Rivière Sens Bay

About This Anchorage

Rivière Sens Bay is a quiet, uncrowded anchorage on the Basse-Terre west coast, midway between the Cousteau Reserve (Malendure) to the north and Basse-Terre town to the south. Named for the Rivière Sens river that empties into the bay, this is an authentic local anchorage away from the tourist circuit — a simple black sand beach with a backdrop of tropical vegetation and the looming mountains of the national park. The nearby Domaine de la Rivière Sens has organic tropical fruit groves open to visitors. The west coast of Basse-Terre between the Cousteau Reserve and the capital is less visited than the more famous northern bays, and sailors anchoring here will often have the bay entirely to themselves. A peaceful, uncomplicated overnight anchorage with good holding and reliable trade wind shelter.

Hazards

• !River outflow — anchor well north of the river mouth; silt and fresh water reduce holding near the river
• !SW and west exposure — monitor for swell in weather systems
• !No facilities — completely self-sufficient required
• !Black sand beach — dinghy approach can be confused by water colour changes over volcanic sand

Skipper's Tips

• →Rivière Sens Bay is one of the few anchorages on the Basse-Terre west coast where you are very likely to have the bay to yourself overnight
• →The organic fruit farms in the area above the bay sometimes sell produce directly — look for stalls on the coastal road
• →The snorkelling off the rocks at the northern headland is surprisingly good — clear water and modest coral growth
• →Use this anchorage as a staging stop between Malendure/Cousteau Reserve and Basse-Terre town
• →La Soufrière is visible on a clear day from the bay — take a bearing and note the cloud formation for weather prediction

Nearby Anchorages