Posted 2011-04-03

Check in at the customs computer in the marina office and check out at the same time if you are not changing crew or staying longer than two weeks. There is no longer any need to see either customs or immigration.

All services are available and the marina site has many bars and eateries with free Wifi. There is an excellent laundry with a book swap. There is a good supermarket on site with a large Casino supermarket a ten-minute walk away.

The passage north through the River Saltee is tricky but do-able if your draft is less than two metres. At the first bridge, you cannot see the south going boats (which have right of way) because they are hidden behind the bridge so stand off to the starboard side of the channel until you see the green lights. You have to steer mid-channel and this can be difficult to judge in the dark due to the reflections off the mangroves. Also, some of the buoys appear to have two lights again due to reflections. At the north end, you have to get your pilotage right in the Gran cul de sac Marin and you should really have waypoints for the channel buoys. Going north to south just reverse the process but I would not personally contemplate Gran cul de sac Marin in the dark or in bad weather.

Anthony Swanston

SV Wild Fox

Comment received from Chris Doyle 2011-07-26

Subject: waypoints for cul de sac marin

At the north end, you have to get your pilotage right in the Gran cul de sac Marin and you should really have waypoints for the channel buoys.

“Cruising Guide to the Leeward Islands” by Chris Doyle gives a series of suitable waypoints to aid in navigation through Grand Cul de sac Marin.

Waypoints for Doyle cruising guides from Anguilla to Bonaire and Guyana can be downloaded at no charge here [BROKEN LINK]