Basse Terre’s leeward coast
Once you’re round Pointe de Vieux Fort with its conspicuous light, and level up with the fishing haven of Anse Dupuy where fishing boats and small local craft take shelter, the swell dies away but so does the wind, often leaving a flat calm sometimes broken by fierce gusts. Despite the cruising yacht traffic, this coast is noticeable for the almost complete absence of tourist and marina development, apart from Rivière Sens Marina, making it relatively unspoilt.

Rivière Sens Marina
Before you get to Basse Terre and the famous Fort Delgrès lying at the foot of the imposing massif of the Carib Mountains and the volcano of La Soufrière, you reach Rivière Sens Marina, the only possible stopping-place for along the whole of this leeward coast. It’s possible to anchor outside, S of the sea wall, but it’s inevitably rolly. However, recent works to improve the Marina’s pontoons have increased the number of places available for visiting yachts to approximately 20. Currently the strait between the two moles allows access for boats with up to 2·7m draught. Both moles have traffic signals. The Rivière Sens Marina is only 2km from Basse Terre town. You can get there either by road or the pleasant walkway along the shore. This is the place to leave your boat for an exploration of nearby La Soufrière and its surroundings.

Anse Deshaies

For 2M beyond Pointe Mahaut the rocky coast has no real shelter until you get to the best-known anchorage on the coast opens up: Anse Deshaies, protected from the N by Pointe du Gros Morne. This anchorage is visited by most boats heading up or down the main N-S route in the Antilles.

Ashore There’s an atmosphere of peaceful calm in a village prettily set around its bell tower and surrounded by coconut palms. Some small shops and grocery stores offer provisioning as well as local produce (rum). There’s a very varied choice of places to eat. From the first place you come to, Le Mouillage, at the end of the dock, restaurants carry on along the shore and up the village streets.

For more details on these moorings and other shelters of leeward coast