Best anchorages and harbours in French West Indies

Oyster Pond

Enclosed lagoon on the east coast of Saint-Martin, shared between the French and Dutch sides, with all-round shelter once inside.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, S, SE

Port de Petit-Canal

Small harbour of Petit-Canal on the west coast of Grande-Terre, on the eastern shore of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin.

Mouillage de la marina du Robert

Anchorage off Marina du Robert, in the southern part of Le Robert harbour on the Atlantic coast.

• Sheltered W, SW, S, SE

Port de Vieux-Bourg

Small harbour at Vieux-Bourg, in the commune of Morne-à-l'Eau, on the south-eastern shore of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin.

Anse Toiny

Bay on the east coast of Saint-Barthélemy, 1.5 NM east of Grande Saline, sand and rock bottom.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, E

Plage de Gros Raisin

Anchorage off Gros Raisin beach on the west coast of the Trois-Îlets peninsula, 0.6 miles south-west of Îlet à Ramiers. Rocky bottom, sheltered from north-east through east to south.

• Sheltered NE, E, S, SE

Anse Trois-Rivières

Cove of Trois-Rivières on the south coast of Martinique, between Sainte-Luce and Le Diamant. Mud bottom, sheltered from west through north to east.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, E

Anse Gourmet Aud

Anchorage on the Caribbean side of Martinique in the Fort-de-France area, with sand and patches of algae on the bottom.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

Baie des Cyclones

Hurricane hole in the south-east corner of the Cul-de-Sac du Marin, between Pointe Cailloux and Pointe Malé. Mud bottom, sheltered from every sector except the north-west. Anchoring is only allowed during a hurricane threat.

• Sheltered N, NE, W, E, SW, S, SE

Marina du François

Small 35-berth marina in Le François village, at the head of Le François bay on the Atlantic coast.

La Désirade, côte sud-ouest

Anchorage off the south-west coast of La Désirade, rock and weed bottom, 1.6 miles west of the harbour.

• Sheltered NE, E, SE

Captain Oliver's Marina, Oyster Pond

Former marina of the Captain Oliver's resort in Oyster Pond, on the east coast of Saint-Martin, destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Basse-Terre

Anchorage off the town of Basse-Terre, administrative capital of Guadeloupe, on the south-west coast of Basse-Terre island. Mud and weed bottom.

• Sheltered NE, E

Plage Argand

Beach north of Le Prêcheur village, towards Anse Belleville, on the north Caribbean coast.

• Sheltered NE, E, SE

Port de Baille-Argent

Small fishing harbour of Pointe-Noire at the mouth of the Rivière de Baille-Argent, on the leeward coast of Basse-Terre, 2.7 nm south of Deshaies.

Caye Verte

Islet just off Orient Bay, inside the Saint-Martin national nature reserve, where anchoring is forbidden.

• Sheltered W, SW, S, SE

Cul-de-sac de Paquemar

Enclosed inlet on the Atlantic coast south of Le Vauclin. Weed and mud bottom, sheltered from every sector except the north-east.

• Sheltered NW, N, W, E, SW, S, SE

Fond Blanc du François

Anchorage on one of the white sand shoals of Le François bay, Atlantic coast, used by foilers.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, S, SE

Fort Royal

Anchorage off the beach of the Fort Royal hotel, north of Deshaies on the north-west tip of Basse-Terre, sand bottom, sheltered from NE through SE.

• Sheltered NE, E, SE

Îlet Kahouanne

Uninhabited islet of about 20 ha, some 1.5 km off the north-west coast of Basse-Terre near Deshaies. Anchorage with sand, rock and weed on the bottom.

• Sheltered NW, W

Anse Marigot

Cove north of Bellefontaine village, on the Caribbean coast between Case-Pilote and Le Carbet.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

Marina du Robert - Port à sec

Dry stack and small marina at Le Robert, Four à Chaux district, in the southern part of Le Robert harbour on the Atlantic coast.

Plage de Tartane

Anchorage off the beach of Tartane fishing village, on the north side of the Caravelle peninsula, Atlantic coast.

• Sheltered W, E, SW, S, SE

Pointe Gentil

Anchorage under Pointe Gentil, on the south shore of Le Robert harbour, Atlantic coast.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, E, SW

Pointe Roseau

Anchorage under Pointe Roseau, on the south shore of Le Robert harbour, Atlantic coast.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, SE

Port de Folle Anse

Harbour at Folle Anse on the west coast of Marie-Galante, between Saint-Louis and Grand-Bourg.

Port de pêche du Vauclin

Fishing harbour of Le Vauclin on the Atlantic coast of Martinique, next to the bourg.

Port de Petit-Bourg

Small harbour of Petit-Bourg on the east coast of Basse-Terre, on the western shore of the Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin.

Port de Goyave

Small harbour of the commune of Goyave on the east coast of Basse-Terre, on the southern shore of the Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin.

Port de Sainte-Rose

Fishing harbour of Sainte-Rose, on the north coast of Basse-Terre at the western edge of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin.