I have kept the same practical, easy-to-scan Destinito structure as the original destination guide: a clear introduction, operational information, contact details and an arrival checklist.

Bringing Your Yacht to St. Barth / Saint-Barthélemy: What Owners and Captains Need to Know

St. Barth / Saint-Barthélemy has an extensive and internationally recognised yachting industry. Every winter, Gustavia welcomes sailing yachts, motor yachts, charter vessels and some of the world’s largest superyachts. The island is particularly busy around Christmas and New Year, the St. Barths Bucket Regatta and other major sailing events.

Unlike neighbouring Sint Maarten, St. Barth is primarily a destination port rather than a large refit and maintenance centre. Its strengths are its natural harbour, yacht agencies, high-end provisioning, concierge services, restaurants, luxury hospitality and access to anchorages such as Colombier and Île Fourchue. Major technical work, extensive haul-outs and complete refits are often coordinated through the larger facilities on Sint Maarten and St. Martin.

St. Barth is a French overseas collectivity with its own port, environmental and entry procedures. All vessels must coordinate their arrival with the Port de Gustavia, even when the yacht intends to remain at anchor rather than berth against the quay.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

The main yachting season runs approximately from November through April, when conditions are generally drier and many yachts are operating winter charter programmes in the northern Caribbean.

The busiest periods are:

  • Christmas and New Year
  • The St. Barths Bucket Regatta
  • Les Voiles de St. Barth
  • Easter and other winter holiday periods
  • Major private events and charter weeks

Berths, moorings, restaurant reservations, provisioning slots, guest transportation and aircraft connections should be booked well in advance during these periods.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. French government information specifically identifies June through November as the period of cyclone risk for Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin. Tropical systems can also form outside the official dates.

Is There a Bridge or Maximum Yacht Width?

St. Barth does not have a bridge restricting access to Gustavia Harbour. There is therefore no equivalent to the 17-metre Simpson Bay Bridge beam restriction on Sint Maarten.

However, the absence of a bridge does not mean that every yacht can berth inside the harbour.

The controlling factors are:

  • Overall yacht length
  • Maximum beam
  • Actual arrival draft
  • Manoeuvring characteristics
  • Available turning room
  • Weather and swell
  • The berth allocated by the harbour master
  • Availability of appropriate quay space
  • Safe tender operations if the yacht remains offshore

The current publicly reported operational limit for yachts berthing inside Gustavia is approximately 60 metres or 196 feet. Larger vessels normally anchor in the outer roadstead and transfer guests and crew ashore by tender. A recent statement attributed to the Port Director confirmed the 60-metre limit, although certain commercial-port positions may physically accept slightly larger vessels under exceptional circumstances. Every yacht approaching this limit must obtain written confirmation directly from the port.

There is no single published universal maximum beam for all Gustavia berths. Beam acceptance depends on the assigned location and neighbouring vessels. Captains should provide the yacht’s precise dimensions before arrival and should not assume acceptance based only on overall length.

Approaching and Entering Gustavia Harbour

All yachts must contact the harbour master before entering, leaving or manoeuvring within the port.

Port de Gustavia communications

The harbour master’s instructions state that visiting vessels may not manoeuvre at the quays or harbour buoys between 5:00 pm and 7:00 am. All entering and departing vessels must use the designated access channel, and authorisation should be received before beginning any harbour manoeuvre.

Captains should approach with anchors ready because many Gustavia quay positions require stern-to berthing using the yacht’s own anchor. The harbour master determines the exact approach, anchoring position, direction and berth.

Strong crosswinds, swell entering the harbour, congestion, ferries, tenders and other anchored yachts can complicate the manoeuvre. Large yachts should discuss tug, chase-boat or tender assistance with their agent and the harbour master before arrival.

Clearance, Customs and Immigration

Entry and departure formalities are mandatory for vessels using the Port de Gustavia.

The port permits the initial declaration to be completed online up to 24 hours before arrival, but the procedure is not considered complete until the document has been printed and signed at the harbour master’s office. The port also states that appointing a yacht agent is not compulsory.

Prepare the following information and documents:

  • Clearance or zarpe from the previous port
  • Original vessel-registration certificate
  • Vessel-insurance certificate
  • Yacht name, flag, call sign and home port
  • Length, beam, draft, tonnage and vessel type
  • Crew and passenger lists
  • Passports for everyone aboard
  • Crew positions and nationalities
  • Intended length of stay
  • Previous and next ports of call
  • Charter documentation, where applicable
  • Details of restricted goods, firearms, animals or items requiring declaration
  • Immigration or visa documentation where required

The captain should retain both digital and printed copies of the completed clearance. When departing for another Caribbean jurisdiction, ask whether a stamped original is required by the next port.

Immigration questions should be directed to the French Gendarmerie at:

bta.st-barthelemy@gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr

Nationality and visa requirements vary. St. Barth does not automatically follow exactly the same entry rules as metropolitan France, the Schengen Area or neighbouring Dutch Sint Maarten. Crew members who require visas should obtain confirmation before boarding the yacht or travelling through a regional gateway.

Where to Dock or Anchor

St. Barth does not offer a network of large marinas comparable with Simpson Bay Lagoon. The principal choices are Gustavia Harbour, the outer Gustavia roadstead and regulated anchorages or moorings around the island.

Port de Gustavia Quay Berths

The inner harbour provides the closest access to Gustavia’s restaurants, shops, yacht agencies and guest services.

Most visiting yachts berth stern-to. Quay space is limited, and yachts should not arrive expecting a berth without advance confirmation.

The port currently provides:

  • Water at the quays through individually metered outlets
  • Wi-Fi access through a code obtained from the harbour office
  • Waste-separation containers
  • Sanitary facilities for port users
  • Postal delivery for visiting yachts
  • Coordination with the island’s marine reserve and local sea-rescue service

The port states that waste separation is mandatory. Dedicated containers are available around Quai Général de Gaulle and Quai de la Collectivité.

Port de Gustavia contact

Capitainerie du Port de Gustavia
BP 695
Gustavia
97099 Saint-Barthélemy Cedex

Telephone: +590 590 27 66 97
General information: portdeplaisance@portdegustavia.fr
Administration: secretariat@portdegustavia.fr

Inner-Harbour Buoys and Moorings

The harbour master controls the moorings and buoys inside or immediately around the harbour area. Captains should not take an apparently vacant buoy without permission.

Before accepting any buoy, confirm:

  • Maximum permitted yacht length and displacement
  • Condition and certification of the mooring
  • Whether the buoy is public or privately assigned
  • Swinging room
  • Clearance from anchored vessels
  • Tender access
  • Weather limitations
  • Applicable port fees
  • Maximum length of stay

A buoy that is suitable for a small sailing yacht may not be engineered for a large motor yacht or superyacht.

Gustavia Outer Roadstead

Larger yachts and vessels without an inner-harbour berth normally anchor outside Gustavia.

The roadstead provides direct tender access to the town but is exposed to changing wind, swell and passing traffic. Captains should use adequate scope, maintain a proper anchor watch and consider how neighbouring vessels are anchored or moored.

A position that appears comfortable in normal trade winds may become unsuitable when swell shifts from the west or southwest. The yacht should maintain sufficient readiness to move if instructed by the harbour master.

Tender drivers must expect:

  • Heavy traffic during peak season
  • Ferries entering and leaving Gustavia
  • Commercial vessels
  • Cruise tenders
  • Small fishing boats
  • Swimmers and water-sports users
  • Congestion around public landing areas

The three-knot harbour speed restriction must be observed when entering the port area.

Colombier Bay

Colombier is one of St. Barth’s best-known yacht anchorages and forms part of the island’s protected marine environment.

Anchoring is not unrestricted. Within the nature reserve, anchoring is generally prohibited except in specifically authorised portions of Colombier and Fourchue. The official marine-park guidance states that vessels using the designated anchoring areas must be no longer than 25 metres and may remain for no more than 96 consecutive hours. The entire vessel and its ground tackle must remain within the authorised area.

Captains must distinguish between:

  • Recreational mooring buoys
  • Diving buoys
  • Private buoys
  • Permitted anchoring areas
  • Strict no-anchor zones

Diving buoys are not general overnight yacht moorings. Separate limits apply to these buoys, including vessel-size, weight and time restrictions.

Île Fourchue

Île Fourchue lies between St. Barth and St. Martin and is also part of the nature reserve.

As at Colombier, yachts must use authorised moorings or remain within specifically designated anchoring areas. Anchoring elsewhere in the reserve can damage coral and seagrass and may result in enforcement action.

Conditions can change rapidly because Fourchue is exposed to open sea. The official regulations and the condition of the available mooring equipment should be checked before relying on the anchorage overnight.

Marine-Reserve and Environmental Rules

The Saint-Barthélemy nature reserve covers approximately 12 square kilometres of marine territory divided among five protected zones. It includes areas around Colombier, Fourchue, Frégate, Toc-Vers, Gros Îlets, Pain de Sucre and parts of the island’s northeastern coast.

Important rules include:

  • Do not anchor on coral or seagrass.
  • Use ecological moorings where instructed.
  • Do not use diving buoys as overnight yacht moorings.
  • Respect vessel-length, tonnage and time limits.
  • Keep the yacht and anchor entirely inside authorised zones.
  • Observe no-anchor and enhanced-protection areas.
  • Do not discharge sewage, oil, fuel, chemicals or waste.
  • Reduce wake near shore, swimmers, divers and wildlife.
  • Do not chase or disturb turtles and marine mammals.
  • Confirm whether fishing, diving, personal watercraft or water-toy use is permitted.

Outside the Port de Gustavia channel, a general five-knot limit applies in several sensitive areas, including mooring zones, reserve bays, within 300 metres of the coast and close to protected islets. Inside Gustavia’s port area, the stricter three-knot port limit applies.

Charts and environmental maps should be downloaded before departure because mobile coverage may not be sufficient to determine whether the yacht is inside a regulated zone.

Yacht Agencies and Shore Support

A yacht can complete the port formalities without an agent, but an experienced local agency is particularly useful during peak season, for larger yachts or when a port call involves provisioning, guest arrangements, freight, fuel and technical support.

BWA Yachting St. Barth

BWA offers yacht clearance, immigration and visa assistance, provisioning, flowers, technical support, itinerary planning, anchorage advice, crew assistance, private aviation, helicopter transfers, ground transport, courier services, storage, entertainment and concierge services.

Telephone: +590 590 776 505
Mobile: +590 690 71 17 04
Email: sbh@bwayachting.com
Location: Gustavia

St. Barth Services

St. Barth Services is located a short walk from the harbour master’s office and supports visiting yachts with:

  • Provisioning
  • Food and beverages
  • Laundry
  • Technical assistance
  • Customs and clearance assistance
  • Parts sourcing and equipment repair
  • Hotels and villas
  • Private transportation
  • Car and boat rental
  • Restaurant reservations
  • Medical assistance
  • Airline tickets and airport handling
  • Private events and guest arrangements

Address: 7 Rue du Roi Oscar II, Gustavia
Telephone: +590 590 27 56 26
Agency hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–12:00 pm and 2:00 pm–6:00 pm; Saturday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Mango Mango Yacht & Villa Services

Mango Mango provides port clearance support, provisioning, marina and anchorage assistance, restaurant reservations, guest transport, private events, entertainment and yacht-to-villa coordination.

Telephone/WhatsApp: +590 690 77 81 13
International WhatsApp: +1 954 830 6251
Email: hello@mangomangosbh.com
Location: Gustavia

Dockside Management

Dockside provides regional yacht support in St. Barth and Sint Maarten, including:

  • Customs and immigration clearance
  • Provisioning and interior purchasing
  • Technical and emergency support
  • Refit coordination
  • Freight, shipping and storage
  • Guest transfers
  • Accommodation
  • Events, catering and entertainment
  • Medical support
  • Crew and day workers
  • Consolidated regional invoicing

Its regional office can coordinate work and supplies between St. Barth and the larger technical centres on Sint Maarten.

Telephone: +1 721 544 4096
VoIP: +1 305 677 0296
Email: office@docksidemanagement.net

Repairs, Maintenance and Marine Supplies

St. Barth can support routine maintenance, urgent repairs, tender work, parts sourcing and selected technical projects. Its capacity is smaller than Sint Maarten’s, so substantial refits, large haul-outs, specialist class work and projects requiring multiple subcontractors should be arranged well in advance.

St. Barth Marine

St. Barth Marine is a chandlery in Gustavia accessible by land and tender. Its products and services include:

  • Marine hardware
  • Ropes, chains, shackles and anchoring equipment
  • Navigation and electrical equipment
  • Safety equipment
  • Cleaning and maintenance products
  • Fishing equipment
  • Tender, Jet Ski and outboard service support
  • Parts and consumables

Address: Rue de la République, Gustavia
Telephone: +590 590 27 86 29
WhatsApp: +590 690 55 76 77
Email: store@stbarthmarine.com
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm

Jicky Marine Service

Jicky Marine Service is located at La Pointe in Gustavia and can assist with local marine services and coordination.

Address: 33 Rue Jeanne d’Arc, La Pointe, Gustavia
Telephone: +590 590 27 70 34
Email: info@jickymarine.com
Published hours: daily, 8:00 am–7:00 pm

Planning Technical Work

Before arrival, send the contractor or yacht agent:

  • Yacht name and location
  • Make, model and serial numbers
  • Photographs and videos
  • Technical drawings
  • Fault codes
  • Required spare parts
  • Classification requirements
  • Target completion date
  • Access and security requirements
  • Whether hot work is required
  • Whether the yacht must be moved
  • Whether the work can be performed at anchor

Confirm labour rates, call-out charges, freight, import arrangements, parts mark-ups, warranty, waste disposal and travel costs before authorising work.

For major haul-out, paint, engineering, rigging or refit work, the yacht may need to reposition to Sint Maarten, St. Martin, Antigua or another regional technical centre.

Yacht Provisioning and Catering

St. Barth is one of the Caribbean’s strongest destinations for luxury food, wine, flowers, private chefs and guest experiences. However, the island is small and experiences intense demand during peak weeks.

Speciality products, large quantities and particular international brands should be ordered in advance. Items unavailable locally may need to be flown or shipped from St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, Europe or the United States.

BWA Yachting Provisioning

BWA coordinates local and international fresh provisioning, flowers, supplies, private chefs, wine services and deliveries to yachts in Gustavia and surrounding anchorages.

Telephone: +590 590 776 505
Email: sbh@bwayachting.com

St. Barth Services Provisioning

St. Barth Services coordinates food, beverages, laundry, equipment sourcing, repairs, guest arrangements and deliveries through its Gustavia office.

Telephone: +590 590 27 56 26
Address: 7 Rue du Roi Oscar II, Gustavia

Mango Mango

Mango Mango provides provisioning together with port clearance, guest services, transportation, restaurant reservations and private-event planning.

Telephone/WhatsApp: +590 690 77 81 13
Email: hello@mangomangosbh.com

When ordering provisions, provide:

  • Number of guests and crew
  • Yacht location and tender-landing point
  • Delivery date and time
  • Dietary requirements and allergies
  • Preferred brands
  • Permitted substitutions
  • Fresh, chilled and frozen requirements
  • Wine and spirits specifications
  • Flower and interior requirements
  • Available refrigerator and freezer capacity
  • Customs or restricted-product considerations
  • Contact details for the chef, purser or chief stewardess

Tender delivery should be coordinated carefully when the yacht is in the roadstead because swell, weather and harbour traffic can affect timing.

Fuel, Water, Waste and Utilities

Fuel

A fuel facility for smaller vessels and tenders is located at the commercial port in Public. Published operational information identifies an approximate draft limit of 2.5 metres at the facility.

The published opening hours are:

  • Monday–Friday: 8:00 am–2:00 pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 am–11:00 am

Truck-to-berth bunkering can also be arranged through the Port de Gustavia office. Vessel size, location, quantity, hose arrangements, delivery limits and operating hours must be reconfirmed before relying on this service.

For bunkering, provide:

  • Required fuel grade
  • Quantity
  • Yacht location
  • Connection size
  • Hose length
  • Maximum pumping rate
  • Sampling requirements
  • Delivery window
  • Tax or duty documentation
  • Spill-response arrangements

Water

Metered water is available at the Gustavia quays. The port publishes separate water tariffs for resident and visiting vessels, but captains should confirm the current rate and volume availability when reserving the berth.

Waste

Selective waste separation is mandatory. Port users must place glass, recyclable materials and general refuse in the appropriate containers.

Confirm arrangements for:

  • General waste
  • Glass
  • Food waste
  • Waste oil
  • Batteries
  • Paint and chemicals
  • Black water
  • Grey water
  • Medical waste
  • Large packaging and pallets

No waste, sewage, oil or chemicals should be discharged in the harbour, anchorages or marine reserve.

Shore Power

Power availability and specifications vary by berth. The captain should not assume that a Gustavia quay position can supply the yacht’s complete hotel load.

Before accepting a berth, confirm:

  • Voltage
  • Frequency
  • Phase
  • Maximum amperage
  • Plug and connection type
  • Transformer requirements
  • Generator-use restrictions
  • Metering and pricing

Hurricane-Season Planning

Gustavia should not be treated as a guaranteed hurricane shelter.

When tropical weather threatens, port users may be instructed to prepare, move or remove their vessels. During an official warning in October 2025, the port reminded owners and custodians unable to remain on Saint-Barthélemy that vessels had to leave Gustavia from the yellow-alert phase and seek shelter elsewhere.

Owners planning to leave a yacht in the region between June and November should:

  • Obtain the port’s current cyclone policy in writing.
  • Confirm whether the yacht may remain in Gustavia.
  • Establish an off-island evacuation destination.
  • Determine the wind, wave and forecast trigger for departure.
  • Check the vessel’s named-storm insurance requirements.
  • Appoint a local representative authorised to move the yacht.
  • Ensure crew are available and legally able to operate the yacht.
  • Maintain engines, generators, batteries and communications.
  • Keep sufficient fuel for evacuation.
  • Carry additional lines, fenders and chafe protection.
  • Remove sails, awnings, cushions and loose deck equipment.
  • Secure or remove tenders and water toys.
  • Monitor Météo-France, the French authorities and the Port de Gustavia.
  • Leave before regional ports, airports and fuel facilities become congested.

A hurricane plan should identify exactly who decides, when the yacht leaves and where it will go. Waiting for a hurricane warning may be too late to find a berth, haul-out position or safe evacuation route.

Crew Changes and Guest Arrivals

St. Barth’s Rémy de Haenen Airport accommodates regional aircraft, private charters and helicopters rather than large long-haul aircraft. Many international guests and crew connect through Princess Juliana International Airport on Sint Maarten, San Juan, Antigua or Guadeloupe.

During peak periods, coordinate:

  • Airline and private-aviation schedules
  • Immigration requirements
  • Luggage limits on small aircraft
  • Helicopter transfers
  • Ferry connections
  • Private boat transfers
  • Airport transportation
  • Delayed luggage
  • Crew accommodation
  • Medical or emergency evacuation options

St. Barth Services maintains both a Gustavia office and an airport counter and can coordinate yacht, guest and airline arrangements.

Final Arrival Checklist

Before sailing to St. Barth, confirm:

  • Online arrival declaration completed
  • Gustavia port clearance submitted
  • Clearance or zarpe from the previous port
  • Registration and insurance documents
  • Crew and passenger lists
  • Passports and visas
  • Berth, buoy or anchoring position confirmed
  • Yacht dimensions accepted by the harbour master
  • VHF Channel 12 programmed
  • Arrival before the nighttime manoeuvring restriction
  • Anchor and stern lines prepared
  • Tender landing arrangements
  • Fuel and water requirements
  • Waste-disposal procedures
  • Provisioning and catering orders
  • Restaurant and guest reservations
  • Technical contractors and spare parts
  • Marine-reserve maps downloaded
  • Colombier or Fourchue restrictions checked
  • Hurricane plan completed when visiting between June and November

Berth availability, anchoring rules, fees, fuel hours and operating procedures can change. Captains should reconfirm all critical information with the Port de Gustavia or an appointed yacht agent shortly before arrival.

Your Destination Starts Here.

Arrive. Anchor. Provision. Explore. Let Destinito help you find the yacht agencies, marine suppliers, provisioning companies and island experiences that make St. Barth one of the Caribbean’s most iconic yachting destinations.