Grafton Beach Anchorage

About This Anchorage

Grafton Beach (Stonehaven Bay) is a scenic bay on Tobago's northwest coast backed by the Grafton Beach Resort and the Grafton Estate — famous for its resident population of white-tailed sabrewing hummingbirds and other birds fed daily at the estate. The beach itself is a significant leatherback turtle nesting site (March–August) and monitored by conservation volunteers. The anchorage gives reasonable shelter from the NE trade winds and the sand holding is reliable. Snorkelling on the reef patches at the bay edges is good. The Grafton Beach Resort has a bar and restaurant accessible to visiting sailors. A pleasant overnight stop on passage up the Caribbean coast of Tobago — less crowded than Crown Point and more natural in setting.

Hazards

• !Leatherback turtle nesting Mar–Aug — no lights or activity on beach at night; nesting females are easily disturbed
• !Reef patches at bay edges — anchor in central sand; use visual inspection and chart
• !Exposed to south and west — monitor forecasts; move to Crown Point if westerly conditions develop
• !Trade wind acceleration around Tobago's northwest tip can create choppy conditions

Skipper's Tips

• →Grafton Estate bird feeding (daily at 16:00) is a remarkable spectacle — hummingbirds, tanagers, and motmots at close range
• →Leatherback turtle nesting watches (Mar–Aug) with the conservation team are unforgettable — arrange in advance through Tobago Tourism Agency
• →The snorkelling on the reef patches at the north edge of the bay has excellent fish life
• →Grafton is a quieter, more natural alternative to the busy Crown Point anchorage — worth an overnight if conditions allow

Nearby Anchorages