Vieux Fort (South)
Vieux Fort Bay · South Bay St. Lucia
13°43.4'N 60°57.0'W
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
100m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
100m
100m — largest alarm radius reflecting fair (not excellent) holding and exposure to wind-accelerated conditions from the St. Vincent Channel. Anchor drag risk highest during southward departures when wind is building. Set alarm to wider radius for fair-holding sandy mud. If staying overnight, consider 120m radius in fresh trade wind conditions.
About This Anchorage
Vieux Fort at the southern tip of St. Lucia serves primarily as a crew changeover point and official customs clearance location. Hewanorra International Airport (the main long-haul airport, handling transatlantic flights from Europe and North America) is 5 minutes from the anchorage — making this the most convenient stop for joining or leaving crew by long-haul flight. The anchorage in Vieux Fort Bay behind the man-made breakwater offers moderate shelter with fair holding in sand and mud. Vieux Fort is an official port of entry. The south tip of St. Lucia sits at the northern end of the St. Vincent Channel — one of the most wind-accelerated passages in the eastern Caribbean, with trade winds squeezed and accelerated to 20–30kt+ between the islands. Plan southbound departures carefully.
Protected From
N · NW · NE · W
Exposed To
S · SE · SW · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring. Port of entry — Customs and Immigration Vieux Fort. Navigation licence: EC$200–400.
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- Customs and Immigration office in Vieux Fort town. Announce arrival on VHF 16. Report within 24 hours of arrival.
Restrictions: Port of entry — do not go ashore before clearance. St. Vincent Channel south: plan passage carefully — strong trade wind acceleration. Least shelter of any anchorage on island.
Hazards
- !St. Vincent Channel immediately south: trade winds accelerate 20–30kt+ regardless of conditions elsewhere — strongest current and exposed waters on the island
- !Fair holding only — anchor drag risk in sustained winds; verify set carefully and use 100m+ alarm radius
- !Airport approach overhead — Hewanorra airport arrival corridor; no tall obstructions
- !Least sheltered anchorage on St. Lucia — not recommended for extended stays or rough weather
- !Customs mandatory on arrival — do not go ashore before clearance
Skipper's Tips
- →Vieux Fort is primarily a crew changeover stop — Hewanorra Airport 5 min makes it the most convenient crew-change anchorage on the island
- →Plan St. Vincent Channel crossing carefully — check weather window; channel can be brutal (20–30kt+) in fresh trades
- →Customs here can be faster than Rodney Bay in off-peak season — worth using if crew are flying into Hewanorra
- →Maria Islands Nature Reserve (world's rarest snake) is visible 0.5nm east — guided tours from Vieux Fort
- →Southbound to St. Vincent/Grenada: depart early morning when trades are lightest; Channel usually calms by 0700–0900
Facilities
Restaurants and local food in Vieux Fort town. Basic provisions in town market. Hewanorra Airport 5 min (taxi) for arrivals/departures.
Nearest provisions: Vieux Fort market and town (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. Short stays only recommended. Best as crew-change or Customs stop rather than extended anchorage. St. Vincent Channel crossings require weather windows — check forecast carefully.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 100m
Even on SMMA mooring buoys, chafe and current can cause movement overnight. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — critical when moored close to Piton cliff faces in the dark.
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