St. Maarten: Trimaran Day Sail & Snorkeling with Lunch

What happens when a 40-year sailing captain takes 14 people out on a trimaran

You board a trimaran at a dock in St. Maarten, ride out by dinghy, then spend five hours sailing the southwest coast with stops for snorkeling and lunch, or choose the two-hour sunset version for cocktails and calmer water. Everything (entry, food, drinks, snorkel gear) is included. Groups cap at 14, and the boat moves fast enough that you feel the sailing, not just the scenery.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sailing along St. Maarten coast

• Board No1Sxm Trimaran
• Sail past airport landing area
• Pass by Maho and Mullet Bay
• Sail along southwest St. Maarten and Saint Martin
• Pass various bays and viewpoints
• Stop in calm bay on French side

The experience

The dinghy ride out to the boat is your first clue that this isn't a floating resort. You're in a small tender, bouncing across the water toward a sleek trimaran anchored in the bay, and suddenly the noise and the spray make it real. This is actual sailing, not a cruise ship with sails painted on. Once you're aboard No1SXM, the boat does what it's built for: it moves. The trimaran is stable enough that you're not gripping railings, but fast enough that you feel the difference between this and a pontoon. Captain Pieter, who's been sailing for 40 years, runs a tight ship without the stiffness. He knows when to talk and when to let the wind and the water do it.

The five-hour day sail takes you along the southwest coast of St. Maarten and up the Anguilla Channel, passing Maho and Mullet Bay (where you'll see planes landing if the timing works out), then across to the French side. You stop in a calm bay, usually Baie Rouge, where the water is clear enough that snorkeling gear gets handed out and people actually use it. There's a sandwich lunch on board, rum punch, beer, white wine, tropical fruit, and enough snacks that you're not thinking about food. The group stays under 14 people, which means you're not waiting in a line for anything or shouting to be heard.

The two-hour sunset sail is a different animal altogether. Same boat, same captain, but the light changes everything. You get a cocktail, snacks, and the simple fact of sailing into the sunset along the coast. It's not a party boat. It's quieter, more deliberate. If you've never sailed before, this is the version that makes you understand why people do it. If you have, you already know what you're getting.

What’s included

Your day includes the five-hour sailing experience on the trimaran, a snorkeling stop in a calm bay with equipment provided, a sandwich lunch on board, tropical fruit and sweet snacks, bottled water and soda, rum punch, beer and white wine, and the dinghy transfer from the dock to the boat. For the sunset sail, you get the two-hour experience with cocktails and snacks instead of lunch.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, German and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by No1Sxm Sailing

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to actually sail, not float on a big boat, and prefer a small group where you're not a number. The dinghy ride to the boat is part of the experience, not a hassle. It's what keeps the boat nimble and the day genuine.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, German and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the St. Maarten trimaran day sail?

The full day sail is 5 hours. The sunset sail is 2 hours.

What's included in the price?

Lunch sandwich, snacks, tropical fruit, soda, bottled water, rum punch, beer, white wine, snorkeling equipment, and the sailing itself.

How many people go on the boat?

Maximum 14 passengers per trip, which keeps it intimate and personal.

Do I need snorkeling experience?

No. Equipment is provided and the stop is in a calm bay. Snorkeling is optional.

Who is the captain?

Captain Pieter, the owner, who has 40 years of sailing experience on various boats and ships.

How do I get to the boat?

You check in at a dock, then take a small dinghy (tender) out to the trimaran. The boat is anchored in the bay.

What if I have dietary requirements?

Let the operator know at booking time so they can prepare accordingly.