Sandy Lane Bay
Sandy Lane anchorage · Sandy Lane Beach
13°10.56'N 59°38.82'W
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for good holding on sand in 3–8m. Maintain clearance from hotel beach area and any private buoys/floats. In any westerly swell, the bay offers little shelter — monitor forecasts.
About This Anchorage
Sandy Lane Bay anchors off one of the Caribbean's most famous luxury hotels — the Sandy Lane Hotel, which has hosted British royalty, rock stars, and cricket legends since 1961. The bay is a picture of Platinum Coast perfection: calm turquoise water, fine white sand, swaying palms, and the elegant colonial façade of the hotel behind. The anchorage provides good holding on sand and is very calm in normal ENE trade wind conditions. While the hotel beach is private, the sea itself is public, and arriving by yacht and anchoring off Sandy Lane is a quintessential Barbadian sailing experience. Golf courses, a world-class spa, and several fine dining restaurants are accessible ashore. This is sailing in the company of the very finest Caribbean addresses.
Protected From
E · NE · SE
Exposed To
W · NW · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- No anchoring fee
- Permit required
- Yes
Restrictions: Customs cleared at Bridgetown required before anchoring on west coast. Maintain clear distance from hotel private beach area. No motorised water sports in hotel beach zone.
Hazards
- !Hotel water sports operations — jet skis, paddleboards, water taxis from hotel beach
- !Private buoys and floats from hotel — maintain clearance
- !Shallow patches close inshore near hotel beach
- !Open to west — uncomfortable in westerly swell
Skipper's Tips
- →Anchoring off Sandy Lane is a legitimate sailing experience — the sea is public, the view is iconic
- →Holetown (1nm north) is the main service town on the Platinum Coast — restaurants, bars, supermarket
- →The sunsets from Sandy Lane Bay are spectacular — the Platinum Coast faces due west
- →First English settlement in Barbados was at Holetown in 1627 — historic significance just north
Facilities
Sandy Lane Hotel restaurants accessible as paying guests (expensive but world-class). Holetown (1nm N) has a range of restaurants including The Tides, Mango's, and Fish Pot.
Nearest provisions: Holetown (1nm N) (1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. Calm west coast conditions. A beautiful but quiet anchorage.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
On the Platinum Coast, even calm west coast conditions can see anchor drag toward sea grass beds or shallow patches. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you can watch the Barbados sunset in peace.
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