Grand Anse Bay

About This Anchorage

Grand Anse Beach is one of the Caribbean's finest stretches of white sand — 3km of pale gold beach with calm turquoise water, backed by resort hotels and lined with beach bars and restaurants. The anchorage off the northern section of the beach sits in 3–5m of crystal-clear water on excellent sand holding. Provisioning is superb — the Spiceland Mall (0.5nm inland) has a large supermarket, banks, and services. The beach is the social heart of southern Grenada, with water sports, beach bars, and the famous Umbrellas Beach Bar. Afternoon westerly sea breeze builds from around noon and can make the anchorage choppy — the mornings are usually calm and delightful. Grand Anse is an excellent provisioning stop between Prickly Bay (2nm SE) and Port Louis Marina (3nm N).

Hazards

• !Afternoon westerly sea breeze builds from noon — anchorage becomes choppy and rolling by mid-afternoon
• !SE swell wraps around Point Salines — in fresh SE trades the anchorage is uncomfortable
• !Water taxi traffic between beach and nearby hotels — anchor clear of their routes and approach paths
• !Open to south — any southern weather system makes this anchorage untenable

Skipper's Tips

• →Anchor early morning for calm conditions — the bay is glassy at 0700 and builds with afternoon sea breeze
• →Spiceland Mall 0.5nm inland has one of Grenada's best supermarkets — stock up before heading south to Prickly Bay or north toward Carriacou
• →Umbrellas Beach Bar is the classic Grand Anse meeting point — good rum punches and local food
• →Evening is often calmer than afternoon — stay for sunset from the anchorage; the light on the beach is exceptional
• →Grand Anse is a good day anchorage; most sailors overnight in Prickly Bay or Morne Rouge for better protection

Nearby Anchorages