Dominica

Coming from Martinique, you’ll make
landfall at Scott’s Head (Pt Cachacrou).
Note There are unmarked reefs that are
hard to see (like The Pinnacle) a bit over
300m WNW of Scott’s Head and you
must give them a wide berth.

SW coast
Soufrière Bay and Scott’s Head
The whole of the large bay of Scott’s
Head (Soufrière Bay) as far as Pointe
Michel is a National Marine Park.
Anchoring by yachts is formally
forbidden and the mooring buoys are
reserved for local diving club boats. The
reserve is actually one of the best
underwater sites in Dominica but you
must visit under the aegis of a local club.
Along the shore there are two
charming villages: Scott’s Head in the S
with its fishing boats and in the N
Soufrière, dominated by the tower of its
church. To visit them you’ll have to come
back by road.
Note W of Soufrière village, the Grand
Maison reef, with less than 1m over it,
pushes out 200m or so from the shore.

Roseau Bay
The whole bay is quite well protected,
but swell can sometimes make the
anchorage rolly.

More details on these moorings:

Leeward coast
It’s often windless on this coast and
you’ll usually be motoring. N of Roseau
the areas around the Deep Water Port and Canefield are mostly warehouses and
factories and, apart from the airport at
Canefield, are without interest.
From that point on there are several
anchorages along the way to Portsmouth,
provided you have your Coast Wise
Clearance Permit and the sea state
doesn’t make them too uncomfortable.

Prince Rupert Bay
Portsmouth
This is Dominica’s best anchorage. Either
anchor in the NE part of the bay close to
the coconut palms and several beachfront
restaurants, or further S if you want to be
closer to the landing at Portsmouth or
to the Indian River. There’s another
possible anchorage in the S of Prince
Rupert Bay off the Coconut Beach Hotel
and the Portsmouth Beach Hotel. Both
establishments offer a number of services to yachts (showers, laundry, car rental and
tours, etc). This is a better anchorage than
that in the NE of the bay when the wind is
SE, but obviously less sheltered if there’s
any N swell. It’s also closer to the dock
and customs post at Glanvillia.

Ashore In the NE of the bay the traffic of
yachts and tourists has led to the building
of several small hotels and simple
restaurants. They specialize in local dishes and barbecues at reasonable prices. In Portsmouth’s main street there are local craft shops, minimarkets and a
small chandlery. Saturdays bring a market with fresh produce.
Taxis and 4x4 tours offer trips round the island, but be sure to hire a boat watcher if you leave your boat.
Formalities should be completed at the customs post on the commercial dock at Glanvillia, S of Portsmouth. There’s a gas station near the commercial dock, which will deliver fuel in cases of real need.