Cruising Tobago

Tobago is one of the last unspoiled Caribbean islands, lying just outside the hurricane belt. Anchorages are to be found in protected areas all around the island. The tidal range is around three feet so it's important to to check depth before dropping your anchor.

The waters are generally clear but can become murky after heavy rainfall and when the outflow from the Orinoco River reaches the island, which occurs most often during the hurricane season between August and October. You need to visit immigration on arrival to Tobago. For more information click here: Immigration

Scarborough

The capital of Tobago is upwind, a current of one to two knots runs westwards along the coast and continues to Trinidad. It can take three hours to sail by motor against wind and current from Crown Point to Scarborough. If coming from Trinidad, you will probably have to motor sail against wind and current to get there so you are not swept into Crown Point.

If sailing from Crown Point you need to be aware of the coastline to Lowlands Point. You should also avoid the Bulldog Shoal. It is clearly marked by a beacon. Stay well clear until you see the entrance beacons. Go past the entrance beacons and head into the port. The yacht anchoring area is between the end of the breakwater and the end of the customers dock.

Scarborough is a port of entry. As soon as you arrive you should visit immigration which is upstairs in the port building. Hours of opening are 0800-1600, Monday to Friday and 0800-1200 on Saturday, although on Saturday you will be charged overtime. Customs is open 0800-1600, Monday to Friday and 0600-1800 at the weekend and on holidays. If you come from Trinidad you will need both your customs and immigration paperwork.

Store Bay

This is the main anchorage on Tobago on the western side of the island and is the home office of Store Bay Marine Services. It is well protected except in northerly swells. A 33,000 volt electricity cable which supplies Tobago with electricitry from Trinidad runs under the sea through Store Bay. There is a sign marking it on the shore. A mooring buoy made out of a 40 gallon oil drum lying on its side marks the cable. It is best to approach lining up so you can see right down the road.

Along the coastline to the right is Kariwak Reef. The Crown Point Hotel is above it. Do not anchor here as it's a protected reef.

Pigeon Point

Located about a mile from Store Bay, this is one of the prettiest anchorages on the island. It is more protected from the north than Store Bay. The anchorage is part of the Buccoo Reef Restricted area and, the beach is part of the Pigeon Point Heritage Park ($18TT per person, per day for using the beach).

The anchorage here is well protected and there is a dinghy dock. It is best to sail in favouring the Buccoo Reef side. You can anchor south of the reef in up to 5.5 metres of water. Make sure you choose a patch of sand as there are patches of coral reef here.

Buccoo Reef and Bon Accord Lagoon

Buccoo reef is one of the island's national parks and therefore all marine life is protected. This means no fishing or any activity which harms the reef and the coral. Bon Accord Lagoon is also a national park and is restricted. It can only be used in the case of a hurricane.

It is best to approach the deep water area of Buccoo Reef when the light is good. Follow the outer reef, making sure you keep a good distance off. There is a false channel before you get to the real one. The false channel is narrow. The channel into Bon Accord Lagoon is less than 1.2 metres at low water and about 2 metres at high water. If you have a deep draft boat then it's best to scout this route out first using a dinghy. There is lots of coral and some swell at the entrance so it is best to approach on a rising tide. It is a twisty channel into the lagoon with not many markings. Once inside the lagoon there is a large anchorage area of up to three metres deep. The lagoon is an area of mangrove and there are two small docks where you can get ashore.

Buccoo Bay

This is a well protected anchorage. It is best to approach during sunlight where you can see the shoals. Sailors often run aground here. Do not enter on large swells. The best place to start you approach is outside Buccoo Reef on the eastern side, opposite the small sand island. It is best to stay close to the reef and head for the rocky area on the beach. Go past the 2.5-4.3 metre patch and then look for the half metre patch that breaks, even in moderate seas. This should be well to your east but is part of the shoal you want to avoid.

Go past this, staying over on the Buccoo reef side of the channel of water, which is between 9.2-15 metres deep. Go past the shoal area, ease around and head towards the village, passing over 4 metres of water. Anchor is between Booby Point and the rocky outcrop on the beach opposite. There is a dock for leaving your dinghy.

Mount Irvine Bay

This is one of easiest approaches on the island. It is best to anchor in the north east corner of the bay. Make sure you keep well away from the reef.

Grafton Bay

There is a fair amount of swell here so it is best to use two anchors when mooring here. It is best to anchor under the north point in about 9 metres of water. It is best to land your dinghy on the north end of the beach.

Great Courland Bay, Plymouth

It is best to approach Plymouth from the beach side, avoiding Pelican Rock, which is part of a chain of rocks called Barrel of Beef. Anchor off the dock. Do not anchor off Turtle Beach as you'll be in the way of local fishermen. Surge can be a problem here so best to use your stern anchor to keep your stern to the seas.

Plymouth to Man of War Bay

There are several small anchorages which lie between Plymouth and Man of War Bay. From the Barrel of Beef at Plymouth sail east along the shore to Bloody Bay. It is best to keep at least a quarter of a mile ofshore to avoid any dangers. Past Bloody Bay you pass between The Sisters (group of rocks) and The Brothers (two rocks). The Sisters are 3.5 miles west off Corvo Point. The north rock of this group is 30 metres high. The Brothers are 2.5 miles west off Corvo Point. The passage between the two shouldn't be attempted. An ODAS buoy is postioned about 9 miles NW of The Sisters. Mariners are advised to navigate in the area with caution. Bloody Bay is not a suitable anchorage as it's poorly protected in most conditions.

Castara Bay

The approach into Castara Bay is free of shoals. It is best to pass outside White Rock if you are heading into the bay from the east. The northeast corner of the beach is the best place to anchor as it provides the best protection. However this area is used by fishing boat so make sure you anchor outside the fishing fleet in about 11 metres. If there is a swell then landing on the beach is now advisable.

Englishman's Bay

It is best to head to the eastern shore of Englishman's Bay which offers the calmest spot. Here there is a large shelf of sand about 7.5 metres deep. The southern part of the bay can be bad in a swell.

Parlatuvier

This is one of the most protected anchorages on this side of the island. There is a long, high concrete dock on the north side of the bay.

The dock provides water and you can tie up your dinghy on the lower section. You need to anchor here off the fishing fleet in just over 12 metres of water.

Do not anchor in the south side of the bay as it's used for netting by the fishermen.

Man of War Bay and Charlotteville

There is a natural harbour at Man of War Bay. It is two miles wide and a mile deep. Charlotteville is one the southeastern corner of Man of War Bay. It is best to avoid the western side of the bay but the eastern side is well protected, although a northerly swell does not make is comfortable. Do not anchor off the beach as it is used by the fishermen. It is best to anchor outside the fishing fleet but this is in just over 21 metres of water so you will need a lot of anchor line. Further north at Pirates Bay you can anchor in just over 15 metres of water. You need to make sure you anchor outside the line between Charlotteville Dock and the northern headland of Pirates Bay. It is important to make sure you anchor clear of any reefs. There is one which extends to sea between Charlotteville and Pirates Bay.

Charlotteville to King's Bay

The east coast of Tobago can be rough if there is strong wind and the current is strong. There are several islands off the northeast tip of Tobago. These include London Bridge (has a hole going all the way through), The Melville Islands and St Giles Island. It is this end of Tobago where the northwesterly current hits and divides; pushing westwards down the south coast and northwards along the East coast. It is best to pass between Little Tobago and Speyside as the northerly current can be at its worst on the eastern side of Little Tobago. The currents in the area are affected by the state of the tide. The current gets stronger on a falling tide and during a full or new moon, which at times can give you up to five knots inside Little Tobago.

There are two approaches - inside or outside London Bridge and the Melville Islands. It is safer outside but it takes you into stronger current. If you plan to sail in this is the best option. If you have a good motor then the inside passage will be quicker. You need to be aware of a sunken rock in the middle of the fairly narrow channel between St Giles and Pointed Rock. It is best to stay close to the northern coast of Tobago and then as you get near Pointed Rock, go as close as safely possible. You can then come down the east coast pass outside Long Rock and inside Little Tobago, either side of Goat Island, inside Middle Rock and South Rock.

Anse Bateau

An extensive reef off the southwern headland means extra caution is needed when approaching and anchoring at Anse Bateau. Most of the water over the reef is just over three and a half metres, but there are patches at 1.8 metres. It is best to approach on a line between the house on Goat Island (once home to Bond novelist Ian Fleming) and the main building of the Blue Waters Inn. It is best to do this approach in good sunlight as it is over coral just under five metres deep. You anchor between the beach swimming area and the reef, which is small. There is a good dinghy dock here.

King's Bay

It is well protected here although swells do develop in southeasterly winds. This is a deep water bay which shelves fast. It is best to anchor off the eastern end of the beach in around 18 metres of water.