Francis Bay

About This Anchorage

Francis Bay on St. John's north coast is one of the quieter, more remote national park anchorages — a shallow bay with a long white sand beach, healthy seagrass meadows (anchor only in sand patches), and excellent wildlife. The bay is home to a small heron colony in the adjacent mangroves, and tarpon, rays, and sea turtles frequent the shallows. The NPS has installed mooring balls. The Mary Point headland to the north provides some protection from northerly swell. Francis Bay is reached after rounding the northern tip of St. John and is part of the remote northeastern coast — requiring a longer sail from Cruz Bay but offering a more secluded national park experience. The nearby Maho Bay is just around the headland. Together Francis and Maho Bays make an excellent two-night exploration of the quieter north coast.

Hazards

• !Northern exposure — north Atlantic swell can enter; check swell forecasts carefully before overnight
• !Seagrass beds — anchor only in clearly visible sand patches; seagrass anchoring causes significant damage and is prohibited
• !Shallow inner bay — draft limitations apply; vessels over 1.8m draft should anchor in outer area
• !Remote location — no facilities; fully self-sufficient required; limited cell coverage in some areas

Skipper's Tips

• →Francis Bay is one of the most peaceful anchorages on St. John — the quiet north coast offers a genuine escape from Cruz Bay crowds
• →Wildlife watching is exceptional here — bring binoculars for the heron colony in the mangroves and watch for tarpon in the shallows at dawn and dusk
• →The evening light over the bay looking west toward the sunset is magnificent — plan to be anchored by 16:00
• →Maho Bay (0.5nm east around the headland) makes an easy day trip by dinghy — two bays, one anchorage
• →The water clarity at Francis Bay is excellent — good snorkelling off the sandy points on either side of the bay

Nearby Anchorages