For a long time Grenada was a big pleasure boating centre, but then political problems led some of the yachties who once chose it as their home port to go elsewhere. Others in the Antilles lost the habit of cruising as far as Grenada and tended to stop in the Grenadines. Today, however, Grenada has all it takes to re-establish its privileged position as a cruising destination: spectacular anchorages, especially in the S, with the best cyclone holes in the Antilles; huge, empty beaches, and a splendidly varied landscape covered with forest. St George’s, the capital, is one of the prettiest ports in the Caribbean thanks to its 18th century buildings. The recent addition of a superb marina makes it an all but obligatory stop if you’re on your way to Carnival in Trinidad or to the Venezuelan islands.

West coast
There’s often not much wind so be
prepared for several hours’ motoring.

St George’s Harbour
The N part of Grenada’s capital is obvious from seaward, but to find the entry to the harbour you must head S round Fort George Pt, keeping well clear of the cruise ship dock which juts out several hundred metres NW from this point. A night entry is feasible if you remember that the lights are unreliable. By day access is obvious if you look out for the shoals off Ross Pt and on the W side of the entrance to The Lagoon, though this is all beaconed with port hand buoys. Within the port there are two anchorages, either side of the cruise liner quay (Ship Dock):
• to the NE, the Carenage
• to the SE, the Lagoon

The Carenage
To the NE, the big basin of the Carenage is for local boats and is not used by yachts although exceptions may apply (contact port authorities on VHF Ch 16).
Note The N part of the Carenage is very shoal. Don’t leave either boat or tender unguarded.
Ashore Around the Carenage there are lots of restaurants with terraces overlooking this area of the port. There are equally plenty of fairly well-stocked shops and supermarkets for provisioning. For fresh produce there’s nothing better than the local market near the Esplanade (use the Sendal Tunnel), best on Saturday morning.
The Lagoon
This is the principal yacht anchorage. The entrance runs close past the cargo dock and the first pontoon of Marina Port Louis. The vast basin which constitutes The Lagoon has a variable depth of 5–9m. It is well sheltered but the reception facilities of Port Louis and the YC, where anchoring is prohibited, occupy nearly the entire area. For non-restricted anchorage head outside of The Lagoon to Ross Point.
Grenada Yacht Club (GYC, VHF 16, 09) on the N shore has an arrivals pontoon with approx. 40 berths equipped with water and electricity. Beside it is a second pontoon with a fuel dock.
Ashore The office, bar and restaurant of the yacht club overlook the pontoons. Customs and immigration offices are in the same small complex. There’s always a warm welcome at the yacht club and there are good services (showers, laundry, taxis, etc.). The GYC organises local racing throughout the year and takes part in the Above wharf at The Carenage Top right St George’s Harbour from the N famous sailing week (Grenada Sailing Festival) every January.
On the S side of The Lagoon, the vast facilities of the recently created Marina Port Louis are pleasantly situated. Numerous pontoons are equipped with water, electricity and WiFi and there’s berthing for about 60 boats. An extension is available for very large yachts. Yachtsmen will also find a luxuriously decorated restaurant-bar with pool, entertainment and some shops. There is a ship chandler on site but for maintenance you will need to head to the S coast of Grenada where the majority of services are located.
At the edge of The Lagoon is a branch of Island Water World which offers a good selection of stock. There are also various restaurants in the area, some of which offer delicious local specialities, and a wellstocked supermarket.

South coast
The coast is marked by what are almost fjords, which offer the greatest number of more or less untouched anchorages and hurricane holes you’ll find anywhere in such a compact area in the Antilles. East of Hartman Creek, the majority of
the inlets now have more visitors but the estate agent developments (of pretty cottages), where they exist, are excellently blended in.
Recommendations:
• enter the anchorages under power
• some passes are regularly disturbed by SE swell. You need good visibility with the sun high in the sky to use those which are not marked.

Prickly Bay (L’Anse aux Epines)

The most popular anchorage in the S of Grenada and a port of entry. If there’s a big swell and you draw much water, avoid the 4m patches extending off True Blue Pt to the SW of the bay.
At the E end of Prickly Pt there’s a tower like a lighthouse, though the privately owned building isn’t actually one. Enter the bay on 030°. Once around the middle of the inlet, watch out for the shoals to port. The entry channel is usually buoyed up to the quay of Prickly Bay marina situated on the E shore. There are about 20 berths (water and electricity) and a fuel dock. Additional berths for super-yachts have been created as part of the vast building project overhanging the shore.
Ashore The marina has a restaurantpizzeria with its terrace right next to the pontoons. There’s also a laundry and mechanical and electrical repair services, as well as the customs and immigration offices.
If you go right up to the far north of this bay where the coastguard pontoons are, and follow the second buoyed channel (approx. 3m draught), you’ll come to the vast Spice Island Marine Services repair and service complex (VHF Ch 16).
Ashore Visiting yachtsmen will find a welcome on the beautiful terrace of the bar-restaurant right beside the dinghy pontoon, and opening out behind you’ll see the boatyard hardstanding area with its impressive 70 tonne travel-lift. On the left-hand side is a large hangar which houses the very well stocked Budget Marine chandlery and a sailmaker who also specialises in rigging and electrical equipment. In or near the boatyard you can find a welder, a mechanic and diesel engine repairs. This wide range of specialist services, the welcoming feel of the marina buildings, and the vast anchoring area (well-protected from SE swell) make Prickly Bay (which used to be called by its French name, L’Anse aux Epines) the most popular stopover place in the south of Grenada. You will find more restaurants not far along the road to St George’s, the island’s small capital which can easily be reached by taxi or bus.
Anchoring is restricted just N of the marina; be sure to avoid getting too close to the area of the beach belonging to the upmarket Calabash Hotel, whose sumptuous buildings occupy the NE of the bay.

Mt Hartman Bay

Note Leaving Prickly Bay, go right out round Prickly Pt leaving The Porpoises to the S. If you’re coming straight from Pt Saline, it’s best to go out to the S round The Porpoises (which can be hard to spot) before altering for Mt Hartman Point on 013°. On this route you’ll leave little Tara It and its shoal ground to starboard. Stay on the same course towards Mount Hartman Point; this will take you between two more reefs, one to port and one to starboard. Buoys mark the entry channel for Mount Hartman Bay to the N and the W coast of Hog Island. (Note Like most markers for the entry channels to the fjords of the S coast, the indications of the private buoys remain unclear). Alter course to NW to reach the vast anchorage of Mount Harman Bay. The W side is fringed with shoal ground but to the north of these you will see some marina pontoons. The best place to anchor is in the NE of the bay in 3–7m.
Ashore This marina was part of the huge Secret Harbour hotel complex, which is now being redeveloped after a change of management. The pontoons of Secret Harbour Marina (formerly known as Martin’s Marina) provide about 50 berths with water, electricity and a fuel dock for passing boats. Land by tender. All services ashore are available only to clients of the marina. There is a restaurant and the marina is lined with the bungalows of the old hotel.

West Coast
Dragon Bay & Grand Mal Bay
The southernmost coast from Beauséjour to Grand Mal is classified as a Marina Park. Pay for use buoys are available in various sites; some are reserved for day charters. Ashore A beach restaurant welcomes yachtsmen with a menu of local specialities (seafood) and WiFi. Beyond Moliniere Pt is Grand Mal Bay which also offers anchorage. It is possible to moor either to an available buoy S of Moliniere or S of Grand Mal pontoon, leaving access for small tankers headed to the storage station on the shore of Halifax. Nearby is a restaurant situated on the shore with a dinghy dock and offering various yachting services.

For more details and moorings :
Grande Anse
Morne Rouge
True Blue Bay
Hog Island
Clarke’s Court Bay
Port Egmont
Calivigny Island
Calivigny Harbour
Westerhall Bay / Bacaye Harbour
St David’s Harbour
Grenville