Anchorage· Caicos Bank· Other Caribbean
Caicos Bank overnight anchorage (mid-bank)
21° 30.0′ N · 72° 0.0′ W
Anchoring in the middle of the Caicos Bank, out of sight of land, in about 12 ft of clear water — the way slower boats break the 40–60-mile crossing.
Practical
BoatTEST reports cruisers spending comfortable nights in about 3.7 m (12.5 ft) near N 21°30.000' W 072°00.000'. The bank averages 6–12 ft and is peppered with coral heads — only move in good daylight with the sun behind you. Fully exposed to wind and chop; settled weather only. No lights ashore; superb stargazing. BoatTEST's article (Feb 2024) is courtesy of Waterway Guide. An older cruiser waypoint list (file dated 1998, source unknown) gives the same spot, 21°30.00'N 72°00.00'W, as 'Caicos Shoal (middle)'. Pavlidis (quoted by Bill Dietrich) puts the bank's tidal current at about 1 kn, setting northwest on the flood and southwest on the ebb, so expect to swing to the tide.
Best for
Breaking a slow-boat bank crossing
Season
Settled weather only
Nearby
- French Cay bird sanctuary & sharks11.2 NM away
- French Cay Anchorage11.4 NM away
- French Cay dive sites (Double D, G-Spot, Half Mile Reef)11.8 NM away
- Providenciales fuel docks (South Bank, Blue Haven, Turtle Cove, South Side)18.6 NM away
- South Bank boatyard haul-out (former Caicos Marina & Shipyard)18.6 NM away
- South Bank Marina (Long Bay)18.6 NM away
- Turks & Caicos cruising permit18.6 NM away
- Molasses Reef wreck site18.8 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).