Many insurance companies have excluded private sailboats from visiting SXM because of all the wrecks in both the Lagoon and surrounding waters. The insurance exclusion is similar to exclusions for Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela. It is a shame the Sint Maarten government will not permit the removal of wrecks because of red tape, or so we have been told.

Once the Lagoon and surrounding waters are free of wrecks, the insurance companies will lift their no-go sanctions against SXM, bringing in much needed income for the island from cruising sailors.