Vigie Cul de Sac
Vigie Bay · Castries outer bay
14°01.0'N 61°00.1'W
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m on mud and sand in 3–8m. Well-sheltered by Vigie peninsula. Mud bottom can require good digging anchor — use Rocna or plow type. Set with engine test. Good shelter but mud can be soft — check drag carefully if wind over 20kt.
About This Anchorage
Vigie Cul de Sac is the sheltered inner bay just north of Castries, St. Lucia's capital, protected by the Vigie peninsula and its lighthouse. The bay is used by cruising yachts as a staging point for entering Castries proper, or as a quiet alternative to the busy commercial harbour. The Vigie lighthouse, one of the two major coastal lighthouses, monitors VHF 14 and 16 around the clock. George F.L. Charles Airport (domestic flights to Martinique, Barbados, and inter-island) occupies the Vigie peninsula and creates some aircraft noise. Anchoring in 3–8m on mud and sand gives reliable holding. The bay is well-sheltered and a comfortable overnight stop in virtually all conditions.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW · S · NE
Exposed To
E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring. Castries is a port of entry — clear Customs in commercial port (VHF 16). Navigation licence required.
- Permit required
- No
- Permit details
- VHF 16 monitored by Vigie lighthouse. Castries port authority on VHF — advise arrival.
Restrictions: Keep clear of ferry routes and commercial shipping lanes entering Castries. Airport approach corridor overhead — no obstruction of flight path. Respect Vigie lighthouse exclusion zone.
Hazards
- !Commercial shipping and ferry traffic entering Castries — maintain watch; do not anchor in fairway
- !Airport approach overhead — aircraft noise; no obstacles above mast height in approach corridor
- !Soft mud bottom — anchor may drag in sustained winds over 20kt; verify set carefully
- !Vigie lighthouse exclusion zone — give the lighthouse structure a wide berth
Skipper's Tips
- →Vigie lighthouse (VHF 14 and 16, 24/7) can provide local weather information on request
- →Short dinghy ride south to Castries for provisions, market, and sightseeing
- →George F.L. Charles Airport (Vigie) handles inter-island flights — useful for crew changes to regional islands
- →Castries Saturday market (7am–2pm) is a St. Lucia highlight — fresh produce, spices, craft
- →Monitor VHF 16 for any port authority instructions — Castries is a busy commercial port
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Castries market and supermarkets (1nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Year-round anchorage — well-sheltered by Vigie peninsula. Best November–April. Proximity to Castries makes this useful any time of year for provisioning and crew changes.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
Trade wind gusts and ARC fleet traffic in Rodney Bay can cause anchor drag overnight. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — wake up before you are aground.
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