Grand-Bourg Bay, Marie-Galante
Baie de Grand-Bourg · Grand-Bourg anchorage · Marie-Galante main harbour
15°52.92'N 61°18.90'W
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m for good holding on sand in 4–10m. Open roadstead with trade wind protection from the north. SE swell possible. Set anchor firmly — the passage from Pointe-à-Pitre can be rough (22nm across open water) and a well-set anchor is important.
About This Anchorage
Grand-Bourg is the principal town and administrative capital of Marie-Galante — the largest of Guadeloupe's offshore islands, measuring 20km in diameter and nicknamed 'La Grande Galette' for its rounded, flat shape. The island is defined by its 16 working windmills (rare survivors of the sugar cane era), its three artisanal rum distilleries (Bielle, Poisson/Père Labat, and Capesterre — producing some of the finest agricole rum in the Caribbean), and its beautiful white-sand beaches along the western and southern coast. The anchorage at Grand-Bourg provides a functional base for exploring the island — the town has a good market, a Carrefour supermarket, pharmacies, and several excellent Creole restaurants. The passage from Pointe-à-Pitre (22nm) crosses open water and can be rough in strong trade conditions — plan the crossing for morning when the trades are typically lighter.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SE · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchorage
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring on coral or seagrass. Maintain clear ferry approach lane. Standard French DOM regulations apply.
Hazards
- !Rough passage from Pointe-à-Pitre — 22nm of open water; monitor swell and trade wind strength; beam sea crossing can be uncomfortable
- !SE swell exposure — the anchorage opens to the south and east; swell can develop in weather systems
- !Ferry traffic from Pointe-à-Pitre — ferries arrive at the Grand-Bourg terminal several times daily; maintain clear approach
- !No fuel at the anchorage — carry sufficient for exploration of the island and the return passage
Skipper's Tips
- →The passage to Marie-Galante from Pointe-à-Pitre is best made early morning when the trades are lightest — expect 3–4 hours of rough reaching
- →The Bielle rum distillery (6km from Grand-Bourg) is the finest distillery tour on Marie-Galante — free tours, exceptional agricole rum tasting
- →The 16 windmills of Marie-Galante are a remarkable historical landscape — hire a scooter or taxi to visit the working Murats windmill estate
- →Grand-Bourg market on Saturday morning is the best provisioning opportunity on the island — excellent fresh produce and local goods
- →The beach at Capesterre (8km east) has some of the finest white sand in the French Caribbean — worth the taxi ride
Facilities
Good restaurants in Grand-Bourg serving Creole cuisine. Carrefour supermarket and a lively market. Rum distillery tours available (Bielle, Poisson, Capesterre). No fuel or water at the anchorage — carry sufficient from Pointe-à-Pitre.
Nearest provisions: Grand-Bourg town (Carrefour, market) (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. The crossing from Guadeloupe can be rough — plan carefully. Marie-Galante is an extraordinary destination: authentic, unhurried, and uncrowded even in peak season.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
In the extraordinary waters of Les Saintes and Marie-Galante, anchor drag toward coral reef is both ecologically damaging and legally serious. Safety Anchor Alarm keeps you safe while you enjoy the tourment d'amour ashore.
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