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Virgin and Leeward

Puerto Rico to 2019 Passage Chart Before using this chart visit www.imray.com for the latest corrections

1: 1 000 000 WGS 84

DOMINICAN A A2 REPUBLIC A1 L 1 E E W PUERTO VIRGIN A R A3 RICO ISLANDS D St Martin St Croix

St Christopher I S L A N D A4 S Marie-Galante

Dominica B D Sea Martinique

S

D

N

LA St Lucia IS

St Vincent

D

R

A W The Grenadines D

Bonaire IN Curaçao D1 W

Golfo de Tobago B5 I.de Margarita I.la Tortuga

CARACAS TRINIDAD D2 Cumana B6 VENEZUELA

MCA recognised MOBILE DOWNLOADS Imray-Iolaire Imray Navigator app CHARTS FOR THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN Digitally printed Donald M Street Jr on water resistant paper Spring (April, May), the wind is usually from east-southeast at 15–20 kn. In December A to Martinique through to the winds become east-northeasterlies which strengthen to The from Puerto Rico to Martinique Inter- distances encompasses some of the finest cruising Maximum distance between adjacent 20–25kn, occasionally going all the way to be had anywhere in the world. There islands or groups is 90M between St Croix around to north. From the beginning of June are several key racing and rally hubs and a and St Martin. Otherwise the distances are to the end of November winds are generally number of boat storage, maintenance and approximately 60M or less, making day lighter east-southeasterlies, but these are repair facilities. The downside is that the passages between islands achievable. interspersed with tropical waves which north of the area, between Puerto Rico occasionally develop into tropical and St Barts, lies along the length of so Currency depressions and hurricanes. called ‘Hurricane Alley’ (see Hurricanes). US dollar is official currency or widely Acceleration zones For detailed sailing directions and further accepted throughout the region. pilotage information see Street’s Guides The high islands can create a significant wind : Anguilla, www.street-iolaire.com and Grenada to shadow in their lee and winds can drop to St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, the Jacques Patuelli (Imray). almost nothing. But at low points and at the Montserrat, tips of the islands and in passages between Approximate distances to/from Puerto del : St Martin, St Barthélémy, islands the winds can be squeezed and Rey, Puerto Rico Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, accelerated. In daylight these zones are very 850M Martinique obvious from the agitated sea state, but at Beaufort NC 1150M Antillean Guilder: St Maarten night they can catch you unawares. It is Martinique 340M advisable to consider reducing sail whilst still Time in the lee. It was because of these UTC -4 acceleration zones that Norie and Wilson Sailing Directions to the Caribbean (1817) stated ‘When passing to leeward of the high Transport links (BVI) islands stay within two pistol shots distance Great Harbour (Jost van Dyke) of shore or seven leagues (21 miles) off.’ International flights West End/Sopers Hole & Roadtown () Puerto Rico (San Juan, Aguadilla) Spanish Town (Virgin Gorda) Ground swells USVI (St Thomas, St Croix) Online clearing systems Ground swells are generated by storms in the BVI (Tortola) North Atlantic and are completely Online systems for advance clearance have Anguilla independent of the Caribbean been developing and you may be able to St Maarten systems. From mid-October to April any simplify the formalities through the islands. St Kitts anchorage open to the northwest is Check for the latest information. Nevis vulnerable. If these swells take you by Antigua www.sailclear.com surprise and you are lying to a single anchor Guadeloupe (Pointe-a-Pitre) www.eseaclear.com/home/index.cfm you may end up being driven ashore. Martinique (Fort-de-) US Visa Waiver Scheme Inter-island flights Check for the latest regulations well before Currents Puerto Rico (Ponce, Vieques) you plan to enter the US. If cruising within BVI (Virgin Gorda, Anegada) the BVI, USVI and Puerto Rico (including the The equatorial current sets to the west Barbuda ), a useful, legal at 1–2 kn or more. On inter-island passages allow for the set of the current Montserrat method of entry to the US for any boat crew and stay to windward of the rhumb line. Dominica or visitors who do not have US visas is via the US Visa Waiver Scheme. If you intend to use Be aware of deflection of the current Ferries the US Visa Waiver scheme you must make around islands. Several daily ferries run between Fajardo an online application beforehand via the (Puerto Rico), Culebra and Vieques. Multiple Electronic System for Travel Authorization Tides and tidal streams ferry operators ply within and between the (ESTA) at The flood tide sets to the east and at USVI and the BVI. A daily service runs https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta springs can sometimes eliminate the between Anguilla and St Maarten and But note that the 90-day US Visa Waiver equatorial current. The ebb tide sets to another regular service runs between St Scheme is only applicable to travel on the west and strengthens the current. Maarten/St Martin, St Barts and . There commercial carriers so those crew and visitors Heading eastwards in the Virgin Islands are similarly good ferry connections within not having visas should travel by commercial it is very important to play the tide Antigua/Barbuda and to Montserrat, and ferry from Tortola to St Thomas / St John correctly and use the flood as much as between Guadeloupe, Dominica and with a current Visa Waiver form to enter the possible. The tides from Antigua south Martinique. USVI, and then Puerto Rico, through the are semi-diurnal (two high and two low tides a day). Around the equinoxes in Scheme. September and October, March and Formalities Buoys and lights April, the evening tide is the highest, Customs and immigration formalities in whereas for the rest of the year the many of the islands are strict. Clearance can IALA B ( right returning). However, daytime tide is the highest. From be made: navigational aids (buoys, beacons and lights) Antigua north, the tides are mostly are notable for their absence and/or diurnal (only one high and one low tide US Virgin Islands (USVI) unreliability. Entering an unfamiliar harbour a day), except for the north side of St Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas) at night or in poor visibility is not Thomas, the north and east coasts of Cruz Bay (St John’s) recommended. Puerto Rico and the coasts of Vieques Christiansted (St Croix) and Culebra, all of which are semi- Puerto Rico Temperature diurnal. Mayagüez Fajardo Average air temperature ranges from 25·9°C Ponce in February up to 29·2°C in October. Average Imray Tides Planner app water temperature is 27°C. San Juan www.imray.com/tides-planner-app Spanish Virgin Islands Winds Culebra Vieques In the transition stages at the beginning of winter (November, December) and in the A Bahamian moor should hold you safely off. Monitor the swell predictions available from Hurricanes online weather services (see opposite). A good site for swell forecasts is The official hurricane season runs from www.magicseaweed.com 1 June to 30 November.

Hurricanes trigger in warm seas near the Weather information equator, usually west of the Cape Verde islands, from where they normally track towards the NOAA Caribbean western margin of the North Atlantic and Cape www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/zone/off/ Hatteras on the eastern seaboard of the USA. offnt3cmz.htm They then tend to recurve over a broad fan to US National Weather Service Puerto Rico the north or northeast as far as Nova Scotia and www.weather.gov/sju the Azores, but they sometimes track Historical category 4 and 5 Hurricane tracks from westwards to or the Gulf of 1851 to 2016. Source NOAA French services . www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo- france/outremer The frequency and intensity of hurricanes, the Hurricane swell and surge occurrence of early and late season storms and There are numerous other weather websites At sea, huge waves and swells are generated the predictability of storm tracks all vary year on which, depending on the storm track, can and apps. Caribbean Compass publishes a year. complete list of local stations which give become violently confused. In shallow coastal weather reports with the times of weather With the exception of its far south and areas storm surge may temporarily raise the sea report broadcasts. Also many of the morning southwest, almost all of the Caribbean lies level by as much as 3–4m (10–13ft), which can VHF chats, prevalent throughout the islands, within their path. Between 10° and 19°N, the lift pontoons off their pilings and submerge often give a local weather report. worst hit area is ‘Hurricane Alley’ between solid docks, rendering any fendering useless. St Barts and the east coast of Puerto Rico. Crowded harbours pose the highest risk as Volcanic activity The western end of Hurricane Alley, from even the best prepared vessel is at the mercy of pontoons breaking free or other boats breaking Superheated pyroclastic flows can race across Anegada westwards to the east coast of Puerto free or dragging down onto them. the surface of the sea for many miles. Volcanic Rico, has been hit by significant tropical storms ash gets into everything and can wreck or hurricanes approximately once in every five Ashore during hurricane season years. Each time a hurricane hits, the yachting engines and winches. If the Montserrat Ashore, vessels are frequently impacted by is active, pass well to windward of the industry suffers tremendous damage, much of neighbouring vessels which may topple onto island. For latest activity reports go to which could be avoided if proper procedures the next, creating a catastrophic domino effect; www.facebook.com/mvoms or www.mvo.ms and preparations were followed. There are no hurricane holes in Hurricane Alley. All the so this effect is only mitigated by the removal of called hurricane holes have proved to be rigs and the most robust pits, cradles and tie CAUTION disaster areas. If your crew or boat is not downs for all boats in the vicinity. Flying debris is harder to mitigate against. Chart accuracy prepared to head south at least 48 hrs before a hurricane arrives, head to Marina Puerto del While most of this region has been resurveyed Insurance Rey on Puerto Rico and hope they have space. in the last 50 years, a proportion of the data, If remaining in the hurricane belt during The marina has 1,000 slips and boats have even on electronic charts, is of 19th-century hurricane season, check the detail of your mostly fared well there to date. origin. Since then, topography above and insurance policy, research all your viable below the water may have been altered by options, both on the water and ashore, and be natural causes such as volcanic eruptions, prepared for the worst. movement of sandbanks, the growth of coral Hurricane winds etc. All charts should be used with caution. Categorised with central wind speeds of a Storm bulletins Inshore navigation should only be undertaken minimum of 64 knots, hurricanes are among Monitor weather bulletins for storm predictions in good light when the sun is high. the most destructive forces of nature, with but note that storm modelling and forecasting, winds during Category 5 storms exceeding 137 including surge modelling, is improving but Shoals knots. These wind speeds create astronomical does not yet factor in all the variables, so a The Caribbean is 0·4m to 0·6m lower in May, loads because the forces are not proportional to ‘cone of uncertainty’ remains for each June, and early than it is in winter the wind (v) but to the square of the predicted storm track. and in these months shoal channels into wind speed (v2). As the storm passes over, the various harbours should be used with caution. wind direction switches and exposes previously NOAA National Hurricane Centre Nanny Cay (Tortola), Manuel Reef marina, protected areas to the extreme wind forces. www.nhc.noaa.gov Wickhams Cay, Fat Hog/East End Bay, Jolly Catamarans are particularly vulnerable to Caribbean Hurricane Network Harbour (Antigua), Lagoon windage effects. www.stormcarib.com (St Vincent), and Secret Harbour/Mount Hartman Bay do not have tide gauges and AccuWeather require particular care. Yachts are increasing www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane in size and whilst shoal channels can be used safely in winter, in summer, especially at low water springs, there have been incidents when large yachts have grounded completely, blocking the channel for others.

Communications Mobile phone coverage is generally good on the islands but will be limited or non-existent offshore. Emergencies VHF 16 or ) 999 or 911 or for a list of useful contact numbers go to the Caribbean Safety and Security Net website at https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/ To download this booklet and Sailing Directions go to: emergency-phone-list/ www.imray.com/chartnotes obtain some shelter from Dog Island, ST BARTHELEMY OR SABA TO A Puerto Rico to Anguilla and St Martin as you approach. Not ST EUSTATIUS & ST CHRISTOPHER only will they knock down the sea, but Martinique behind these islands the current hooks to the St Barthelemy to St Eustatius north giving you a lift; that lee bow current An easy reach, pass to windward of St Sailing directions all racing skippers are searching for. If you fall Eustatius and run downwind to the below the rhumb line south of St Martin it anchorage. will be a weather bow current on both tacks, September 2019 and slow progress. St Barthelemy to St Christopher The pilotage information on this chart is Head to the channel north of Belle Tete, but taken from Street’s Guide to Puerto Rico and Round Rock Passage to St Martin the 10M from Belle Tete to is a the Spanish, US and British Virgin Islands Unless you are very lucky you will not be able beat to windward. Start early. to lay this course. Over Barracuda Bank you are likely to encounter rather lumpy seas as Saba to St Eustatius the depths go from 1500m to 35m very A hard but short slog; should be a long Heading east and south quickly and the flood tide running across this tack then a moderately short starboard tack. shoal shelf causes the seas to hump up. Tack If the wind goes southeast it is a dead slog, Culebra to St Thomas Harbour to the north and work your way north of the the anchorage will be uncomfortable and dinghy landing extremely difficult. It would A dead beat. Great care must be taken until rhumb line into smoother seas. then be advisable to continue on to St you are clear of the reefs east of Culebra. It is Christopher. worthwhile to stop at Brewers Bay or Saba Necker Island Passage to St Martin Island to break up the trip and to have a This provides a better sailing angle. Take care St Eustatius to St Christopher around the reefs on the north coast of Virgin pleasant night before the final beat into Hard on the wind, short open water passage, Charlotte Amalie. Gorda, particularly The Invisibles which lie to the east of Necker Island; they are hard to then 10M to the marina in protected waters. Vieques to St Thomas Harbour spot and have nailed numerous boats. Work the tide to cross on the south-going Experienced reef navigators, under ideal ST BARTHELEMY TO ANTIGUA (flood) tide that should lift you to Saba Island conditions, sometimes leave from the If the wind is in the north, a fast ride laid in on starboard tack. With a north-flowing ebb northern edge of Necker Island passage and one tack. If the wind is in the east, it is tide you will be lucky to lay Savana Island. thread their way through Herman Reefs, difficult to lay the course. If you get driven sailing as close to White Horse (white coral) below the rhumb line, tack to the north to VIRGIN ISLANDS TO ST CROIX as possible. This should only be attempted by get some shelter from Barbuda and the bank the brave and experienced, in perfect that extends from Barbuda to Antigua. Or, St Thomas to Christiansted, St Croix conditions with someone eyeballing from the instead of fighting your way direct to Usually a close reach unless the wind goes to spreaders. Antigua, consider the lure of Barbuda as an the south. Allow for set of the current. easier staging post. Warning When approaching Christiansted, Anegada to St Martin do not head for the town as the entrance If leaving north of Anegada, you can head Landfall on Antigua channel is well to the east, rather head for east, taking advantage of a northerly (lee On dark nights the glow of the lights of the distinctive notch east of the town. The bow) current on the first twenty miles Antigua can usually be picked up 20M out. entrance to Christiansted harbour is tricky eastwards from West End. Stand north on Make your final approach to Antigua in and should only be approached in good light, starboard tack until you can clear the island, daylight hours. In the afternoon with the sun before 1800. then once you tack, with luck and a behind you can short tack in smooth water weatherly boat, you might make it in one between Cade Reef and Antigua. Pillsbury Sound to Christiansted tack. This gives a slightly better angle and shorter BARBUDA TO ANTIGUA distance than from St Thomas. Again, allow TO ST MARTIN Palmetto Point to Diamond Bank for set of current and time arrival in good This should not be undertaken. Instead, sail Approaching Antigua, be sure to allow for set light (see warning above). to the Virgin Islands, take a rest, then take off of current and stay to windward of the for St Martin using one of the routes Flanagan Passage to Christiansted rhumb line. described above. This is the best route as the course is always a Cocoa Point to Diamond Bank nice reach. Take care to avoid Santa Monica VIRGIN ISLANDS TO SABA, rock which is on the direct line between Take care until clear of Dodington Bank and Privateer Point and Christiansted. Again, ST EUSTATIUS, ST CHRISTOPHER Codrington Shoals and allow for set of allow for set of current and time arrival in With the wind in the north this course can be current and stay to windward of the rhumb good light (see warning above). laid, but conditions may then rule out line. stopping at Saba or St Eustatius where the FROM ST THOMAS EASTWARDS IN anchorages and dinghy landing will be Spanish Point to the east coast THE VIRGINS untenable. St Christopher is an all-weather of Antigua stop now the marina has been built. Make allowance for the current and do not This is always a difficult passage but will be be fooled. It is easy to look at Antigua, decide made easier if you study the tidal information ST MARTIN TO SABA, you can bear off, the current appearing to be and take advantage of the easterly setting less strong than you thought, but then as you flood which can make the difference ST EUSTATIUS, ST CHRISTOPHER approach Antigua, land will start appearing between a hard slog or a glorious reach. St Martin to Saba ahead of you, you will have to sheet in and Should be a nice fast reach, round the probably find yourself hard on the wind. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO ANGUILLA, ST windward side of Saba, run downwind to the Allow for the current and sail high until you MARTIN, ST BARTHELEMY harbour. have passed Man o’ War Point. This is almost always a dead slog to windward St Martin to St Eustatius unless the wind is north of east. It usually ST CHRISTOPHER TO ANTIGUA Set a course to the west side of St Eustatius. makes sense to sail up through the US and Pick your way through The Narrows with Should be an easy reach. Then a beat up the British Virgin Islands to take advantage of the extreme care. Once clear of the north end of south coast to Oranjestad. smoother water and any favourable tide. The Narrows, unless you are very lucky, it will There are three logical jumping off points: St Martin to St Christopher be a dead beat. Stay to the north of the Round Rock Passage, Necker Island Passage or rhumb line to try to get some protection Head to the channel north of Belle Tete. A from the top of Anegada. If you cannot lay from wind and sea from Antigua. Do not let 10M beat up the coast to Basseterre, your rhumb line, periodically go over on to yourself sag below the rhumb line as you will probably 55M or more total distance, so start starboard tack and work your way back to encounter more current and sea than if you very early to get into the marina before dark. the north of your rhumb line. As long as you are north of the rhumb line. are north of your rhumb line you will start to NEVIS TO ANTIGUA especially in spring and summer when the ST CHRISTOPHER TO If leaving Nevis via The Narrows, the sailing wind is likely to be south of east. The course ST BARTHELEMY AND ST MARTIN directions are as above. If you leave Nevis via must be made good for an additional 20M to Capt Scott Rock. Once Capt Scott Rock is Because of the current set, if the wind is in the Dogwood Point, the course is dead to north it’s a hard slog and, if in the east, a tight windward against the current. It may turn out reached you can ease sheets for a glorious reach to the Saintes or slightly ease sheets to reach. If, meanwhile, it is in the southeast it’s to be the longest 40M in the world. If you a glorious reach, but leave Basse Terre early must do this trip, stay north of the rhumb line. Grand Bourg, Marie Galante. Make allowance for leeway and westerly current set. because even though Gustavia is well lit with a sectored light that would allow a night NEVIS TO GUADELOUPE Northwest from Dominica, heading for the lee coast of Guadeloupe should be a fast landfall, the harbour is so crowded that This used to be an easy trip, close reach down reach. Start early before the wind builds up although you probably won’t run aground or to Montserrat, anchor and spend the night, because as the day goes by the wind builds as hit a rock, you may easily hit an unlit then a close reach to Guadeloupe. Now it’s it funnels between the mountains of anchored yacht. To St Martin should be an important to check the latest news regarding Guadeloupe and Dominica. Once Marie easy reach, again start early. volcanic activity. If the volcano is active pass it Galante comes abeam, that will break the to windward. For latest activity reports go to worst of any swell. ST EUSTATIUS TO www.facebook.com/mvoms or ST BARTHELEMY, ST MARTIN www.mvo.ms GUADELOUPE TO ANTIGUA It’s worthwhile beating to windward around From Passe à Colas to , the east end of St Eustatius to improve your ANTIGUA TO GUADELOUPE Antigua should be an easy reach. From Anse sailing angle. To St Martin, leave the West Coast to Anse Deshaies Deshaies the course to English Harbour is anchorage and head northwest, then once clear of the island head up onto a wonderful Should be a good reach, but even if the wind closer on the wind; get an early start and do reach. goes into the southeast you should still be as much of the trip as possible before it starts able to fetch it. The last five miles, once Tete à to blow up. If there is any north in the wind it l’Anglais is abeam, the wind backs, sea goes may be a tough slog because of the current SABA TO ST MARTIN down, allowing you to head up if necessary. setting you off to leeward. The easier run is to A tough sail, hard on the wind, starboard the west coast of Antigua and Jolly Harbour. tack. If you do not lay Philipsburg, hopefully English Harbour to Anse Deshaies Once north of Johnson’s Point you can anchor, you will lay the western end of the island then Usually a glorious reach. relax and proceed to Falmouth/English tack along the south coast or pass west of the Harbours the next day or continue north to island and beat up to Marigot. English Harbour to Passe à Colas Jolly Harbour. A night approach is not The northern entrance to the River Salee recommended. It should be noted that Shirley ST MARTIN TO ROUND ROCK between Grande Terre and Basse Terre. The Heights light is visible no more than 12M. last eight miles should be comparatively Many boats approaching English Harbour PASSAGE smooth water. From Passe à Colas to the from the south have mistaken the light of Leave St Martin in the late afternoon for bridge is another 5M. If your ETA at Passe à Curtain Bluff Hotel for English Harbour or the dawn arrival at Round Rock Passage (WP9). Colas is after 1500, go to the new harbour at red light on Boggy Peak for the red light on There is sometimes a strong northerly set to Port Louis. Monks Hill and sailed up on Cade Reef with the current, so I would advise sailing a course disastrous results. Approaching in daylight of dead or almost dead downwind to GUADELOUPE TO DOMINICA, pick up Monks Hill, the flat topped hill behind compensate. Ginger Islands has a 14M range Falmouth, keep that 10º off the lee bow, alter light plus the very bright street lights for the MARTINIQUE course for Falmouth or English harbour only road leading over the top of Virgin Gorda are From the lee coast the logical first stop is Iles in the last 5M. often visible 18–20M off. Necker Island des Saintes. Do this trip as early in the Passage should not be used when entering morning as possible because as the land heats GUADELOUPE TO NEVIS, the Virgin Islands. up, the wind increases and it funnels between ST CHRISTOPHER the high land of Guadeloupe and the Saintes. ST MARTIN TO ST CROIX From the Saintes south there are two choices: From Anse Deshaies pass to windward of Montserrat then bear off, possibly dead down Plan a morning approach. Buck Island light is Passing to windward of Dominica and wind. Approaching Nevis give Dogwood Point only visible 6M. Lay a course off to a point 2M Martinique is not really worthwhile unless a good berth. north of Buck Island. Then lay a course to the you are continuing straight down the chain to inner buoys of Scotch Bank as the outer St Vincent or Grenada. But if you have come ANTIGUA NORTH TO BARBUDA northeast end of Scotch Bank is unbuoyed. It through the River Salee or have picked up a is not recommended to pass inside Buck Island Leave Nonsuch Bay early in the morning to boat in Pointe à Pitre and want to bypass as Channel Rock is almost impossible to spot. arrive at Spanish Point by 1400 hours at the Dominica to continue on to Martinique or Pass midway between Buck island and latest. If heading for Palmetto Point it will be other southern islands, it certainly makes St Croix, using eyeball navigation to avoid the much easier piloting, but still start early so sense to sail down the windward coast of rock. Dominica. The windward coast of Dominica is you arrive in Barbuda while the light is still good. not as windy as one would expect. The island ST CROIX TO VIRGIN ISLANDS is so high that a back-eddy forms that negates the trade winds slightly. Once abeam of Point ANTIGUA TO ST BARTHELEMY Christiansted to Flanagan Passage St Jean you can then ease sheets towards the A nice overnight sail, sometimes a broad A nice reach if there is any south in the wind, lee coast of Martinique. reach, but if the wind goes southeast it is or a close fetch if wind is in the east. If wind is dead downwind. Be warned, the lighthouse north of east pick a landfall further west. in Gustavia is not visible from the southeast, Approaching , take care to but the harbour approach is well buoyed. avoid Santa Monica rock which is on the Heading north and west direct line from Christiansted. ANTIGUA TO ST CHRISTOPHER Warning Great care must be taken as you MARTINIQUE TO DOMINICA, AND NEVIS enter Pillsbury Sound as there are a number GUADELOUPE From St John’s head dead downwind to The of hazardous rocks. Narrows. You should certainly plan your From Pte du Prêcheur, the choice is to pass Christiansted to St Thomas westwards or eastwards of Dominica. Heading arrival for 1400 hours at the latest. The safer Unless you are very unlucky it will be a for the west coast is always a glorious reach and navigationally easier route is to head to glorious reach. No dangers on approach, but is followed by 22M of frustrating sailing Dogwood Point (give it a good berth), round everything well buoyed. under the lee of the island. up behind Nevis and continue on to Warning Pass at least half a mile to leeward Charlestown or Basse Terre. of Scotts Head. Passing to windward of Dominica (especially if you want to see Marie Galante) is feasible,