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Table of Contents

General Sailing Tips for the Caribbean:

• Weather: The best time for sailing is from **December to April** during the dry season with stable trade winds.
• Hurricane Awareness: **June to November** is hurricane season—monitor forecasts and have an emergency plan.
• Customs & Immigration: Each island has different entry regulations; check clearance requirements before arrival.
• Anchorages & Mooring: Some islands have well-maintained mooring fields, while others require anchoring in designated areas.
• Provisioning: Large islands have full provisioning services, while smaller islands may have limited supplies.

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AG Antigua & Barbuda

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• English Harbour & Falmouth Harbour: World-famous for Nelson’s Dockyard, historic charm, and excellent yacht services.
• Jolly Harbour Marina: A full-service marina with fuel, restaurants, and provisioning.
• Barbuda Anchorage (Low Bay): A stunning but undeveloped anchorage near pristine beaches.

Sailing Pointers:

• Antigua hosts the **Antigua Sailing Week**, a top regatta event in late April.
• Strong trade winds make sailing challenging but exciting.
• Shallow waters around Barbuda require careful navigation.

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BS The Bahamas

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Nassau (Bay Street Marina & Palm Cay Marina): Excellent services for transient boats.
• Exumas (Highborne Cay Marina, Staniel Cay Yacht Club): Great stops for exploring the Exuma Cays.
• Abacos (Marsh Harbour Marina, Green Turtle Cay): Popular cruising grounds with well-maintained facilities.

Sailing Pointers:

• Shallow waters in many areas—use updated charts.
• Strong tidal currents around cuts and channels.
• Beware of sandbanks and shifting shoals.

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BB Barbados

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Port St. Charles Marina: The island’s only full-service marina with customs clearance.
• Bridgetown Anchorage: Offers basic mooring, though swells can be strong.

Sailing Pointers:

• Barbados is not a major sailing hub, so provisioning and marine services are limited.
• Best for short stays and repositioning to other Caribbean islands.

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BQ Bonaire

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Harbour Village Marina: The main marina with customs clearance.
• Kralendijk Anchorage: Offers secure mooring buoys.

Sailing Pointers:

• Bonaire is a **marine-protected area**—anchoring is prohibited.
• Mooring buoys must be used in designated spots.

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CW Curaçao

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Seru Boca Marina: Full-service marina with haul-out services.
• Spanish Waters Anchorage: Popular and well-protected anchorage.

Sailing Pointers:

• Curaçao is outside the hurricane belt, making it a great year-round sailing destination.

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DM Dominica

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Portsmouth Anchorage: Secure mooring field with boat boys offering services.
• Roseau Anchorage: Mooring buoys available, but swells can be challenging.

Sailing Pointers:

• Dominica has few marinas, so expect to anchor.

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GD Grenada

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Port Louis Marina: High-end marina with excellent facilities.
• Prickly Bay Marina: Popular with long-term cruisers.

Sailing Pointers:

• Grenada is a hurricane-season hideout for many yachts.

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VC Saint Vincent & The Grenadines

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Blue Lagoon Marina: Secure marina on Saint Vincent.
• Bequia (Admiralty Bay): A sailor’s favorite, with easy mooring and great services.
• Tobago Cays: Stunning but requires careful anchoring.

Sailing Pointers:

• Watch out for strong currents between islands.
• Boat boys are common in Bequia and can assist with mooring.

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VG British Virgin Islands

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Road Town Harbour: The main marina with all services.
• Bitter End Yacht Club: A legendary stop in North Sound, Virgin Gorda.

Sailing Pointers:

• BVI is the **sailing capital of the Caribbean** with easy island hopping.

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US U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas: A major yacht hub with customs services.
• Cruz Bay, St. John: A quieter anchorage with scenic views.

Sailing Pointers:

• Great provisioning and refueling options in St. Thomas.

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PR Puerto Rico (Mainland & Islands)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• San Juan Bay Marina: The best full-service marina in San Juan.
• Puerto del Rey Marina: One of the largest marinas in the Caribbean.

Sailing Pointers:

• Puerto Rico has many harbors, making it a great stop for Caribbean sailors.

Comprehensive Guide to Harbors, Marinas & Sailing Tips for the Caribbean Islands

General Sailing Tips for the Caribbean:

• Weather: The best time for sailing is from **December to April** during the dry season with stable trade winds.
• Hurricane Awareness: **June to November** is hurricane season—monitor forecasts and have an emergency plan.
• Customs & Immigration: Each island has different entry regulations; check clearance requirements before arrival.
• Anchorages & Mooring: Some islands have well-maintained mooring fields, while others require anchoring in designated areas.
• Provisioning: Large islands have full provisioning services, while smaller islands may have limited supplies.

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AW Aruba (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Renaissance Marina: A luxury marina with access to Renaissance Island.
• Varadero Aruba Marina: A well-equipped marina with haul-out services.
• Bucuti Yacht Club: A smaller marina with great facilities.

Sailing Pointers:

• Strong trade winds make for excellent sailing conditions but require skillful navigation.
• Aruba has strict customs and immigration requirements—clearance is required upon arrival.

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SX Sint Maarten (Dutch Side of Saint Martin)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Simpson Bay Marina: A full-service marina with customs clearance.
• Isle de Sol Marina: A luxury superyacht marina.
• Port de Plaisance: A high-end marina with excellent facilities.

Sailing Pointers:

• Sint Maarten is a major yachting hub with easy access to the rest of the Caribbean.
• Simpson Bay Lagoon Bridge opens at scheduled times for boats entering the lagoon.

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FR Saint Martin (French Side of Saint Martin)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Marina Fort Louis: A full-service marina near Marigot.
• Captain Oliver’s Marina: Located on the French-Dutch border.

Sailing Pointers:

• French clearance is available in Marigot.
• The island offers excellent provisioning and marine services.

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KY Cayman Islands (UK)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• George Town Yacht Club: A premier marina with full amenities.
• Cayman Islands Yacht Club: A modern facility with great services.

Sailing Pointers:

• Anchorages around Grand Cayman can be exposed to weather—choose mooring fields where available.

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MS Montserrat (UK)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Little Bay Anchorage: The only harbor for visiting boats.

Sailing Pointers:

• Sailing around the exclusion zone near the volcano is strictly prohibited.

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TC Turks and Caicos (UK)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Blue Haven Marina (Providenciales): A top-tier facility for luxury yachts.
• Turtle Cove Marina: A great marina for mid-sized yachts.

Sailing Pointers:

• Turks and Caicos is known for its shallow waters—careful navigation is required.

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FR Guadeloupe (France)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Marina Bas-du-Fort (Pointe-à-Pitre): A well-equipped, major yacht hub.
• Deshaies Anchorage: A secure and popular anchorage.

Sailing Pointers:

• French clearance is easy but required for all visitors.

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FR Martinique (France)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Le Marin Marina: The largest marina in the Lesser Antilles.
• Fort-de-France Anchorage: Offers customs clearance and easy access to the capital.

Sailing Pointers:

• Martinique is a major provisioning stop for Caribbean sailors.

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FR Saint Barthélemy (France)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Gustavia Harbor: The island’s main marina, catering to luxury yachts.

Sailing Pointers:

• High demand during peak season—reservations are recommended.

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NL Sint Eustatius (Special Municipality of the Netherlands)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Oranjestad Bay: The only port with moorings and customs clearance.

Sailing Pointers:

• Limited facilities—best for short stays or overnight anchoring.

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General Caribbean Sailing Tips:

• Provisioning: Larger islands like Martinique, Sint Maarten, and Guadeloupe have well-stocked supermarkets.
• Customs & Immigration: Each island has different requirements—check in at official ports of entry.
• Weather Considerations: Use apps like Windy and PredictWind to monitor weather changes.
• Hurricane Season: If sailing between June and November, have a hurricane plan and avoid high-risk areas.

Comprehensive Guide to Harbors, Marinas & Sailing Tips for the Caribbean Islands

General Sailing Tips for the Caribbean:

• Weather: The best time for sailing is from **December to April** during the dry season with stable trade winds.
• Hurricane Awareness: **June to November** is hurricane season—monitor forecasts and have an emergency plan.
• Customs & Immigration: Each island has different entry regulations; check clearance requirements before arrival.
• Anchorages & Mooring: Some islands have well-maintained mooring fields, while others require anchoring in designated areas.
• Provisioning: Larger islands have full provisioning services, while smaller islands may have limited supplies.

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NL Saba (Special Municipality of the Netherlands)

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Fort Bay Harbor: The only harbor on Saba, offering customs clearance and a small marina.

Sailing Pointers:

• Saba has **no natural anchorages**—the seabed drops off steeply near shore.
• Mooring buoys are available but are limited—**anchoring is prohibited** to protect the coral reef.
• Strong currents and winds can make docking challenging.

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DO Dominican Republic

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Marina Casa de Campo (La Romana): A world-class marina with excellent facilities.
• Ocean World Marina (Puerto Plata): A popular stop with customs clearance and resort-style amenities.
• Marina Cap Cana (Punta Cana): A luxury marina with great provisioning services.

Sailing Pointers:

• Winds along the **north coast can be strong**—plan crossings carefully.
• Marinas provide the safest overnight docking—**anchoring in some areas can be risky due to theft concerns.**

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JM Jamaica

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Errol Flynn Marina (Port Antonio): A well-equipped marina in a scenic setting.
• Montego Bay Yacht Club: A full-service marina with customs clearance.
• Kingston Harbour: A large commercial harbor with limited yacht services.

Sailing Pointers:

• Jamaica is known for **strong trade winds and rough seas on the north coast**.
• Secure marinas are recommended—**anchoring in open areas is not advised due to security concerns**.

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KN Saint Kitts

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Christophe Harbour: A luxury marina with customs clearance and full services.
• Port Zante (Basseterre): A cruise ship port with limited yacht facilities.

Sailing Pointers:

• Good anchorage in **Ballast Bay** for short stays.
• Customs must be cleared at official ports before moving between anchorages.

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KN Nevis

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Charlestown Anchorage: A designated mooring area near the main town.

Sailing Pointers:

• Nevis does not have a full-service marina—expect to **anchor or use mooring balls.**
• Clear customs in Charlestown before visiting other anchorages.

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LC Saint Lucia

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Rodney Bay Marina: One of the best marinas in the Caribbean with full services.
• Marigot Bay Marina: A stunning, well-protected natural harbor.
• Soufrière Mooring Field: A designated area near the Pitons for eco-friendly mooring.

Sailing Pointers:

• Saint Lucia is a major **yachting destination**, especially for those traveling between the Grenadines.
• Some areas require the use of **mooring balls to protect coral reefs**.

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TT Trinidad

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• CrewsInn Marina (Chaguaramas): A top-rated marina with excellent yacht services.
• Power Boats Marina: A well-equipped yard for maintenance and repairs.

Sailing Pointers:

• Trinidad is **one of the best hurricane-season hideaways** due to its southern location.
• Chaguaramas is the **main yachting hub**, offering full provisioning and repair services.

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TT Tobago

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Scarborough Port: A commercial harbor with customs clearance.
• Store Bay Anchorage: A secure anchorage near Crown Point.
• Charlotteville Anchorage: A scenic, well-protected anchorage.

Sailing Pointers:

• Fewer yacht services than Trinidad—**provisioning should be done in Trinidad before heading to Tobago.**

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US Navassa Island

Best Harbors & Marinas:

• Navassa Island **has no harbors or marinas**—it is uninhabited and off-limits to the general public.

Sailing Pointers:

• Navassa is a **restricted U.S. National Wildlife Refuge**—entry requires government approval.
• There are **no anchoring areas**—waters are deep and hazardous.

Important Notice About Navassa Island

Access is **only permitted for authorized scientific research, conservation efforts, or government-related operations.** Boaters and sailors must seek **clearance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)** before approaching the island.

Navassa Island does not have:

• Harbors or marinas
• Anchorages or mooring fields
• Freshwater, fuel, or provisioning facilities

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General Caribbean Sailing Tips:

• Provisioning: Larger islands like **Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Saint Lucia** have excellent supermarkets and marine stores.
• Customs & Immigration: Every island has different clearance procedures—research before arrival.
• Weather Considerations: Use apps like **PredictWind, Windy, and NOAA** to monitor forecasts.
• Hurricane Season: If sailing between **June and November**, have a storm plan and avoid high-risk areas.