Rodney Bay see CHART Tel. +1 758 452 0324 rbm@igymarinas.com Website Rodney Bay Marina
Rodney Bay is the yachting centre of St Lucia. The bay is over a mile long with a man-made causeway at its Northern end that connects Pigeon Island to the mainland. Within the bay is a large, completely protected inner lagoon, accessed via a narrow channel. This lagoon known as Rodney Bay Marina is dredged to 14ft in the main channel and the main docks so yachts with very deep draft should proceed with caution.
Rodney Bay Marina is part of IGY Marinas Incorporated which owns Marinas across the globe. The company is presently undertaking a large scale overhaul of the whole Rodney Bay facility. The Marina is an official port of entry and also the ARC’s (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) Caribbean home. It has the island’s only boatyard for pleasure craft with haul out facilities for yachts up to 75 tons.
The marina has 248 berths(slips) with around 20 superyacht berths. Within the Marina’s complex there are restaurants, boutiques, banks with ATM facilities, public telephones, a supermarket, and car rental agency. The services of a well-stocked, duty-free chandlery, banks, showers and bathroom facilities are also available. The boatyard is part of the same organisation as teh Marina with a range of workshops and repair services. Waterside Landings is a mini marina inside the lagoon with around 15 alongside and stern to berths(slips)
If you’re planning to anchor out at Reduit Beach, Gros Islet or Pigeon Point, the Marina is the most convenient port of entry into St. Lucia.
Official services:
Customs & Immigration Office (758-452-0235), open Saturday to Thursday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Rodney Bay Marina Office is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Services at Rodney bay Marina include car Hire, restaurants and cafés, Grocery shop, bank (First Caribbean)and a various shops. yacht chandlery and transportation are all available at Rodney Bay Marina.
:
Restaurants/Bars:
H2O - Caribbean/Mediterranean Fusion - tel 452 0351
BB - Breadbasket - serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
Starfish Deli - fresh convenient foods - delivery to yachts
Bosun Bistro
Cafe Ole - open for breakfast and lunch serves sandwiches and snacks
The Boardwalk Bar
Other
Island Waterworld - The island's leading Chandlery for boating accessories
Glace Mini Mart
- small food store has essential supplies
Brydens - liquor Store
Drop Anchor - Clothes & sounvenir store
Caribbean Art Gallery
See map for local amenities.
Castries harbour see CHART
Vigie Creek (near GFL Charles Airport) and Castries City are the harbour’s two main anchorages. The facilities at Vigie are somewhat run down but basic yacht repair and replenishment facilities may be available. The main advantage of the Harbour anchorage is its close proximity to the capital of St Lucia. Note that there may be up to 5 cruise ships in port and anchoring may not be suitable during busy cruise ship periods.
When entering Castries Harbour, it is necessary to avoid the shoal that extends to the west of Tapion Peak. Vigie Hill has a light that flashes twice every 10 seconds, allowing you to easily identify the harbour at night. Vigie Creek can be rolly in northerly swells.
Castries Harbour does have Customs officials but is a commercial port and not geared towards yachts. Therefore it is easier to clear through Rodney Bay or Marigot. Officials insist that yachts entering the harbour come directly to the Customs’ dock (if there is no room, anchor east of the Customs buoy). It is wise not to ignore this directive as a fine could be incurred.
Facilities at Castries Harbour:
Harbour/Yacht Services
Pointe Seraphine • Cruise Ship and Harbour • (758)452-3036
8 am to 5 pm • Duty-free shopping
Restaurants:
Jacques Waterfront Dining • (758)458-1900 Mon. to Sat. Lunch & Dinner
The Coal Pot Vigie Cove • (758)452-5566 Mon. to Fri., 12 pm to 12 am Saturday 6 pm to 12am
Auberge Seraphine
Marigot Bay see chart+1758 451 4275 marina@marigotbay.com
Marigot Harbour is a completely sheltered anchorage and one of the best hurricane holes in the region. It lies approximately 3.4 miles to the SSW of Castries Harbour, the entrance is on 13 degrees 58.1' N 61 degrees 01.8' W. When watching for the entrance, keep an eye open for the prominent house with the bright red roof on the cliff top at the southern entrance. The channel is lit with port and starboard markers (IALA B - American bouyage system – red right returning)
It is possible to anchor in the outer bay outside of the channel but mooring buoys must be used in the inner bay. Once settled you can make your way to the Customs office housed in the Marigot Police Station. Marigot Harbour is an official port of entry for St Lucia.
The Marina at Marigot Bay offers long and short-term dockage in addition to water, electricity and fuel. (Contact:The Marina on VHF Channel 16, Telephone: (758) 451- 4275. Fax: 1 (758) 451-4276. Email: marina@marigotbay.com.)
The Moorings Yacht Charters also runs its yacht charter business from this location.
In The Marina Village you will find a range of facilities including a well-stocked supermarket, French bakery, internet café, duty free shopping outlets, boutiques, showers and toilets, and a restaurant and bar. (Telephone: (758) 451 4271 Fax: (758) 451 4274. Website: www.themarinavillage.com).
Marina facilities at Marigot40 berths
for yachts up to 250' and 16' draft
Official Services: Customs and Immigration Office, Police Station
The Marina Village: French bakery, supermarket, bank, internet café, florist, doctor's clinic, boutiques, sail loft, laundry, bar and restaurant.
The Marina at Marigot Bay: Moorings Yacht Charter Services, fuel, water, electricity, 40 fully serviced slips, deep water berthing facilities for yachts up to 200ft. Mechanical and boat maintenance services available on request.
Discovery at Marigot Bay: 57 luxury suites (half with private plunge pool) and 67 deluxe rooms, the world class Lapli Spa featuring E’Spa products and treatments, Hurricane Hole and Pink Snail bars, The Boudreau Restaurant.
Other Restaurants: Chateau Mygo, Rainforest Hideaway, Doolittles Restaurant and Bar and Rowley’s Caribbean café
Soufriere
Home of the island’s UNESCO World Heritage Site which is one of only a handful in the Caribbean Islands, Soufrière and the Pitons offer without doubt one of the most awe inspiring and dramatic backdrops for visiting yachts. Soufrière is an official port of entry. The whole area between Anse Cochon and Gros Piton is part of the SMMA – Soufriere Marine Management Area and anchoring is strictly controlled to preserve the underwater coral reefs. Moorings have been laid down in Anse Chastanet, just north of Soufrière Bay, off the Hummingbird Beach Resort north of Soufrière town, Malgretout just south of Soufriere and between the Pitons.
The cost of the permit depends on vessel size and length of stay. Anchoring is only permitted during daytime hours of 0600 to 1800. Due to the depth, it is necessary to tie off the stern of your boat to a palm tree. Authorised members of the Soufrière Water Taxi Association will help tie stern lines and are available for all water transfer services. Rates are standard and they also provide watchman services when boat owners are ashore. In Soufrière, there are plenty of sights to be explored above and below the water line.
Vieux Fort
Home to St. Lucia’s main international airport, Hewanorra, and the island’s second-largest town, Vieux Fort is somewhat off the beaten track as far as yachties are concerned but it has a laid back charm and Sports one of the longest stretches of soft, sandy beach adjacent to the Maria Islands which are part of the National Trust. This also a good place to stock on provisions with competitive prices (see provisioning)The town offers basic mechanical services, two major supermarkets and shopping malls and a great selection of fresh fruits, fish and vegetables at the Saturday market.
Vieux Fort is an official port of entry. It has anchorages off the town’s commercial ship dock, where Customs can be found, or beside the Fisheries Complex. One can also anchor slightly further to the west off a quiet beach with good shelter available in all but southwesterly winds.
Anse de Sable Bay, on Vieux Fort’s reef-protected Atlantic coast, is one of the best beaches on the windward side with windsurfing and kitesurfing facilities available for rent at the Reef.
YACHTING GUIDELINES
ALL VESSELS must proceed directly to a port of entry, no crew or passenger should embark or disembark prior to reporting the vessel to Customs (Castries, Vieux Fort, Rodney Bay, Marigot Bay or Soufrière.)