Falmouth Harbour
Falmouth Harbour Anchorage · Antigua Yacht Club Marina
17°00.2'N 61°46.7'W
Depth
5–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m alarm radius for 5–12m in mooring field. If on a mooring buoy, set alarm to 40m (mooring radius + swing). Harbour is very sheltered — alarm radius can be tighter than open anchorages. During Sailing Week reduce to 50m; traffic in harbour is extremely heavy.
About This Anchorage
Falmouth Harbour is the commercial and event heart of Antigua's sailing scene — a larger, deeper harbour directly adjacent to English Harbour, connected by a short dinghy ride. Where English Harbour has history and atmosphere, Falmouth has facilities and scale: 4+ marinas including the Falmouth Harbour Superyacht facility (handling vessels to 90m), the Antigua Yacht Club Marina, and dozens of marine service businesses catering to the largest charter and superyacht fleets in the eastern Caribbean. Falmouth is the venue for Antigua Sailing Week (late April), the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta (late April), the Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting (December), and Antigua Race Week. The anchorage mooring buoy field run by Sea Pony Moorings provides well-maintained orange buoys throughout the harbour. The Antigua Yacht Club on the south shore hosts races, parties, and the famous Race Week prize-giving.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW · S · SE
Exposed To
E · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Mooring buoy fee ~US$20–25/night (Sea Pony VHF 68); anchoring between buoys ~US$2/night (Antigua Port Authority); National Park fee ~US$15/night additional
- Maximum stay
- 30 days
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring on coral; Q flag until cleared; Port Health FIRST; Sailing Week berths book 6+ months ahead; no anchoring in approach channel; no discharge of waste.
Hazards
- !Extremely crowded during Sailing Week — limited swinging room; anchor watch essential 24 hours
- !Mooring buoys fill completely Dec–April; arrive early or pre-book through marina
- !National Park fees plus mooring fees plus Port Authority fees — budget US$35–40/night total anchoring costs
- !Coral on margins of harbour — anchor only on confirmed sand/mud; no coral contact
- !NE exposure at harbour entrance — swell can enter in NE conditions; inner buoys are best
Skipper's Tips
- →Hail 'Sea Pony' on VHF 68 immediately on entering Falmouth — they will assign a mooring buoy and save you anchoring in a tight spot
- →Falmouth is the hub for crew changes and provisioning for Caribbean charter fleets — the chandlery and supermarket at the marina complex are excellent
- →Antigua Race Week (late April) parties at the Antigua Yacht Club are open to visiting sailors — the best social event in the eastern Caribbean
- →Catherine's Café on the north shore (dinghy access) is legendary for lunch — French cooking, great wine, stunning view — book ahead
- →The walk from Falmouth to English Harbour via the ridge path takes 20 minutes — spectacular views; do it at sunset
Facilities
Antigua Yacht Club bar and restaurant, Catherine's Café (lunch only, excellent French food), HQ Bar & Grill, Seabreeze restaurant. Full chandlery, sailmakers, riggers, dive shops, marine electricians on site.
Nearest provisions: Falmouth Harbour Marina complex (0.1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May best. January–April peak season — harbour at maximum capacity. Hurricane season June–November: Falmouth is deep enough to shelter many vessels, but a direct hurricane is a real risk. June and November are the shoulder months — calmer but still off-season.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
English and Falmouth Harbour get crowded — especially during Sailing Week. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so your boat is safe while you enjoy the Caribbean.
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