marine wave data for this point. Try searching closer to open water or a coastal waypoint. Offshore forecasts need a sea position, not an inland pin.

Conditions at a glance

What stood out in the forecast

Wind

Fair

20 kt · BF 5

Sustained to 20 kt · gusts to 25 kt · BF 6

Beaufort 6 — manageable for experienced crews but not relaxing. Reef before open water, plan a route with lee shore options, and expect harder docking and mooring picks.

Rain

Good

4%

0.0 mm total · 4% peak chance · 0 wet hour(s)

Little rain expected — one less factor stealing visibility and grip on deck. Still pack a light jacket; conditions change faster on the water than ashore.

Air temperature

Fair

29°C

Air 28–29°C · feels like 28–31°C

Feels-like 28–31°C once wind and humidity count. Layer so you can cool off in sun and warm up when wet; shivering crews make poor decisions.

Visibility

Good

11 nm

Lowest 11 nm · best 21 nm today

Generally clear sightlines (about 20.5–21 nm). Good for spotting traffic and shoreline references — still verify charted marks; glare and spray can fool you even on “clear” days.

Barometric pressure

Good

1018 hPa

1018 hPa → steady

Pressure is steady — no strong synoptic system pushing through on this snapshot. Local wind, sea breeze, and geography still dominate near shore.

UV / sun

Poor

UV 9

Very high index — limit bare-skin time on deck. · peak near 13:00

UV 9.0 is very high — water reflection adds exposure you do not feel on land. Broad-spectrum SPF, hat, lip protection, and hydration reduce fatigue; consider shade breaks if you are out all day.

Why we said CAUTION

What pushed the score — how we score

  • Strong wind — experienced crew only

    High

    Winds up to 20 kt, gusts to 25 kt. Reef early and avoid exposed passages.

  • Marine data unavailable

    High

    Wave forecast could not be loaded for this point. Try a location closer to open water.

How we decided

We score sailing conditions with fixed thresholds, so you can see why we picked go, caution, or no-go. Official charts, tide books, and your own judgment still run the show.

  • GO — sailing score ≥70 with no critical blockers
  • CAUTION — score 4569, or manageable risks
  • NO-GO — score <45 or dangerous wind/seas/storms

Engine v1.1.19 · open_meteo marine + forecast · Evaluated Sat, Jul 4, 7:59 AM (Atlantic Standard Time) · limited marine data

What should I do?

What to do next

  • Better window around Today 12:00 PM

    Conditions should improve around Today 12:00 PM (Atlantic Standard Time) — consider delaying departure until then.

    At harbor: Sat, Jul 4, 12:00 PM (Atlantic Standard Time)

  • Reef early and wear PFDs

    Reduce sail area before leaving the harbor and keep crew in life jackets.

  • Consider a sheltered route

    Stay inside the bay or in the lee of the land if you go out.

Day outlook

2-day · °C, kt, m, nm, mm

Today

Poor

29°C / 28°C

No rain · 20 kt · BF 5

Not ideal: strong wind or gusts (remaining hours).

Tomorrow

Poor

28°C / 27°C

No rain · 20 kt · BF 5

Not ideal: strong wind or gusts.

Forecast data from third-party providers.