Grand Turk North — Lighthouse

About This Anchorage

The north end of Grand Turk is home to the historic iron lighthouse (erected 1852, one of the oldest in the Caribbean and still operational), the grand ironwork Duke Street mansions, and Columbus Landfall National Park — commemorating the possible first landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on 12 October 1492. The case for Grand Turk is built on the writings in Columbus's journal describing a long, low, flat island with a lagoon on the west side and a reef to the east — a description that fits Grand Turk remarkably well. The national park has interpretive exhibits and a monument. The anchorage off the north end of the island gives access to both the lighthouse and the park by dinghy. The northern exposure makes this a daytime-only destination for most conditions; overnight stays require exceptional weather stability.

Hazards

• !Maximum northern exposure — avoid in any northerly swell; day anchorage only in most conditions
• !Strong tidal current in Turks Island Passage — set anchor firmly; significant ranging on rode
• !Tidal range 0.6–0.9m — depth variation at anchor
• !Columbus Landfall National Park reef — no anchoring on reef; approach dinghy carefully

Skipper's Tips

• →The Grand Turk lighthouse (1852) is one of the oldest and most photogenic in the Caribbean — worth the dinghy trip to see it up close
• →Columbus Landfall National Park has interesting interpretive panels on the Columbus 1492 landing debate — the case for Grand Turk is compelling
• →Visit in the morning in settled conditions — return to Cockburn Town Roads before afternoon trade winds build
• →The north coast of Grand Turk has some of the best unspoiled reef on the island — snorkel off the dinghy in the clear water

Nearby Anchorages