Portsmouth - Docking
Moorings
Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services (P.A.Y.S.) are based here. This is a group of trained certified guides and local businesses that also patrol the north end of Prince Rupert Bay at night during the winter sailing season (November to the end of May) and offer a number of services to cruising boats (formalities, ice, garbage, laundry, fuel, water etc.).
PAYS operate the mooring field in Prince Rupert Bay with approx. 40 moorings in 15-40ft of water, in front of the PAYS pavilion and dinghy dock. There are plans to install 10 new moorings in front of the old Ross university in the southern corner of Prince Rupert Bay by winter 2024.
As you enter Prince Rupert Bay you will likely be approached by a PAYS member in their water taxi. They can be identified by the PAYS logo on their boat. Alternatively, call them on VHF. Ch.16 and they will assist with tying up to their maintained moorings.
The PAYS office is located on Purple Turtle Beach in Prince Rupert’s Bay. They have an internet café and showers. Their charge is EC$25.00 a night, including all the services above and the mooring. PAYS accept USD, EURO and GBP (British Pound Sterling).
On Sundays, they run a popular BBQ, cost $50EC each for all you can eat and drink (rum punch only!).
Winter 2024 PAYS will be receiving 30 new moorings which will be installed in other anchorages on the west coast between Toucari in the south and Mero, south of Portsmouth. MERO (Mero Association of Yacht Services) is an expansion of the PAYS brand to copy the success in Portsmouth. There are plans to install a dinghy dock in Mero later in the season. It is hoped the PAYS brand will also be expanded to Newtown in the south.
Anchoring
Prince Rupert Bay is a popular choice with yachts for anchoring, which is free. The holding is variable as some of the sand is mixed with coral rubble. Closer to the beach is generally the best holding.
PAYS staff are trying to monitor this area for yacht security, both during the daylight hours and overnight. However, it’s a very large bay, so please help them out by anchoring close to them in the northernmost portion of Prince Rupert Bay, from the concrete fishing dock northward toward Purple Turtle.
Take care anchoring amidst the mooring buoys at the north end of the bay, and remember to allow 360 degrees of swing room to avoid entanglement with the markers.
Remember also that whilst you will see anchored boats all facing West during the day when the western sea breeze stops at dusk, everyone turns back east overnight. Eastern squalls often blow through the anchorage during the night, so it’s important that you set your anchor and chain correctly.
It is not advisable to anchor in the south of Prince Rupert Bay where yacht thefts and boardings have been reported.
Note that Wednesday and Saturday nights are “Loud music nights”, so best to moor further offshore if you prefer the quiet.
In addition, it is common for local children to play around the dinghy docks unsupervised, so take care when tying up your dinghy.
WiFi is available in the harbour.
Security
Yacht burglaries and boardings, dinghy and outboard theft have been reported here in the past – see security reports for the latest info. via the info. icon. Be sure to lock up before leaving your boat and secure your valuables at all times, in particular when leaving your dinghy ashore on a dinghy dock.
Last updated: March 2024
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Related to following destinations: Dominica, Portsmouth
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DATE: 2019-01-09 21:00
Country Name: Dominica
Location Detail: Prince Rupert Bay PAYS dock
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
Stolen Items: RIB dinghy, 6HP-4S outboard
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: Cruisers left their dinghy unlocked at the PAYS dock to attend the weekly PAYS BBQ. When they returned 2-3 hours later, the dinghy was gone. PAYS made an unsuccessful search for the dinghy. The victims filed a police report the next day and received the paperwork after a lengthy 2.5-hour wait.
DATE: 2018-12-13 00:00
Country Name: Dominica
Location Detail: Prince Rupert Bay Madiba dinghy dock
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
Stolen Items: 3.1m Highfield dinghy/9.9HP Honda outboard
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: The crew went ashore to enjoy reggae night at Madiba at about 11:30 PM, and did not lock the dinghy to the dock. About 30 minutes later, they decided to return to the yacht and found that the dinghy was gone. They advised the restaurant, who summoned both the police and PAYS who did a search, and then returned the crew to the yacht moored nearby. PAYS and the coast guard conducted further searches the next day, but the dinghy was not located. A police report was made.
We interacted mainly with Lawrence of Arabia (a boat that works for PAYS). Lawrence was wonderful and professional.
Bring earplugs; they are serious about their late night music on Wednesday night!!!
If you do an Indian River tour, your guide will drop you off at the Indian River dock, and you will have to purchase a parking pass at the gas station. I think it was the US $5 pp. Bring cash for the Jungle Bar. Also try their Painkiller…it’s a herbal rum, NOT what you get in the virgin islands. Liked it a lot! The coconut punch was also excellent.
Spent about 8 days in Portsmouth, of which 2 were on a mooring buoy: THANK YOU guys of PAYS, you are doing a great job over there! Also, the BBQ on Sunday evening was delicious!
SALOME III
I spent three nights on the P.A.Y.S. moorings and felt safe. Those P.A.Y.S guys are friendly, helpful and trustworthy. Highly recommendable is their BBQ every Sunday night. Great opportunity to meet with other skippers or make friends with the P.A.Y.S. guys.
I’ll be there again in a couple of days an looking forward to joining the BBQ again.
Skipper Ingo, from Germany, liveaboard on his boat “Faule Haut”, http://www.faule-haut.de
Posted by Eve and Tom on the main Dominica Page:
We stayed in Dominica in January 2018.
There is much devastation around the island: trees are ripped bare and many roofs are (partly) missing. Construction and repairs are in full progress, and the trees have new leaves on them already. People are very friendly and helpful. I think the best thing to do right now is to spend some money (go to a cafe, restaurant, get a mooring, do a tour) and spread the word about lovely Dominica.
PORTSMOUTH
There is a big anchorage here, but we decided to spend some money on a mooring. PAYS offers the moorings for 25 EC a night.
We can really recommend doing an Indian River tour with Eddison. Our guide was called Daniel and we loved his early-morning tour. They are on channel 16 and 8 or can be reached on +1 767 225 3626.
It is amazing to hear first-hand stories about the hurricane from the tour guides and very inspiring to hear how the country is getting back on its feet.
Posted on behalf of HolRobert:
During our stay on March 10, 2017, an old neglected coaster sank in Prince Rupert Bay. It is just under the surface. Coordinates 15 34 66N, 61 27 75W. We left Rupert Bay on the 11th, the danger was not yet marked by then.
Last night there was the worst Disco Music we have ever heard – from 9 pm until 4.30am! It was horrible for all yachts in Portsmouth/Prince Rupert Bay. There is music there at least every Sunday and Wednesday!!
This is an excellent anchorage. Water is available from a floating platform: you just have to moor against it and fill your tanks for about 50EC. Just ask on VHF channel 16. Watch out for unlit rusting boats when you come into the bay by night.
YACHTIE APPRECIATION WEEK
February 14 to 21, 2016
Organised to celebrate the installation of a new mooring field in Prince Rupert’s Bay. All visiting yachts will receive free moorings, discounted island tours, and nightly socials. As a bonus, St. Maarten Yacht Club will help organize a Rally/Race to get boats from the island of Dominica to St. Maarten in time for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta.
To all Cruisers who are anchored in Prince Rupert’s Bay, please be advised that the JETTY at Purple Turtle Beach is UNDER CONSTRUCTION so please walk at your own risk. We care for the safety of all our cruisers, so please pass the message on. Thank you, the PAYS TEAM.
No, anchoring is free and we’ve been assured that the PAYS guys are very amenable to people anchoring.
Posted on behalf of Ken Goodings, SY Silverheels III:
After three incidents concerning dinghy tampering over only two days to our dinghy, we’ve decided not to leave our dinghy on the PAYS dock. Unsupervised children playing? or vandals are tampering with dinghies there and last year they did some damage to ours.
Thanks, Sue. Sounds like I should budget $30/night for anchoring the boat. Assume that is fee irrespective if boat size.
This from the Dominica Cruisers (P.A.Y.S) Facebook page, posted 24 January: PAYS provide night security, mooring, search & rescue, yachting services, tours, laundry services, taxi, garbage disposal, customs & immigration clearance. WiFi is provided around the pays office area. On Sundays, we do Sunday BBQ. We accept USD( United
States Dollar) EURO and GBP (British Pound Sterling). Eastern Caribbean Dollar – $30.00 a night. For all mention services, there is a fee.
Not sure if the previous post went through so resending. Are there dockage/port fees if a boat is anchored in Portsmouth?
SailClear is in use but the officers get rotated every 6 months creating a slight lag in updating the officers. Soon I will install computer terminals at both main ports of entry (Roseau & Portsmouth). Fees are currently EC$4 per person plus $1.50 for forms (within working hours).
Happy you enjoyed yourself in Dominica. Please do come again
We could clear it with sail clear in Portsmouth Febr 2015. If requested – you get your passport stamped at the immigration office at the police station in town. We loved the BBQ and the bars around the beach. Enjoyed our 10 days stay there.
Posted on behalf of Johanna
We visited Dominica end of April 2014.
Customs had never heard about SailClear. We paid 10EC for check in and out. Internet: the Hothothotspot net is available in the harbour.