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UPDATES to the 2012-2014 edition  

All entry (customs etc) and dealing with the moorings (below) is now done upstairs in the same place as the internet cafe (turn right off the main dock look upstairs on your right). It is called LES SAINTES MULTISERVICES,  and you can talk to Ludovic Dabriou

The Moorings we mention as planned in this edition are now in place. They are compulsory, which is contrary to what we said was planned.  Though if they are full you can anchor. The rates are below:

ST. MARTIN

I posted that the French side bridge was closed for repairs. It is now back up and running!

Nevis

Despite a friend reporting he had been told that the Nevis moorings have been maintained I am sure they have not! I was there for two nights this last week and had to try 5 moorings before I found one that was safe. The thimbles at the top of the rope risers are rusted and significantly worn and when they break the metal just cuts through the spliced eye. Also one swivel was almost pulled through. I cannot comment on the bottom ends as visibility was not good.

A local yachtsman confirmed they are not maintained despite spare equipment being stockpiled on the island. One yacht apparently went ‘walkabout’ around New Year time.

s/y Moonbeam of Argyll

Moorings are now available in Montserrat. Raphael White of Shamrock Moorings Plus [VHF: 16/86] has 6 moorings for rent, three in Little Bay and three in Rendezvous Bay. The moorings are white with blue strip and have a card attached. Charges range from $20-30 US a night, maximum size is 45 feet and less than 10 tons displacement. Shamrock Moorings also offer hull scrubbing, ice delivery, laundry and garbage collection. They are planning water and fuel delivery. Moorings can be booked in advance 664 496 4866/491 9177, shamrock.moorings.plus@gmail.com. You can find their office at the Green Monkey Dive shop. Check their website.

Update from: -- Chick & Alexis s/v Rigole' posted Feb 1 2012

Montserrat Moorings
Jan.19, 2012 we tried to contact Raphael White, both on VHF and the phone numbers listed in the previous posting, to no avail.
We learned from Port Authority and a local taxi/guide that his moorings in Little Bay had been removed due to a "local dispute".
We picked up one of his moorings in Rendezvous Bay which seemed secure. After dinner we looked around and discovered that we had dragged out to sea, now in 400' feet of water. Since it was late, and Rendezvous Bay was it's usually untenable-rolly we anchored in Old Road Bay in front of the old golf course which is now an ashen riverbed overflow, with no problem and very little roll, comfy sleeping. This area is in the new exclusion zone but since the gov't. has given permission to owners to occupy a dozen houses on the adjacent hill just south of the riverbed it seems safe for now.*

Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear there is a problem with the moorings in Little Bay. I would not count on Old Road bay being safe! the houses are on slopes either side of the valley, the anchorage is at sea level right at the end of the valley. Anything that comes tumbling down there will be right out into the anchorage!

  

HEY THIS IS REALLY COOL!

FREE courtesy bikes at Island Water World

Summer bridge times into Simpson Bay Lagoon from Simpson Bay have been changed as follows: 

9:30 am and 11:30 am - outbound traffic followed by inbound traffic
4:30 pm - outbound traffic
5:30 pm - inbound traffic

There have been a few rate changes for anchoring in Simpson Bay (Dutch side) and Marigot Bay (French side) 
On the Dutch side in Simpson Bay or the lagoon fees are as follows: For a week (or portion thereof) it is (all US$):, $20 for boats from 9 to 13 meters long; $40 for boats 13-18 meters long; $60 for boats 18-23 meters long; $90 for boats 23 to 28 meters long; $120 for boats 28-33 meters long; $150 for boats 33-38 meters long; $180 for boats 38-43 meters long $210 for boats 43-50 meters long; $250 for boats 50-75 meters long, and $290 for boats over 75 meters. If you stay 6 weeks you only pay for 4.
Everyone who passes inwards through the bridge during their normal opening pays fees as follows (all US$): $7 for boats from 9 to 12 meters long; $21 for boats 12-15 meters long; $42 for boats 15-18 meters long; $120 for boats 18 to 22 meters long; $200 for boats 22-28 meters long; $300 for boats 28-36 meters long, and $500 for those over 36 meters. Special bridge openings are available by request between 0600 and 1800 for $1,000.
You also have to pay a clearance fees when you clear out. Fees (customs + port) are ($2+$5) up 99 tons; ($5+$10) 99+499 tons; ($9+$20) 500 up.

On the French side Clearance is by do-it-yourself computer terminals. There is a $5Eu clearance fee. There is no bridge charge. No charge for being inside the lagoon. If you are staying in Marigot Bay you pay as follows: The initial administrative fee, including first day’s anchoring charges:
8-13 meters, 20 Eu, 13-18 meters, 30 Eu, 18-23 meters, 40 Eu, 23-28 meters, 50 Eu, 28-33 meters, 60 Eu, 33-38 meters, 70 Eu, 38-43 meters, 100 Eu, 43-50 meters, 120 Eu, 50-75 meters, 130 Eu, over 75 meters, 150 Eu. Thereafter, non-resident boats pay 0.25 Eu per meter per day up to day 3. From day 4 on, they pay 0.35 Eu per meter. Residents pay 0.13 Eu per meter per day. 

Bonita;'s Cantina

Linda and I enjoyed visiting with you in Marigot Bay, St. Lucia.  We are now in Simpson Bay and have bought the 2010/2011 Guide to the Leeward Islands.  We read the information on Rick’s and want to give you this update.

On October 5^th 2009 Bryan and Bonny Tyrell took ownership of the restaurant and have renamed it Bonita’s Cantina.  Bryan is form Kansas City and Bonny is from South Africa.  Bryan has owned several Barbeque Restaurants and serves excellent barbeque here.  His slow smoked ribs are some of the best I have ever had and I am from Texas.  They also still serve good TexMex.  The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and they have both lunch and dinner daily specials along with happy hour from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.  A second bar was added in the front part of the building with widescreen televisions which usually show sporting events.

Regards, John Moorhead

s/v Kool Kat

St. Bart’s customs and Immigration started using a new system January 2, 2010. They have computer terminals that must be used to enter all required information on their forms. No longer can you bring in a preprinted Crew or Passenger list. Good news is that if you show up with a flash drive  (usb drive), they will download the forms on it and you can fill them out on your own computer (excel format I believe) and then bring in the completed forms and they will download them from your flash drive and print them out for you. The forms and downloads are not available on the internet.

The St. Barts system is slightly different to the other French systems. Once you have entered it once it does save your information to make it easier for you the next time. I don't think they do the USB bit any more because of a virus..

Nevis – Four Seasons has opened again as of December 2010. 

From: Renee in St. Kitts. Spice Mill is a good new restarurant that has opened in the middle of Banana's Bay. They opened too late to get in the guide, but it sounds great, so check them out.

Hi Chris
 
In case you haven't heard, the main channel into Falmouth Harbour, Antigua - usually pretty well lit - is currently suffering from lack of lights - until recently the Bishop's Reef entrance marker was missing (being refurbished) but has now been replaced - however several of the channel markers leading to the AYC Marina, and Falmouth Harbour Marina are currently unlit, this includes the 'preferred channel mark' for vessels heading towards the "Cat Club Marina" - beware if entering after dark!
 
Regards Pippa - S/Y Miramar

By the way DO NOT visit this restaurant before you have cleared customs, At least one boat did so and was fined $5000. A wonderful way to say "Welcome to Antigua, we would love you to spend money in the island. Or maybe they figured having sucked 5000 out they would not have any more to spend anyway! Chris

Check the Eli Fuller link below. :Apparently this was just one of three boats similarly screwed by the authorities. When I have mentioned this incident to other officials in other islands their reaction has always been the same "What are they crazy?" These Antiguan officials clearly suffer from a bad case of Epauletsia. http://www.365antigua.com/cms/content/opinion-customs-bureacracy-its-bestworst-18-nov-2010

On a much brighter note, one of the best evenings I had in Antigua was leaning how to cook. Here is the link:  http://nicolestable.com/ I very highly recommend this experience.

Deshaies. Forget the old customs up the hill. The customs computer is in the Pelican internet and souvenir shop and working well. They open:
Monday to Saturday 0830-1230, 1600-1900 sunday 900-1300

Low season they close on Sunday, and open 0900-1200, 1630-1900.

From Charlie & Maureen s/v KamalohaRe: 

Chutes de Carbet waterfalls: Don't bother to hike in with your bathing trunks. You can no longer hike anywhere near the base of either the first or second chute. In fact, you can't even get close enough for a decent view of the falls; they are half-blocked by trees at the closest point. It seems that an earthquake in 2004 with a lot of rockfall into the pool got the authorities thinking it could happen again, so they closed the trail before the suspension bridge (and removed the bridge). Very disappointing, especially since a fee is charged for trail access.

Dominica

There are some great new restaurants/facilities in Dominica. I have given them all links on this site on the Dominica links page. They include:

Drop Anchor a great bar with a fabulous dock. You can take on water, get showers, do wifi, drink great cocktails and eat meat and fish pies. This is a great new hang-out in the Roseau anchoring area. 

Talipot an inexpensive restaurant and art gallery between town and Dominica Marine Services. Lovely food and srvice

Rodney's Wellness Retreat. This is down in Soufriere, set in a four acre garden with seats and hammocks dotted around. They are open for lunch and dinner, prices are reasonable, much of the food from the garden. They also do tours. it is easy to take a bus there.. 

CUSTOMS NOTES. 

Anguilla and Montserrat are now on eseaclear.

Statia has added both customs and immigration to their line of officials (before it was just port captain)  Unfortunately Immigration will not clear you out in advance, which means an early morning departure is impossible unless you manage to persuade the immigration official to turn up at dawn.. The way they have it written, they only have to clear you out (and you have to leave) during office hours. I have never heard of anything like this before, anywhere. 

Date last edited

02/01/2012