Anchorage· Port Antonio· Other Caribbean
Port Antonio West Harbour Anchorage
18° 11.0′ N · 76° 27.3′ W
Jamaica's best-protected north-coast harbour: West Harbour sits behind Navy Island under the green wall of the Blue and John Crow Mountains, with Errol Flynn Marina and the town a five-minute walk away. The usual first stop for boats arriving from the east.
Practical
Position is Noonsite's West Harbor reference (18 10.95N, 076 27.34W). Enter via East Harbour and turn to starboard through the narrow, marked and lit channel into West Harbour; Virgintino's guide (2015) calls the entrance straightforward with no hazards. Holding is good and there is plenty of room; avoid anchoring in East Harbour, which is exposed to the prevailing wind and swell. Fees are charged by the Port Authority-run marina even at anchor: US$12/night plus US$3 garbage/environmental fee (2015), US$15 (2015), US$25/night for a marina mooring (2016, 2018), and US$25/day at anchor (2023) - verify locally. A 2016 report says the marina told boats they could not anchor anywhere in West Bay, including south of Navy Island, leaving only East Harbour for free anchoring; a January 2018 report describes a marina mooring whose light chain broke from its sinker in about 10 m, so dive your mooring. The harbour and marina are a no-discharge zone (holding tank or shore facilities). Loud music from town clubs can carry across the bay until about 3 am. Ranked Excellent as a norther refuge by Virgintino.
Best for
Most sheltered clearance harbour on Jamaica's north coast
Season
Year-round; the north coast's best refuge in Dec-Mar northers
Nearby
- Errol Flynn Marina Bars & Dining (Norma's, Bikini Beach Bar)0.1 NM away
- Errol Flynn Marina (Port Antonio)0.2 NM away
- Errol Flynn Marina Fuel Dock & Water0.2 NM away
- Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament0.2 NM away
- Navy Island0.3 NM away
- Port Antonio Produce & Craft Market0.3 NM away
- Port Antonio Supermarkets (Kamal's & Ramtulla's)0.3 NM away
- Port Antonio Hospital0.4 NM away