Villa Beach Anchorage
Villa anchorage · Indian Bay
13°08.52'N 61°12.60'W
Depth
3–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m for good holding on sand in 3–10m. Good for overnight with NE trades. In southerly or SE swell, anchorage becomes uncomfortable — move to Blue Lagoon for better shelter.
About This Anchorage
Villa Beach Anchorage sits on St. Vincent's southern tip, just east of Kingstown and accessible as an approved customs entry port for SVG. The sandy bay is backed by a stretch of hotels, guesthouses, and beach restaurants that form the closest thing SVG has to a tourist resort area. The Young Island Cut separates the anchorage from the private Young Island Resort on a small islet immediately offshore — the resort has a small ferry dock and the views looking across the cut to the island are attractive. The anchorage itself offers good holding in clean sand and reasonable shelter from the NE trades. It is open to the south, however, and southerly swell (associated with distant tropical storms) can make the anchorage uncomfortable. Villa Beach Anchorage is a popular first stop for northbound sailors clearing customs before heading into the Grenadines — the proximity to Kingstown services is a major advantage.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SE · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring; port dues may apply — check with customs
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- SVG customs and immigration at Villa Beach area — check VHF 16 for current customs contact on arrival.
Restrictions: Approved SVG customs entry point. Q flag mandatory until cleared. Do not anchor in the Young Island ferry channel.
Hazards
- !Southerly and SE exposure — swell can make anchorage uncomfortable; check forecast before overnight
- !Young Island ferry traffic — do not anchor in the ferry channel near the cut
- !Busy waterfront area — dinghy traffic from hotels throughout the day
Skipper's Tips
- →Villa Beach is a convenient customs clearance point — closer to the southern anchorages than Kingstown harbour
- →Young Island Resort (private island) has an excellent restaurant — they welcome visiting sailors for dinner; call ahead
- →Beach restaurants along Villa Beach are good value for local Vincentian food and cold Hairoun beer
- →Quick taxi from here to Kingstown (3nm, ~EC$10) for provisioning before heading south
- →Blue Lagoon (1nm east) is more sheltered for overnight stays — use Villa Beach for customs and day anchor
Facilities
Multiple beach restaurants and bars along Villa Beach — Beachcombers Hotel bar, local waterfront restaurants. No fuel or water from boats. Provisions possible from nearby Kingstown (3nm W by taxi).
Nearest provisions: Kingstown markets (3nm W by taxi) (3nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. Reasonable overnight anchorage in settled NE trades. Move to Blue Lagoon in any southerly swell or unsettled conditions.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
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