|
|||
|
|
Canouan is an island in transition. A decade ago it was a sleepy island that time forgot. Then Italian developers bought somewhat over half the island (the northern part), and a new era of big development began. The vast injection of new money has rapidly transformed the island, with many fancy new houses built by locals. The new development is a gated one, with guards at the entry points, and locals and visitors alike need permission to enter. The big, fancy new hotel and golf course opened for a while then closed for expansion. It is now open again, with Trump running the casino and offering luxury apartments and Raffles running the resort end. Glossy Hill is currently being removed to provide material for an airport extension. A marina might then be built in Friendship Bay. From the visitor’s point of view there are spectacular beaches, great views, and lovely walks almost anywhere. The Moorings has a base here for about 20 boats right next to the Tamarind Beach Hotel. This brings charterers right into the heart of the Grenadines, allowing them to cruise with short, easy sails. Weather is posted daily. They have a large dock and don’t mind visiting yacht tenders on the south side. You may need a decent anchor to hold you clear. In big swells all docks are dangerous.
Rameau Bay is a pleasant spot far from the village. You may have to try a couple of times to get the anchor well dug in, and the wind shifts around, so two anchors are advisable. Corbay is a small anchorage but one of the most protected on the island. It is sometimes used for bringing materials in, so it is occasionally noisy. At other times it is great. If you anchor off the landing dock, you may have to move if cargo arrives. Charlestown Bay is the main anchorage and the entrance is marked by a red and green beacon on either side. Pass between them. You can anchor anywhere in the bay except for the area close to the Tamarind Hotel Beach, which is full of Marcus’s Moorings. The anchorage is pleasant, but northeasterly winds with northerly swells can make it uncomfortable and, in extreme conditions, even untenable. The holding in sand is fairly good. The wind tends to get held up in the hills and then shoots down from the north in intense gusts. Boats swing every which way. There is a large ferry dock off the beach, the big new Moorings dock, the dinghy dock off the Tamarind Beach Hotel, and a small wooden dock in the southern part of the bay. You will find a fair grocery store next to the Moorings, several small stores in town plus a handful of bars and restaurants.
click chart to enlarge
|
Canouan
