B30 to Imray-Iolaire ABOUT THIS CHART CHARTS FOR THE This chart has been compiled by DM Street Jr using official sources and additional EASTERN information acquired during more than 50 years of cruising, racing, exploring, chartering and charting the eastern Caribbean on his 46’ engineless yawl Iolaire, built Compiled by DM Street Jnr in 1905. He is the author of many yachting books and articles, first of which was ‘Going South’ Yachting, 1964. His Cruising Guide to the Lesser Antilles is regarded as ‘the book that opened the Caribbean to the cruising yachtsman and made bareboat chartering possible’. It is worth reading for its nostalgic view of the Caribbean in the IMPORTANT 1950s and ‘60s. Over the years it has been expanded to cover the entire eastern For the latest chart Caribbean, from the western end of Puerto Rico east and south through the islands to Trinidad, then westwards along the Venezuelan coast and offshore islands to Aruba. corrections visit Use Street’s Guides for interisland sailing directions, harbour piloting directions and www.imray.com interesting anecdotes about people, places and history. They are the only guides that cover all the anchorages in the eastern Caribbean. Patience Wales, editor of Sail , once said, ‘Circle in red all the anchorages that Street describes that are not in the other The information shown on charts guides and you will have a quiet anchorage’. is liable to constant change; Imray Shoreside information dates but pilotage information in Street’s Guide is timeless. ensures that every chart is correct Where harbours have changed or been dredged, the latest information is shown on to the printing date shown below. Imray-Iolaire charts, which are constantly referred to in Street’s pilots. Street has also been in the marine insurance business, placing insurance for Corrections received after this yachts of all sizes and ages sailing in all parts of the world with Lloyds, since 1966. date may be downloaded from Visit www.street-iolaire.com. Email [email protected]. www.imray.com as Correction The author and publishers believe that this chart is the most accurate and up to date Notices. These are regularly available of the area it covers. It can, however, only remain so if mariners notify the updated and the website should publishers of any inaccuracy or need for correction of which they may be aware. be checked. The pilotage information on this chart is taken from Street’s Guide: Martinique to Trinidad to which page numbers refer. It may be ordered from Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd www.imray.com Smartphone users can link directly to Internet sales for current and out of print editions can be found at iuniverse.com, alibris.co.uk and Amazon.com the Corrections Notice for this Five popular sailing videos made in the late 1980s/early 1990s featuring DM Street Jr, including Transatlantic with Street , the story of Iolaire’s 1985 transatlantic via Vigo, chart using the QR Madeira, Canaries, Cape Verdes which has been highly recommended by Herb code. McCormick and Tom Cunliffe are available at: TheSailingChannel.TV which offers all five videos in one digital package, The Complete Street. The five segments may be ordered individually. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thecompletestreet

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A Chateaubelair Bay (St Wych House The Broadway Vincent) St Ives B Kingstown Bay (St Vincent) C Calliaqua Bay & Blue Cambridgeshire PE27 5BT Lagoon (St Vincent) D Admiralty Bay () England E Friendship Bay (Bequia) F Baliceaux & Battowia +44(0)1480 462114 G West Coast Of Mustique  A Fax +44(0)1480 496109 www.imray.com St Vincent

Edition date: 2017 Kingstown B C Corrected to February 2017

Bequia D Electronic versions of this chart E F Baliceaux Imray charts are also available as apps for iPad and iPhone in raster format in the Imray Chart G Navigator series. The series also includes chart

Mustique sets from official hydrographic offices.

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1 side of both islands there are two tides a day; Pilotage notes by east coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques and 1 Culebra have two tides a day. DM Street, Jnr Hr ZENITH At one part of the year, the highest tide is

EAST TIDE during the day, at other times of the year the highest tide is during the night. Schomberg,

1 the Danish naturalist, explained that during Hr the equinox, September and October, March and April, the evening tide is the highest, the W

E

E D I S rest of the year the daytime tide is the

T T

T

T highest.

S I

D

E

B30 Saint Vincent E W In periods of spring tides especially if the trades have not been blowing hard, the to Mustique 1 Hr flood tide will overcome the Equatorial current and give an easterly set. In normal GENERAL CAUTIONS circumstances in the passages the tide runs EAS E Yachtsmen navigating this area are T TID eight hours west, four east. However within NADIR reminded that whilst most of the region has 1 the Virgin Islands in Pillsbury Sound and been resurveyed in the last 50 years much of Hr Drakes Passage which are largely sheltered the data is of 19th-century origin. Since then, from the Equatorial current, the tide ebb topography above and below the water may and flood is six hours each direction. well have been altered by natural causes Warning such as volcanic eruptions, movement of sandbanks, the growth of coral etc. This occasionally completely) negated by the The Caribbean is 0.4m to 0.6m lower in May, chart must therefore be used with caution. flood tide. Taking advantage of a weather- June, July and early August than it is in Inshore navigation should only be going current can change a passage from winter this was noted in the 1867 Norie and undertaken in good light when the sun is being a real hard slog, to a glorious reach. Wilson Sailing Directions in these months high. Navigational aids (buoys, beacons and With tide and current setting you to shoal channels into various harbours should lights) are notable for their absence and/or leeward, you will have to sail 010° to 015° be used with caution. Nanny Cay - Tortola, unreliability. above the rhumb line, but if it is setting you Manuel Reef marina, Wickhams Cay, Fat It is important to read the sailing and pilot to windward you will be able to sail a course Hog/East End Bay, Jolly Harbour Antigua directions for the area concerned the night 010° to 015° to leeward of the rhumb line. Rodney Bay Marina, Blue Lagoon - St before, in order to plan the next day's run, This makes a difference of 020° to 030° often Vincent, do not have tide gauges and require and to calculate your departure in time to changing a dead beat to an easy close reach. particular care. Yachts are increasing in size guarantee arrival at the next anchorage This often makes the difference between whilst shoal channels can be used safely in while the sun is still high. slamming into it, or an eased sheet reach, winter, in summer, at low water springs; It is also important on interisland passages really flying. This is particularly true from St there have been incidents when large yachts to allow for the set of the current. Stay to Vincent to St Lucia, Martinique to Dominica, have grounded completely blocking the windward of the rhumb line. Take back Deshaies (Guadeloupe) to English Harbour channel for others. The author has bearings until you can see the island ahead. (Antigua). campaigned for many years for gauges to be Take GPS readings every half hour and plot If you plan your passages so that you have introduced to prevent these incidents. them on the chart, make sure you stay to the flood tide helping you it can make a HIGH WATER FULL AND CHANGE windward of the rhumb line between your large difference to your sailing time. The starting point and your anchorage. All difference from setting off on a lee-going The time of High Water at each location courses given in the text are rhumb lines. tide to a weather-going tide is generally during full and new moons (full & change) Do not enter strange harbours at night. 020°, often as much as 030°. There is a brief occurs at a set time after the meridian Many lights are unreliable. rule of thumb method. The tide starts passage of the moon for each location. Norie and Wilson Sailing Directions to the running to the east soon after moonrise, The time of the meridian passage for each Caribbean (1817) state, ‘When passing to continues to run east until about an hour day can be found in Nautical Almanac , and leeward of the high islands stay within two after the moon reaches its zenith (overhead) in Compass magazine. pistol shots distance of shore or seven then it runs westward, reinforcing the eg Location X – HW F & C 2h30m (from the leagues (21 miles) off.’ Still as true today as westerly current. Then as the moon sets, the table on the chart) tide starts running again to the east, turning it was in 1817. Meridian passage at X for Y date is, say, westwards again about an hour after the 0200hrs (from Nautical Almanac or Compass Tides and Currents moon passes its nadir (directly underneath), magazine) (see als o Street’s Transatlantic Crossing see sketch. Guide ) In the Eastern Caribbean during the Thus HW on Y date will be at 0430hrs. HW winter months, the wind will vary from east- will be approximately 50mins later each Heading north or south, the current is on the following day. beam, setting you off your rhumb line course southeast to east-northeast, occasionally an appreciable amount. When heading going all the way around to north. The WIND north or south, the Equatorial current is current sets generally west at a knot or more. setting you to the west. It is negated (and Thus the greatest problem encountered by In the eastern Caribbean during the winter occasionally, with spring tides, eliminated) by the yachtsman new to the area is that of months, the wind will vary from east- the tidal current. You must remember that allowing his boat to sag below the rhumb southeast to east-northeast, occasionally the flood tide sets to the east, the ebb tide line course. At the end of the day, he going all the way around to north when a sets to the west. suddenly realises that the anchorage is well big winter cold front from the states works Current (knots) to windward – a hard slog against wind and its way eastwards to Puerto Rico. Boat Speed 1.5 1.2 1.0 0.8 tide. To avoid this situation keep a hand- It generally blows 15 to 18kn, but at times (knots) bearing compass handy and take continual it will drop off to 8 to 12kn for days at a 2 37 º 31 º 27 º 22 º bearings or GPS fixes; if you cannot see the time. It can also pipe up to a steady 20 to 3 27 º 22 º 18 º 15 º island ahead, take stern bearings or GPS 25kn with higher gust and stay this way for 4 21 º 17 º 14 º 11 º fixes. a week or ten days. Be prepared for heavy 5 17 º 13 º 11 º 9º The tides trom Antigua south are semi- weather. 6 14 º 11 º 9º 8º diurnal, (twice a day) but from Antigua METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION 7 12 º 10 º 8º 7º north, the tides are diurnal, one tide a day. 8 11 º 9º 7º 6º However, if you check very accurate tidal The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 9 9º 8º 6º 5º gauges you will discover two tides, one Administration’s National Data Buoy Center 10 9º 7º 6º 5º major, a second one so small to be barely operate a variety of stations throughout the Degrees of set leeway noticeable, thus the tide tables refer to it as world. Eight such stations exist in the Eastern It is extremely important to allow for the diurnal. Caribbean recording a wide variety of set of the current which is made up of the Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands area is meteorological information. Much of this easterly wind blown Equatorial current, further complicated by the fact that on the data is available to the yachtsman via the reinforced by the ebb tide or partially (and south side of Puerto Rico and St Thomas, NOBC website. Go to there is one tide a day, while on the north 2 www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Caribbean and BOW AND STERN MOORING click on the station you wish to access. Wind velocities from shore stations in the Eastern Caribbean give little indication of winds expected offshore. The weather buoys to the east of the islands will give a good indication of weather and sea conditions to be expected in the islands 24 hours later. Buoys to the north will give you indications of the approach of a ground swell condition but remember that the ground swell will approach at 25 to 30kn per hour, so lock on to buoys well north of the islands. Every year Caribbean Compass puts out an updated version of their list of radio stations that give weather information of interest to the sailor. Ground swells When ground swells are expected on the north coast of Puerto Rico, they are predicted quite accurately on El Oso San Juan, Virgin Island news. Add roughly twenty-four hours for the ground swell predicted to reach the southern end of the RIG FOR DOWNWIND Secure a wire (or a length of high-tech line like Spectra or Dyneema) to the bail or strop. Caribbean. Take a spare line (spare sheet or dock line) at This is the permanent part of the boom On any beach open to the northwest as far least the length of the boat, secure it to the preventer. It should be about a foot shorter south as Antigua, there is the danger of the end of the main boom, pull it tight and than the distance from the bail to the ground swell, especially if the beach ashore secure the line to the goose neck, coil and gooseneck and have a thimble spliced into is quite steep and the sand really soft. I hang up the excess. Once underway and its gooseneck end. A lashing line tied into strongly advise either a Bahamian moor or running downwind, broad off, free it from the thimble will allow you to snug the moor bow-and-stern when anchoring off it. the goose neck, take it forward outside all preventer up to the gooseneck and tight If the ground swell comes in during the the rigging through a bow chock and secure under the boom when it’s not in use. night when on a single anchor it will pivot it to mooring cleat or anchor windlass. It is Lead two spinnaker-pole foreguys, one the boat around in the surf and within a few then almost impossible to jibe. Rig the each side of the boat, through blocks at the minutes the boat is driven on shore. headsail to a spinnaker pole of the opposite stemhead or the end of the bowsprit. Clip Ground swells are completely side, sail down wind wing and wing. If you the snap shackles to lifeline stanchions independent of the Caribbean weather do not have a spinnaker pole take the abreast of the mast and run the other ends systems; they are generated by storms in the windward headsail sheet out of the normal aft to the cockpit. north Atlantic. The season is mid-October to lead, and lead it aft as far as possible outside To set up the preventer when you’re the end of March though very occasionally of life lines and line stanchions thence sailing, all you have to do is untie the line ground swells will appear in April. through a block to a winch. If the preventer under the boom from the gooseneck and clip For cruising therefore, May is fine: no is rigged really tight, a good helmsman can the snap shackle of the leeward foreguy into hurricanes; no ground swell. June the same, sail slightly by the lee and keep the headsail the thimble eye. Make the lashing line long though there is a risk of hurricanes. July is filled. A useful rig when heading westward enough that you can tie it loosely to the good but watch out for hurricanes. in the Virgins, Puerto Rico westwards from lifeline and use it as a retrieval line when it’s Antigua. BAHAMIAN MOOR time for a jibe. The above is a jury rig that can be done Once the wind gets on the quarter and the Bahamian moor is useful if you are anchored with the material found on a bare boat. If boom is well eased, connect the preventer where there is a reversing tide that will you own your own boat do a proper job as and set it up tight using a winch. If no winch overcome the wind when the tide is running described below. is available, over-ease the mainsheet, take up eastwards, or anchored off a beach that is If heading westwards from the eastern on the foreguy, then re-trim the main to exposed to the ground swell. If you are on a Caribbean to Columbia or Panama rig a make the foreguy tight. A jibe is now all but Bahamian moor you will swing in a circle proper easily rigged and unrigged main impossible. that is equal to the length of the boat. boom preventer. Once anchored, back down with the engine, slacking the anchor line or chain Main-boom preventer/foreguy Key to the diagram 1. Main boom until you have veered (eased) plenty of scope Every year, numerous sailors are injured, and 2. Mainsheet (line) then take a second anchor, carry it back some are killed, as the result of inadvertant 3. Bail or strop to the stern, drop it, shorten up on bow jibes. These accidents can be avoided with 4. Wire preventer anchor until you have the correct amount of the use of a preventer/foreguy on the main 5. Light line scope, then take a strain on the anchor you boom. have dropped off the stern (but lead the For downwind sailing, the first and most rode through the bow chock), and secure. essential piece of gear is a strong preventer Now that you have moored between two on the main boom that can be easily rigged anchors there is no danger of swinging and unrigged. ashore when the wind dies out at night. To set up an effective preventer, you need a strong bail on the end of the main boom, preferably angled forward at about 45°. If you don’t have a suitable bail, you can use a loop of line to make a strop. Make the loop long enough that you can wrap it twice around the boom, tuck one end of the loop through the other, and work it tight. (The Arc of Swing two wraps will ensure the strop doesn’t slip along the boom.) To make the loop, take a piece of line of the appropriate length, tie the ends together with a sheet bend, and mouse the tails of the knot with electrical BAHAMIAN MOOR tape.

3 Downwind rig with jib and main business for more than 30 years and can River good place to bathe and wash clothes. organize the repair of any broken Chateaubelair Bay (see Plan) It is now a port This rig is for normal downwind sailing with equipment. the mainsail secured to leeward with a of entry but check with bareboat managers. preventer on the boom and the jib poled out Blue Lagoon (see Plan) This anchorage has Customs and immigration, but everyone to windward. two entrances. The northwestern entrance advises to move on once you have entered or has a channel of 1·8m marked by two light cleared out, rather than spending the night. beacons at the outer end. The axis of the The northernmost stopping place in St channel is 143° mag. Anchoring within the Vincent if heading north. Very steep-to, bow lagoon is difficult as holding is poor and the onto beach and stern anchor out.There is a lagoon deep - 15-18m. deep water channel between Chateaubelair The southwest entrance should not be Island and St Vincent but the author advises used if you draw more than 2·4m. Keep the not to use this passage. channel marker to port on entry. If you haven’t used the channel before, call ST VINCENT TO BEQUIA Barefoot on Ch 68 and they will send out a From the lee coast of St Vincent to Bequia it free pilot to guide you in. Do not accept help is frequently a hard slog. Try to do it on a from any pilot except the one sent out by weather-going tide and if the the tide is Barefoot. setting to leeward allow for the current. Several charter companies operate in Blue Remember, if both tide and current are Lagoon, including Horizon, which has setting to the west, you will be set 020° or Key to the diagram recently set up a base. The marina has been more. Take continual bearings and do not 1. Main boom preventer taken over and completely upgraded as have sag below the rhumb line. If you cannot lay 2. Lee spinnaker pole foreguy the hotel and restaurant. Customs and Admiralty Bay, continue south on port tack 3. Light line immigration are now available here. until Admiralty Bay bears due east, then tack 4. Headsail Camden Park Bay and Lowmans Bay Work up into the bay on short tacks, staying in 5. Lazy sheet for headsail has been in progress in these bays just north smooth water. 6. Working headsail sheet of Kingstown since 1994 and is ongoing. A If coming from Kingston, Young Island or 7. Foreguy jetty has been built in the centre of the bays Blue Lagoon, it is usually an easy reach but The working sheet (#6) is run through the and a dock in Camden Park Bay. This is a allow for the current. end of the spinnaker pole. If the wind goes commercial port. Avoid. too far forward for the headsail to be poled BEQUIA TO MUSTIQUE to windward, this sheet is eased and the sail Anchorages on the west coast of Sail downwind from the anchorage in trimmed to leeward with the lazy sheet (#5). St Vincent (page 72) Admiralty Bay to West Cay, then beat to windward obtaining shelter from Isle à There have been problems with boat boys on ST VINCENT (page 66-77) Quatre and Petit Nevis. Tack between Petit the west coast of St Vincent. For the last 50 Kingstown Bay (see Plan) If at all possible, Nevis and Bequia, or Petit Nevis and Isle à years the area has been plagued by crime. avoid Kingstown Bay, as dinghy and Quatre. Once clear of Petit Nevis ease sheets Mariners are advised not to stop on the west outboard pilfering is rife and the authorities for a glorious reach to Mustique. coast of St Vincent until they have checked have, so far, not been able to do much about Do not beat to windward through these with bareboat managers and cruising sailors it. If you do have to stop there, you should passages unless you are absolutely certain via www.safetyandsecuritynet.com. anchor in the northeast corner, on a that the tide is running to windward. If the To avoid the west coast of St Vincent Bahamian moor or bow and stern, take care tide is running to leeward motor sail through heading south, consult the sailing directions of your business and get out. these passages. on the reverse of Chart B. Going north, take Young Island Anchorage The Carenage is the off from either Blue Lagoon (St Vincent) or ST VINCENT DIRECT TO MUSTIQUE best anchorage as the reversing tide is not as Admiralty Bay (Bequia) on the first of the Go over the top of Bequia heading for WP9. strong as in Young Island Cut, the only weather-going tide. Work your way If the tide is running to the west and you are disadvantage is the longer dinghy ride. eastwards until you have a straight shot being set down on Bequia, tack in Bequia Anchoring in Young Island Cut is all but north to Vieux Fort (or, once clear of the Channel, give the northwest corner of impossible. It is deep, a reversing current can northeast corner of Bequia, go to the Bequia a good berth, then continue on to run up to 2kn (Bahamian moor with both uninhabited island of Baliceaux to spend the Baliceaux or Mustique. (See chart B3). Give anchors well set is essential) and the holding night, and take off the next day on a straight yourself plenty of sea room when passing is poor. The current has scoured out all the shot to Vieux Fort). This is an easy trip if the the northeast corner of Bequia as a schooner sand leaving nothing but loose rock. wind is south of east, a tight reach if the was wrecked on Bullet Cay some years ago There are permanent moorings in the Cut wind is east. If the wind is north of east, with loss of life. available for rent for the night. I advise forget about going up the east coast of St picking up a permanent mooring and paying Vincent. the fee. Before leaving the boat be sure to MUSTIQUE (pages 97-98) West coast of St Vincent boat boy situation dive and inspect the mooring. Some are not During daylight hours customs and too reliable. Moorings are almost always Keartons Excellent. Boys have yellow sash immigration clearance is available at the available. There is sometimes confusion as to saying Rock Side. Wallilabou Some good, airport. who owns the mooring with the result you some bad, a bit of a jungle. Cumberland 90% The anchorage in Britannia Bay is popular may end up paying twice for the same good. Chateaubelair All bad. and to preserve the coral it is now forbidden mooring. Anchorages to anchor; you must pick up a mooring. Calliaqua Bay (see Plan) A good, comfortable Keartons Just south of Indian Gallows Point. Montezuma Shoal used to nail a number of anchorage can be found on the eastern Good boat boys, good moorings, free if you boats but the shoal is now marked by an corner of Calliaqua Bay, northwest of the go ashore for dinner at Rock Side café which isolated danger beacon (Fl(2)15s). light beacons marking the entrance to has developed a reputation for excellent Anchoring is not permitted and you must Blue Lagoon. Work your way inshore to a meals and friendly staff. pick up moorings if they are free. It is best to suitable depth, set your anchor and give arrive around noon, when boats that have Wallilabou Customs, immigration, bar, been there overnight have left. If the plenty of scope as the bottom drops off restaurant, showers, dive shop, moorings steeply and you are anchoring on a steeply moorings are full you will have to anchor in (not always reliable). Dive to double check all 20m of water in a reversing tide which is shelving shore. mooring before going ashore. Pirates of the Barefoot have established heavy moorings hard work and uncomfortable. If the wind is Caribbean was filmed here but east or north of east anchorage room for one off their bareboat operation. If any are free unfortunately the set has not been they are available for rent. These are reliable. boat can be found south of Britannia Bay, maintained. Bus service to town. Within south of Ellis Island. Make sure your anchor Barefoot (Ch 68) overlooks Calliaqua Bay and walking distance of small river with waterfall operates a bareboat fleet, with the is in sand and do not damage the coral which and a good pool for swimming. is poor holding in any case. infrastructure to support it; engineering, sail Cumberland Bay Plenty of restaurants and awning repair services are available ashore; walk along the beach and have BEQUIA TO ST VINCENT (page 14) seven days a week and there is an air drinks at a few different ones before making conditioned bar and restaurant. Seth the Bequia Channel has the well-deserved a decision for dinner. Boat boys generally reputation of being exceedingly rough at manager is a font of information on St good. Mooring good but check by diving. Vincent, he has been in the bareboat times. This brief eight-mile passage has

4 damaged any number of small boats and his mooring, he collects his fee and departs. corner of the island, is a nice little part-time dinghies over the years. The water is Shortly afterwards another launch arrives anchorage. When the ground swell is smoothest during a leeward tide. A alongside, driver says you are on his mooring running, however, this anchorage is windward tide will offset your leeway, but it and wants his fee. Sorting this problem out impossible; the surf breaks so heavily will also manage to churn up a nasty, steep can vary from being difficult to impossible. onshore that even the fishermen cannot sea. I have seen the waves making up into There is a good anchorage on the north side launch their boats. But during the spring and almost boxlike shapes 2m high and 2m of the harbour, west of Bequia Slipway . summer, it can be a great spot. between each crest - a great place to lose a There may be more water than the charts As you approach from the south, feel your dinghy under tow. show, so use eyeball navigation and the way up, favouring the eastern shore. The From Admiralty Bay, leaving the west fathometer to feel your way in. reef to the west is extremely difficult to spot. cardinal beacon (VQ(9)10s) off Wash Rock to L’Anse de Chemin This cove on the west side There is only room for one or two boats. If it starboard. Play the wind shifts close to the of the northwest point of Bequia is seldom is crowded here when you arrive, other Bequia shore and keep inshore, short tacking visited by yachtsmen. With the wind south of anchorages can be found all along the up the coast, until you feel you can east, the anchorage is calm and you’ll find western side of the island, after you have comfortably lay Duvernette Island or Blue 5·5m close to shore. There is good skirted the reef. Once anchored, go ashore Lagoon. The choice depends on your final snorkelling and ashore are the ruins of an and enjoy the view from the top of the hill. destination. Allow 200° for set of the current old sugar plantation. No road, no people - an (page 99) (see Plan) and check bearing carefully before tacking. old-style, practically undisturbed West Indian BATTOWIA This may seem illogical but the 14m gaff- anchorage. As far as I know, Battowia is another island rigged schooner Stella Maris twice beat seldom visited by yachtsmen. There is no Friendship Bay (see Plan) The home of the Iolaire - 14m marconi-rigged yawl - between harbour. If the trades are not blowing too last whaleboats in the western hemisphere Bequia and Duvernette Island in just this hard, an anchorage can be had west of the still hunting whales. In the late 1950s they way, tacking northeast along the Bequia reefs extending to the west of Church Cay. A were launching six boats a day during the shore before setting out. Bahamian moor will be required here, since season. Now there are two. To reach Continue northeastwards tacking up the the current runs strongly through the break Friendship Bay, tack up the south coast of Bequia shore until you are sure that you can between Battowia and Baliceaux. I am told Bequia, pass between Middle Cay and lay Blue Lagoon. Remember the tide is very by the fishermen that a dinghy landing can Semples Cay, stand eastwards until you can strong in Bequia Channel, if it is ebbing be made in the cove on the southeast corner easily lay Semples Cay on starboard tack westwards it will be running a solid 2 knots of the island. Here, in the past, small boats (remember the current may be setting you to which means you will be set on starboard would land to drop off and pick up supplies. leeward at 1 to 2 knots), enter Friendship Bay tack a good 20º or more. Remember Blue The island was a sugar island, the only midway between Semples Cay and St Hilaire Lagoon is east of Duvernette, and the reminder of which is a ruined smokestack at Pt and anchor in the northeast corner to current the last mile before you reach Blue the head of the cove. Now Battowia is obtain the quietest anchorage. Lagoon is extremely strong. It is advisable to uninhabited, but it remains a delightful continue up the coast of Bequia until Anse ISLE A QUATRE (page 96) place to visit when the weather permits. de Chemin. Then head for Blue Lagoon If this Thousands of Caribs were imprisoned here Pretty to look at, but one must be something is done you are guaranteed (unless you are after surrendering to the British. Many died of a mountain goat to appreciate it. The very unlucky) to lay Blue Lagoon on one tack. and the survivors were shipped off to British anchorage is below the house on the Honduras and the Bay of Islands. BEQUIA (pages 88-96) northwestern shore in three fathoms of water. The house is perched on a ridge 120m Admiralty Bay (see Plan) The main anchorage PETIT MUSTIQUE (page 100) above the sea and facing directly into the and town on Bequia. Ashore one finds bars, A small, steep island south of Mustique with trades. It must have one of the best views in restaurants, an open air market for fresh no anchorges and little of interest. As far as the entire Caribbean. fruit and vegetable, a number of un-super I know, it is not visited by yachtsmen. The southwestern cove of Isle à Quatre supermarkets, and the various businesses (Lagoon Bay) can be entered by boats that are needed to support the large fleet of SAVAN ISLAND (page 100) drawing 2m or less. There is a maximum of transient yachts and other cruising boats that Well to windward of Petit . If you 3m in the cove. The cove is completely reef- stay so long they are aground in their own are heading south from Mustique, this is a encumbered and should be attempted only coffee grounds. Good shelter in all normal possible overnight anchorage in settled by an experienced reef navigator under ideal conditions but a veritable death trap if a conditions. One can anchor in the lee of this conditions. It is impossible to give detailed hurricane comes anywhere near as it is open island, or between the islands with one sailing directions: Just enter on the eastern to the west and a ground swell pours in. The anchor on the windward of the two and a side of the cove and feel your way in, but S side, Princess Margaret Bay, is untenable in second anchor on the reef to leeward. The only under ideal circumstances, with good a N swell. current runs strongly there, which no doubt light and a crew member on the spreaders. For yachts of normal draught (2·5m or less) accounts for the excellent fishing. No one Standing on the pulpit is not high enough. there are no dangers. Coming from the would suspect that anyone could live on this north, pass to the west of the west cardinal PETIT NEVIS (page 96) little pile of rocks, but someone does, and beacon (VQ(9)10s) off Wash Rock, then tack charges visitors for the right to camp or fish. This is where the whales caught by the up into the harbour staying clear of Belmont If it is not blowing hard, a north-to-south Bequians are brought to be butchered, so Shoal. This nabs a tremendous number of passage between the islands makes for a whale bones are strewn along the shore. bareboats as they do not realise that the spectacular sail. Be sure to have your camera Most of the time, you will find the island boats moored on Belmont Shoal are either ready on the starboard side as you emerge deserted, except during weekends and shoal draught multihulls or centerboarders! from the channel. You will see an holidays when the people of Bequia come It is reported that this shoal now carries impressively massive stone arch created by across to let the good times roll. considerably more water. Some deeper the tides on the west end of the island. There is a good anchorage off the western draught boats are tucked inside the reef, and shore of Petit Nevis, but the bottom falls off if you head for them you will come to a so steeply here that you must nearly set your FACILITIES sudden stop. bow ashore before dropping anchor. When Kingstown HM & Customs The anchorage is likely to be very the anchor is down, feed out plenty of scope. 784 456 1083 crowded. Find a spot clear of the ferry  It is always calm here when it’s windy. You VHF Ch 06, 16, 11 channel which is roughly due west of the can walk over to the windward side, where main dock. Check your fathometer before Young Island Cut Anchorage the beach varies from white sand to loose anchoring as a sand dredger is operating,  784 458 4826 gravel, depending on the storms that year. gathering sand for construction and the VHF Ch 16, 68 This is an excellent picnic spot and regardless harbour may be considerably deeper than Barefoot Yacht Charters of the condition of the beach it is always the chart shows. Make sure you are securely 784 456 9526 cool, with the trades blowing through the  anchored before you go ashore. VHF Ch 68 palm trees. If you pick up a rental mooring, be sure to Lagoon Marina dive and verify that it is suitable for the size BALICEAUX (page 99) (see Plan)  784 458 4308 of boat. The quality of moorings in 1½M long and a ¼M wide, NNE of Mustique, VHF Ch 68 Admiralty Bay varies drastically. Also the this high, rugged, seldom-visited island is Ottley Hall Marina ownership of moorings for rent seems to be inhabited by transients - fishermen who  784 457 2178 subject to debate. You pick up a mooring, a camp on the beach for weeks or months at a VHF Ch 16, 68 launch comes by, the driver states you are on time. In Landing Bay, at the southwestern 5 Wallilabou Anchorage  784 458 7270 VHF Ch 68 Bequia Marina  784 458 3246 VHF Ch 16, 68 Daffodil Marine Services  784 458 3942 VHF Ch 68 Friendship Bay Resort  784 488 8363 VHF Ch 68 Mustique (Moorings) 784 458 4621 Call Mustique Moorings VHF Ch 16, 68

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