Landfall on Sint Maarten usually feels like stepping back into the working part of the yachting world. There’s plenty going on: traffic in and out, a bridge that keeps its own schedule, and just enough dockside hustle to remind you to keep your paperwork dry and your patience handy.
Most crews tuck in first, catch their breath, and then go ashore to clear. If you arrive late, on a weekend, or with a plan that depends on “just popping over” to the French side, it pays to slow down and do it in the right order. The island’s easy enough—right up until you try to rush it.
Get settled, have your documents and crew list ready, and treat the first few hours like seamanship, not errands. The rest tends to go smoothly.