Hart's Cut Anchorage
Harts Cut · Hart Cut
10°40.8'N 61°38.4'W
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for excellent holding in deep mud 3–6m. Very enclosed space — swinging room is limited; use shorter scope or stern anchor if other boats present. Tidal range 0.9–1.5m — set for high-water depth.
About This Anchorage
Hart's Cut is a narrow, sheltered channel between the Chaguaramas peninsula and a small group of islets — one of the most protected anchorages in the entire Chaguaramas complex. The cut provides near-complete shelter from all directions, making it exceptionally calm even when the main Chaguaramas Bay has some choppy conditions from westerly afternoon breezes. Holding in the Gulf of Paria mud is excellent. The limitation is the restricted swinging room — the cut is narrow enough that boats are typically anchored bow-to-stern or use a stern anchor to minimise swinging. Popular with boats wanting a quiet, secure berth adjacent to the boatyard facilities of the main Chaguaramas area. Particularly valued during periods of strong westerly afternoon sea breezes.
Protected From
N · NE · E · S · SE · W
Exposed To
NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Narrow channel — be considerate of other vessels' swinging room; monitor VHF 16 for harbour traffic; do not anchor in the navigable channel used by service vessels
Hazards
- !Limited swinging room — calculate maximum swing before anchoring; use two anchors in narrow section
- !Gulf of Paria tidal range 0.9–1.5m — watch for tidal current increasing anchor strain in the cut
- !Service vessel and dinghy traffic through the cut — maintain vigilance
- !Shallow edges of the channel — stay in the deeper central section; use depth sounder
Skipper's Tips
- →Hart's Cut is the best option when Chaguaramas Bay main anchorage is overcrowded
- →Use a stern anchor to reduce swing in the narrow channel — prevents fouling neighbouring boats
- →The cut is completely calm even in the afternoon westerly sea breeze that kicks up chop in the main bay
- →All Chaguaramas services (Peake, IMS, TTSA, Crews Inn) are a short dinghy ride away
Facilities
No direct facilities. Walk or dinghy 1nm east to Chaguaramas for full marina services.
Nearest provisions: Chaguaramas (1nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Year-round (south of hurricane belt). Useful year-round as an overflow from the main Chaguaramas Bay anchorage, especially during Carnival (Feb/Mar) when main bay is packed.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
In Chaguaramas, the Gulf of Paria's unusual 0.9–1.5m tidal range means your scope needs to be set for the full tidal cycle. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you can explore, fly home, or attend Carnival with complete confidence.
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