Grand Turk South Bay
South Bay Grand Turk · South of cruise pier
21°26.94'N 71°08.22'W
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for good holding on sand in 4–10m. South of the cruise pier, this anchorage has some additional north protection compared to Cockburn Town Roads but is exposed to the south and southwest. The 0.6–0.9m tidal range and tidal current in the Turks Island Passage keeps boats ranging on the rode. Set 80m alarm; monitor weather for any southerly development.
About This Anchorage
Grand Turk South Bay lies immediately south of the cruise ship pier and the Governor's Beach area — a slightly quieter alternative to the main Cockburn Town Roads anchorage when the north anchorage is crowded with cruise ship operations or in light northerly conditions. The south bay has reasonable sand holding and is deeper than some of the northern areas. The famous Governor's Beach — Grand Turk's prettiest beach — is accessible by dinghy from this anchorage. The cruise ship terminal and its associated duty-free shops are nearby (primarily of interest for provisions). The south end of Grand Turk has undeveloped land and is less busy than the Front Street area. The wall on the east coast of Grand Turk begins about a mile away and requires a short sail or dinghy transit.
Protected From
E · NE · N
Exposed To
W · SW · S
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- Yes
Restrictions: Clear cruise pier and approach channel — cruise ships manoeuvre in this area; Q flag until customs cleared at Front Street; no anchoring on coral.
Hazards
- !Cruise ship operations — large ships manoeuvre around the pier; VHF monitor and visual watch required
- !Southern exposure — southerly weather from passing systems can make anchorage uncomfortable
- !Tidal current along west coast — set firmly and monitor
- !Further from town than main anchorage — dinghy commute to Cockburn Town customs and provisions
Skipper's Tips
- →Governor's Beach (a short dinghy ride north) is Grand Turk's best beach — uncrowded except when cruise ships are in port
- →The cruise terminal has a surprisingly good duty-free shop for provisioning basics when a ship is not in port
- →Use this anchorage as an alternative to the main Roads when cruise ship operations are disrupting the northern anchorage
- →The wall dive on Grand Turk's east coast starts just 7 minutes by dinghy — remarkable accessibility for world-class diving
Facilities
Cruise terminal area has some food vendors when ships are in. Nearest provisions and fuel at Cockburn Town (1.5nm N).
Nearest provisions: Cockburn Town Front Street (1.5nm N) (1.5nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May. Secondary anchorage south of the cruise pier. Useful alternative when the main Roads anchorage is busy.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
In the Turks Islands, open roadstead anchorages with 0.6–0.9m tidal range and strong Turks Island Passage current mean careful monitoring is essential. Safety Anchor Alarm keeps watch while you sleep.
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