Nelson's Dockyard
English Harbour Marina · Nelson's Dockyard Marina
17°00.2'N 61°45.6'W
Depth
4–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
40m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
40m
40m alarm radius for marina berths — mooring set alarm covers berth swing only. The inner harbour is fully enclosed; anchor drag would be unusual but set alarm to detect any unexpected movement against quay or neighbour vessels. In hurricane conditions additional shore lines essential.
About This Anchorage
Nelson's Dockyard is one of the most historically significant maritime sites in the Western Hemisphere — the only continuously working 18th-century naval dockyard in the world, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. The dockyard was established in the 1720s as the Royal Navy's primary base for the Leeward Islands Station, and Admiral Horatio Nelson commanded HMS Boreas here from 1784 to 1787 (as a young, unpopular captain — he was actually under arrest for attempting to enforce the Navigation Acts against American traders). The Georgian brick buildings — Boat House (now museum), Copper and Lumber Store (now boutique hotel), Pay Office, Sawpit, Pitch and Tar Store, Engineer's Office, and Officer's Quarters — are all intact and beautifully restored. The harbour basin itself, where frigates were careened, fitted, and repaired for over a century, now hosts 30 yacht berths set against the same stone quays where Nelson's ships tied up. It is, by any measure, one of the finest places to leave a yacht in the world.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · E · SE · S · SW · W
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina berths: approximately US$2.50–3.50 per foot per night plus National Park fee; contact Nelson's Dockyard Marina for current rates and reservations
- Maximum stay
- 30 days
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Anchoring inside the inner harbour NOT permitted — marina berths only; UNESCO World Heritage Site — no modification to structures, no disturbance of historic fabric; no generators after 10pm; no loud music; National Park rules apply throughout.
Hazards
- !Marina berths fill completely during Sailing Week (late April/early May) — book 6+ months in advance through Nelson's Dockyard Marina
- !Heritage site rules strictly enforced — no anchoring inside basin; dinghy speed limit within harbour
- !Port Health clearance mandatory before leaving boat unattended — officer boards at the dock
- !Entering English Harbour at night: the Pillars of Hercules rocks at the entrance — use lights and current chart
- !Marina costs are among the highest in the Caribbean — budget US$150–300/night for 50ft boat plus park fee
Skipper's Tips
- →Reserve a berth at Nelson's Dockyard Marina at least 6 months ahead for Sailing Week — email marina@antiguayachtclub.com or call +1 268 460 1027
- →The dockyard museum in the Boat House building is excellent — spend 2 hours here for full historical context
- →The Copper and Lumber Store Hotel bar is one of the best places in Antigua for a sunset rum punch — atmospheric in the extreme
- →The National Parks Authority runs guided history tours of the dockyard — highly recommended for the full experience
- →Provisioning at Dockyard: the Dockyard shop has basics; for full provisioning take a taxi to Epicurean at Jolly Harbour (20 min, best supermarket in Antigua)
Facilities
Admiral's Inn restaurant and bar (excellent, historic setting in old Pitch and Tar Store), Copper and Lumber Store Hotel restaurant (fine dining), Boom beach restaurant nearby, Shirley Heights Lookout (5 min walk). Chandlery, riggers, sailmakers, marine engineers on site.
Nearest provisions: Nelson's Dockyard chandlery and shop (0.1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. Peak occupation January–April. The dockyard is open year-round but marine services wind down from June–November (hurricane season). Marina remains occupied with long-term storage vessels year-round.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 40m
English and Falmouth Harbour get crowded — especially during Sailing Week. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so your boat is safe while you enjoy the Caribbean.
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