Canouan — Charlestown Bay
Charlestown Bay Canouan · Canouan customs anchorage
12°43.20'N 61°20.46'W
Depth
3–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for good holding in sand/mud in 3–10m. NE exposure means trade wind chop can enter — not the most comfortable overnight but well-positioned for customs clearance and services. Use Carenage Bay on the south side for a more comfortable overnight.
About This Anchorage
Charlestown Bay is the main port of entry on Canouan — the site of the customs office, the main village of Charlestown, and Canouan Airport (CIW) with connections to Barbados, St. Lucia, and Grenada. The anchorage is practical rather than spectacular — the bay is open to the NE trades and can be rolly in strong conditions. The primary reason to anchor here is customs clearance (if Canouan is your first SVG port) or to access the village shops and airport for crew changes. The village has a few small grocery stores, a bakery, and local rum shops. The Tamarind Beach Hotel at the northern end of the bay has a restaurant and bar open to visiting sailors. For overnight stays, most sailors prefer to clear customs here and then anchor in the more sheltered and beautiful Carenage Bay on the south side of the island.
Protected From
E · SE · S · SW
Exposed To
N · NW · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- SVG customs at Charlestown village. Standard entry documentation and cruising permit issued here.
Restrictions: Customs office at Charlestown — official SVG entry port. Cruising permit required. Keep ferry approach channel clear.
Hazards
- !Northern and NE exposure — rolly in strong NE trades; use Carenage Bay for overnight
- !Ferry approach channel — keep clear of the Canouan ferry dock area
Skipper's Tips
- →Clear customs here and then sail round to Carenage Bay — the south side is far more beautiful and comfortable for overnight
- →Canouan Airport (CIW) is useful for crew changes — 1nm from the anchorage by dinghy and taxi
- →Village shops stock basic provisions — useful top-up between Bequia and the Tobago Cays
- →The Tamarind Beach Hotel bar is a pleasant sundowner stop after clearing customs
Facilities
Tamarind Beach Hotel restaurant and bar (north end of bay). Village shops with basic provisions. Fuel and water available. Canouan Airport (CIW) with inter-island connections.
Nearest provisions: Charlestown village shops (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. Use primarily for customs clearance and services — anchor overnight in Carenage Bay on the south side for a far more comfortable experience.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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