This is an update regarding the situation in the Iles des Saintes.

We arrived off Ilet a Cabrit on 4 February 2014, at 2.00pm to find that all the moorings there were all occupied and that only one boat was at anchor. We couldn’t find anywhere in a reasonable depth to anchor, so we went across to the mooring area by Bourg des Saintes. Again all the moorings were occupied, but there were two boats at anchor at the back of the moorings so we found ourselves a space in 3m and anchored.

About 20 minutes later a chap in a launch came alongside and said we must move because anchoring was not allowed in that area. When asked where we could anchor, he pointed to a boat about half a mile away on the edge of the bay which was rolling and pitching as there was no protection from the strong easterly wind of that day. When I pointed out that the boat was basically on a lee shore, the chap said to go round the corner to the bay by Pain de Sucre.

Anchoring off Ilet a Cabrit was also not allowed, although there were several larger vessels anchored in 20m+ well off. He said we needed to be outside the yellow conical buoys, but it was not clear exactly where these buoys were.

We then spent half an hour looking at the charts and trying to decide where to go. Our concerns being the strength of the wind and the depths for anchoring. We were just going back on deck to move when the launch returned alongside with the same chap, but this time accompanied by a gendarme who very aggressively told us to move immediately. Neither had any interest in clarifying where we could go.

We went round to the bay by Pain de Sucre to find it very full, with the only available space in depths of 12m+ dropping off steeply, and little shelter from the wind and swell. We then went along to Anse Fideling which provided reasonable shelter for anchoring in 4/5m, but it is a long way round to Bourg by dinghy if you need to go there.

Talking to other people it seems that currently, the moorings off Bourg are full by mid-morning at the latest. The outer moorings have a little shelter from prevailing winds and can be very uncomfortable. The moorings are each set up for large boats which seems not to make the best use of the available space. The attitude of the officials we spoke with was very unpleasant and unwelcoming. Not being able to anchor even temporarily near Bourg makes it difficult to clear in or out.

So, if you are going to visit, be aware of the potential difficulties and have a back-up plan ready, especially if it’s near to sunset as it is difficult to negotiate the islands in the dark.

We did also talk to a Frenchman who was going ashore to complain to the Mairie, but unfortunately, we had to move before he returned so don’t know what response he had.

Jane Francis

Related content

Iles des Saintes