Mamora Bay
Mamora Bay anchorage · St. James's Club
17°01.0'N 61°42.5'W
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m alarm radius for 4–10m on clean sand. Excellent holding — anchor sets immediately and holds firmly. E/NE exposure: in trade wind conditions above F4, the bay becomes choppy; if swell enters overnight, relocate to English Harbour (3.5nm W). Generally comfortable in the 15–20kt NE trades.
About This Anchorage
Mamora Bay is one of Antigua's most beautiful and least-crowded anchorages — a wide, sweeping bay on the southeast coast sheltered by volcanic headlands with gin-clear Caribbean water and a pristine white sand beach. The St. James's Club resort occupies the northern headland and offers its beach to guests, while the rest of the bay is open for visiting yachts. The water temperature here is 25–28°C year-round, and the visibility is exceptional — coral formations around the bay edges are visible from deck. The south side of the bay has excellent snorkelling along the rocky fringe. At 3.5nm from English Harbour, Mamora is easily day-tripped from the main anchorage area. It is also a good overnight stop for vessels heading east toward Guadeloupe — a useful staging point before making the windward passage east.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW
Exposed To
E · SE · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Port Authority anchoring fee ~US$2/night; National Park fee may apply (check with Port Authority)
- Maximum stay
- 14 days
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring on coral — sand only; St. James's Club beach is private resort property on north shore; respect resort guests' privacy; no approach to resort beach without permission.
Hazards
- !NE and E trade wind exposure — comfortable in 15–20kt trades but swell can enter in stronger conditions
- !Coral on bay fringes — anchor in centre of bay on sand only; do not anchor close to rocky edges
- !Limited facilities — no water, fuel, or provisions; stock completely before arrival
- !Eastern approach from outside: reef system on SE coast of Antigua — use current chart; approach from W via English Harbour safer for first visit
- !Resort speed boat traffic in northern part of bay — avoid anchoring close to resort dock
Skipper's Tips
- →Mamora Bay is the best day-stop on the SE coast — bring snorkel gear and explore the rocky south shore for coral and fish
- →The water clarity here rivals any anchorage in the eastern Caribbean — 25–30m visibility on a good day; bring an underwater camera
- →St. James's Club beach bar is accessible to visiting yachties who dinghy ashore and ask nicely — cold Wadadli beer well worth the effort
- →Stage here overnight before heading east to Guadeloupe — a good night's sleep in clean water before an early morning departure into the trades
- →Sunrise from Mamora Bay over the Atlantic horizon is exceptional — worth the NE exposure for the view
Facilities
St. James's Club resort restaurant accessible to non-guests (call ahead). No public facilities at anchorage. English Harbour (3.5nm W) for full provisioning and services.
Nearest provisions: Nelson's Dockyard (English Harbour) (3.5nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May best. Comfortable in settled trade wind conditions. Do not use in heavy weather — limited shelter from E. Hurricane season June–November: not a hurricane hole; relocate to English Harbour.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
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