CASTRIES HARBOUR

THE ARC RACE
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is the world’s largest transoceanic race. The event starts in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands at the end of November and finishes in Rodney Bay, the ARC’s home for the last 16 years. The marina at Rodney Bay accommodates the participants, about 200 boats and crew members, during the winter season. The first boat crosses the finish line at Rodney Bay in early December.

CASTRIES HARBOUR
Vigie Creek (near GFL Charles Airport) and Castries City are the harbour’s two main anchorages. Services include repair and replenishment facilities, hardware shops, restaurants and the capital’s open-air market. Vigie is the more secluded of the two anchorages.

When entering Castries Harbour, it is necessary to avoid the shoal that extends to the west of Tapion Peak. Vigie Hill has a light that flashes twice every 10 seconds, allowing you to easily identify the harbour at night.

Castries Harbour does have Customs officials, but it is easier for yachtsmen to clear through Rodney Bay or Marigot. Officials insist that yachts entering the harbour come directly to the Customs’ dock (if there is no room, anchor east of the Customs buoy). It is wise not to ignore this directive as a fine could be incurred.

Facilities at Castries Harbour:
Harbour/Yacht Services
Pointe Seraphine • Cruise Ship and Harbour • (758)452-3036
8 am to 5 pm • Duty-free shopping

Restaurants:
Jacques Waterfront Dining • (758)458-1900
Mon. to Sat. Lunch & Dinner

The Coal Pot
Vigie Cove • (758)452-5566
Mon. to Fri., 12 pm to 12 am
Saturday 6 pm to 12 am

MARIGOT HARBOUR

Marigot Harbour is a completely sheltered anchorage. It lies approximately 3.4 miles to the SSW of Castries Harbour, the entrance is on 13 degrees 58.1' N 61 degrees 01.8' W. When watching for the entrance, keep an eye open for the prominent house with the bright red roof on the cliff top at the southern entrance.

When entering Marigot Bay, stay to the southern side of the channel. You can still anchor in the inner bay as long as proper navigation channels are observed. Eventually, anchoring in the inner bay will be prohibited and a new grid of mooring buoys will be put in place. If you are anchoring, the holding is fair in soft mud. Once settled you can make your way to the Customs office housed in the Marigot Police Station. Marigot Harbour is an official port of entry for St Lucia.

The Marina at Marigot Bay offers long and short-term dockage in addition to water, electricity and fuel. (Contact:The Marina on VHF Channel 16, Telephone: (758) 451- 4275. Fax: 1 (758) 451-4276. Email: marina@marigotbay.com.)

The Moorings Yacht Charters also runs its yacht charter business from this location.

In The Marina Village you will find a range of facilities including a well-stocked supermarket, French bakery, internet café, doctor’s office, duty free shopping outlets, boutiques, showers and toilets, and a restaurant and bar. (Telephone: (758) 451 4271 Fax: (758) 451 4274. Website: www.themarinavillage.com).

Facilities at Marigot Harbour

Official Services: Customs and Immigration Office, Police Station

The Marina Village: French bakery, supermarket, bank, internet café, doctor’s office, boutiques, sail loft, laundry, bar and Asian-themed restaurant.

The Marina at Marigot Bay: Moorings Yacht Charter Services, fuel, water, electricity, 40 fully serviced slips, deep water berthing facilities for yachts up to 200ft. Mechanical and boat maintenance services available on request.

Discovery at Marigot Bay: 57 luxury suites (half with private plunge pool) and 67 deluxe rooms, the world class Lapli Spa featuring E’Spa products and treatments, Hurricane Hole and Pink Snail bars, The Boudreau Restaurant, and The Rainforest Hideaway Restaurant.

Other Restaurants: JJ’s Paradise, Chateau Mygo, The Shack, and Doolittles at the Marigot Beach Club.

RODNEY BAY MARINA

Rodney Bay is over a mile long with a man-made causeway at its Northern end that connects Pigeon Island to the mainland and shelters the whole bay. Within the bay is a large, completely protected inner lagoon, accessed via a man-made channel between Reduit Beach and the town of Gros Islet. This lagoon, dredged to 15ft., is the home of Rodney Bay Marina (VHF 16), an official port of entry. It is also the ARC’s (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) Caribbean home.

Within the Marina’s complex there are restaurants, boutiques, banks with ATM facilities, public telephones, a supermarket, and car rental agency. The services of a well-stocked, duty-free chandlery, banks, showers and bathroom facilities are also available. Rodney Bay Marina also has a dry dock facility with the necessary workshops to carry out boat maintenance and repair. If you’re planning to stay at the Marina, you must dock at a berth and walk to the Immigration and Customs office.

If you’re planning to anchor out at Reduit Beach, Gros Islet or Pigeon Point, the Marina is the most convenient port of entry into St. Lucia. A Customs’ slip is located approximately two-thirds of the way down the outer dock at Rodney Bay Marina and is marked by a yellow post. Use of the Customs slip is free of charge.

Facilities at Rodney Bay Marina:

The Rodney Bay Marina offers a range of services.

Official services:

Customs & Immigration Office (758-452-0235), open Saturday to Thursday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Rodney Bay Marina Office is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You have access to charters companies, restaurants and cafés, shops, banks and a range of miscellaneous services. Fuel, water, electricity, phones, dry dock, yacht chandlery and transportation are all available at Rodney Bay Marina.

Restaurants:

Scuttlebutts Bar and Grill. (758)452-0351
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Facilities include a freshwater swimming pool, mooring facilities for dinghies, Internet access, daily weather-watch, crew-news, plus delivery service from restaurant to boat. VHF Channel 68.

THE ART BOUTIQUE at Caribbean Art Gallery
Exhibits and sells the work of internationally-acclaimed St. Lucian artist Llewellyn Xavier, emerging local artist Mervyn Charles along with works by Ross Wilson and Gladys and Freda Black. A vast selection of antique maps and prints are available and Caribbean Art Gallery specialises in Caribbean maps and charts. The Art Boutique is a new concept art gallery. Items are eclectic and range from art to vintage collectibles to unique body art, antique jewellery and miniature sculptures. Framing, restoration, authentication and evaluation done.

SOUFRIÈRE

Home of the island’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Soufrière offers dramatic backdrops for visiting boats. Soufrière is an official port of entry. Anchorages can be found at Anse Chastanet, just north of Soufrière Bay, and off the Hummingbird Beach Resort north of Soufrière town. The Soufrière Marine Management Area issues Coral Conservation Permits to all vessels anchoring within the management area. The cost of the permit depends on vessel size and length of stay. Authorised members of the Soufrière Water Taxi Association will help tie stern lines and are available for all water transfer services. Rates are standard and they also provide watchman services when boat owners are ashore. In Soufrière, there are plenty of sights to be explored above and below the water line.

VIEUX FORT

Home to St. Lucia’s main international airport, Hewanorra, and the island’s second-largest town, Vieux Fort is somewhat off the beaten track. Sporting one of the longest stretches of soft, sandy beach, this official port of entry offers a more unspoiled version of the island’s charm. Anchorages are off the town’s big ship dock, where Customs can be found, or beside the Fisheries Complex. The town offers basic mechanical services, two major supermarkets and shopping malls and a great selection of fresh fruits, fish and vegetables at the Saturday market. Anse de Sable Bay, on Vieux Fort’s reef-protected Atlantic coast, is one of the Caribbean’s finest windsurfing and kitesurfing locations, with state-of-the-art equipment for rent.

For more information on St. Lucia’s marine laws, follow the marine guidelines included here (traduit en français) or check with the Department of Fisheries at (758)452-3987/2611, ext. 2811.


MARINE GUIDELINES

ALL VESSELS must proceed directly to a port of entry, no crew or passenger should embark or disembark prior to reporting the vessel to Customs (Castries, Vieux Fort, Rodney Bay, Marigot Bay or Soufrière.)

TOUS LES BATEAUX arrivant à Ste. Lucie doivent se présenter en priorité aux douanes (Castries, Vieux Fort, Rodney Bay, Marigot Bay ou Soufrière). Aucun passager ou membre de l’équipage ne peut débarquer sans autorisation des douanes.

DO NOT land ashore any animals, except with the permission of the Chief Veterinary Officer.

IL EST INTERDIT de débarquer des animaux sans l’autorisation des services vétérinaires.

Any Vessel remaining in Port in excess of seventy-two hours (72 hours) MUST obtain a separate clearance prior to departure.

TOUS BATEAU restant à Ste. Lucie plus de 72 heures doit effectuer une clearance auprés des douanes avant son départ.

The use of, and trafficking of Narcotics are strictly prohibited.

IL EST STRICTEMENT INTERDIT de consommer et de trafiquer des stupéfiants.

DO NOT land ashore any fruits, plants or plant parts without the permission of the Plant Quarantine Officer.

IL EST INTERDIT de débarquer des fruits, des plantes ou même des parties de plantes sans l’autorisation du bureau de quarantaine.

DO NOT flush your toilets or holding tanks within at least one mile from shore.

IL EST INTERDIT de tirer la chasse des W.C. du bord à moins de 500m des côtes de Ste. Lucie.

DO NOT dump any garbage or sewage in our waters or along our shoreline. Find an appropriate garbage container to dispose of your wastes.

IL EST INTERDIT de jeter les ordures et les eaux usées dans les eaux territoriales de Ste. Lucie. Veuillez vous en débarasser dans un endroit approprié, retrouvé à terre.

DO NOT buy or collect live or dead coral. It is illegal to buy, sell or collect coral of any kind (black coral, white coral, skeletons, sea fans etc.) If you buy a conch shell, make sure it has a “flared lip” extending out from the main shell.

IL EST INTERDIT de ramasser, d’acheter ou de vendre du corail, de n’importe quelle sorte, qu’il soit vivant ou mort.

DO NOT damage coral or coral reef areas by standing or bumping into coral, or placing your anchor on a coral area.

IL EST INTERDIT d’abîmer les coraux et les récifs coralliens de quelque façon que ce soit, et en particulier en mouillant votre bateau sur une zone corallienne.

DO NOT use a speargun within the national waters of Saint Lucia (only licensed nationals are permitted to do so). You are required to obtain a license from the Department of Fisheries to do any type of fishing in the waters of Saint Lucia. However, trawling a line behind a vessel is tolerated.

IL EST INTERDIT d’utiliser un fusil sous-marin dans les eaux territoriales de Ste. Lucie. (Seuls les pêcheurs licenciés de nationalité ste. lucienne y sont autorisés.) Vous devez obtenir une licence des autorités de Ste. Lucie pour pratiquer la pêche, quel qu’en soit le type. Cependant, la pêche à la traîne dans un but non-commercial est tolérée.

DO NOT anchor in any area designated as a Fishing Priority Area.
This includes: Roseau Bay, the northeastern corner of Soufrière Bay, the north and southern flanks of Malgretoute, the inner Jalousie Bay (Anse des Pitons), and Anse L’Ivroigne. You may anchor in the following Fishing Priority Areas at Trou l’ouranger and Anse Cochon from 9 am to 5 pm, however, you must give way to fishing if asked to do so.

IL EST INTERDIT de mouiller votre bâteau dans les zones réservées en priorité aux marins-pécheurs ste. luciens. Sont inclus: La baie de Roseau, le nord-est de la baie de Soufrière, le nord et le sud de Malgretoute, l’anse des Pitons et l’anse l’Ivroigne. Vous pouvez mouiller dans les zones reservées de Trou l’Ouranger et Anse Cochon entre 9h et 17h, aprés quoi il vous faudra lever l’ancre pour laisser la place aux pécheurs s’ils vous en font la demande.

DO report the presence of large fishing vessels fishing within the marine waters of St. Lucia to the Marine Police or the Department of Fisheries. St. Lucia has not given permission for any foreign vessel to operate within her waters.

SIGNALEZ à la Police Maritime ou au Bureau de Pêche, la presence de navires de péche étrangers en exercice dans les eaux territoriales de Ste. Lucie. Le gouvernement de Ste. Lucie n’autorise aucun navire étranger à pêcher dans ses eaux.

DO NOT dive within a Marine Reserve (this includes the reef between Anse Galete and Anse Cochon, the reef from Anse Chastanet to the southern side of Grande Caille, reef from just west of Rachette Point eastward to Bat Cave, reef around Petit Piton and around Gros Piton) without the required permit. Dives within reserves must be made with a licensed local dive operator. Individuals who have chartered yachted equipped for scuba must purchase a dive permit from the SMMA offices, they must also employ the services of an authorised dive guide, recognised by the SMMA.
IL EST INTERDIT de pratiquer la plongée sous-marine au sein des réserves naturelles sans permis. (Ce qui inclus le récif entre l’anse Galete et l’anse Cochon, celui qui de l’anse Chastanet à la partie sud de Grande Caille, le récif de Rachette Point à Bat Cave, les récifs autour de Gros Piton et Petit Piton). Les plongeurs possédant leur propre matériel et désirant plonger de manière indépendante doivent se procurer un permis auprès des bureaux du SMMA, ainsi que recourir aux services d’un guide sous-marin, reconnu par le SMMA.

Il est également possible de plonger sur les réserves naturelles dans le cadre d’un centre de plongée agrémenté par les autorités de Ste. Lucie.

DO report any fishing gear which has been sighted on coral reef areas to the Marine Police to the Department of Fisheries (who are authorized to remove such gear). Under no circumstances should you remove or interfere with such gear yourself.

SIGNALER aux autorités la présence de tous matériel de péche abandonné dans la zone des récifs coralliens. N’y touchez en aucun cas, seuls les membres de la Police Maritime ou du Bureau de Pêche y sont autorisés.

DO report any defective or inoperative aids to navigation to the local coast guard radio station, Vigie Lighthouse or Moule à Chique Lighthouse via VHF 16.

SIGNALEZ toutes pannes ou déficiences des systèmes d’aide à la navigation par VHF canal 16, en contactant la permanence radio des gardes cotes, le phare de la Vigie ou celui de Moule à Chique.

DO enjoy our beautiful beaches and coastal waters. With your help we can make sure that they are here to stay for a long time.

PROFITEZ de notre littoral et de nos plages. AIDEZ nous à en préserver la beauté et la propreté.