Falmouth Harbour - General Info
Description:
Falmouth Harbour is a horseshoe-shaped bay and natural harbour on the southern coast of Antigua. The town and port of Falmouth are situated on the northern shore while nearby English Harbour is located close to the eastern shore.
It can get very bush with lots of big boats coming and going, dinghy racing as well as wing-foiling and kite-boarding activities.
Cruiser Highlights:
Duty free fuel is available in all marinas. Visiting cruisers are welcome at the Antigua Yacht Club.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
Antigua uses the American system of buoyage colouring which means the red buoys are to starboard on entry and the green ones to port. The opposite way around to the U.K., Europe and most of the rest of the world.
When entering Falmouth Harbour be wary of Bishop Shoal which lies to the east of the entrance and is marked by a large, red buoy. Leave the buoy to starboard. The shoal is easily spotted, except in the calmest waters, as waves break over it.
The approach to Antigua Yacht Club Marina, Catamaran Marina and Falmouth Harbour Marina are marked by red and green channel buoys
To enter Antigua Yacht Club Marina or Falmouth Harbour Marina, after Bishop Shoal buoy, leave the next red buoy to port and follow the buoyed channel which leads to both marinas. To enter the Catamaran Marina leave the red buoy after the Bishop Shoal buoy to starboard and line up the two orange triangles on the hillside above the Catamaran Marina. These will lead you to the dock. There are leading lights to the Catamaran marina for night entry.
Position:
17° 00’45″N, 61° 46’44″W.
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Related to following destinations: Antigua, Antigua & Barbuda, Falmouth Harbour
Port Navigation
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We arrived in Falmouth Harbour late in the afternoon on November 14, 2023, and initially anchored in the northwest quadrant of the harbor. In the morning we moved to the AYC Marina.
We left the boat for 5 weeks on an AYC mooring (not at the dock), to attend to family concerns in the U.S. We hired VanRoy (“Festus”) Isaac to watch the boat whilst we were gone, for $50US per visit to the boat. He came twice a week, and was good about posting brief status reports. +1 268-464-6971, and on WhatsApp.
Tom Paterson, the dockmaster at AYC Marina, is a helpful local source for contacts and information. +1 268-736-3424. He recommended Festus.
Upon return to the boat, we had the bottom cleaned by Maurice Belgrave, mauriceunderwaterservices@gmail.com. He and his crew did an outstanding job, for $5US per foot. +1 268-721-6827, and on WhatsApp.
Posted on behalf of Max Terragni:
Just cleared in English Harbour. 7th February 2016
We are moored in Falmouth, we went ashore with our dinghy and 10 minutes walk we found English Harbour
The custom and immigration office is open Monday to Sunday 8 am to 4:45 pm.
I suggest to arrive with the eSeaClear form completed already, otherwise, there are computers available in the office.
I completed the entire process, custom, immigration and port authority for the cruising permit in less than 30 minutes.
Officers were friendly.
Falmouth Harbour Antigua Update for Noonsite March 2015 from Wapiti
We were anchored in Falmouth whilst waiting for our watermaker to be repaired and charges were as follows:
Port entry permit $16US
Park entry fees $16US for two people.
Anchoring fee $1.32 per foot $57.00US
Park fees $1.50 per day per person
Refuse fee $0.50 per day per person
Total bill for 28 days $209US. The only facilities provided were garbage removal
Town water had to be bought from one of the marinas. It appeared to be contaminated and had an unpleasant smell.
No gasoline (petrol) was available in Falmouth as the only gas station had closed.
There was a good and cheap bus service to St. John’s and all other parts of the island.
There is “duty-free” shopping in St. Johns but prices for alcohol may be higher than in the local supermarkets.
Car hire is readily available but Antigua, along with a number of other West Indian countries, has adopted the money-grabbing exercise of charging for a local driving license which makes short term car hire relatively expensive.