CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (Pi3.124)Anchorage· Antigua· Leeward Islands
Falmouth Harbour Anchorage
17° 0.9′ N · 61° 46.4′ W
Antigua's largest yachting harbour, a horseshoe bay next to English Harbour with three marinas, two boatyards and room for a big fleet at anchor, all a short walk from Nelson's Dockyard.
Practical
Position is an OpenStreetMap seamark anchorage node in the harbour. Holding in most of Falmouth Harbour is good (Antigua Marine Guide), but keep clear of the buoyed channels, of which there are several, and of the exclusion zone in front of the Antigua Yacht Club and Falmouth Harbour marinas (Noonsite, ABYMA). The north-west side near shore is shallow; good holding south of Blake's Island and in Turtle Bay, which is deeper but is a turtle nesting area, so watch for dragging (ABYMA, AMG). All yachts at anchor pay harbour (National Parks) fees; clear in at Nelson's Dockyard. Busy with superyachts, tenders, dinghy racing, wing-foiling and kiting. Security: dinghy and outboard theft is rising across the Caribbean, so lift and lock (Noonsite). Duty-free fuel at all the marinas. A fire after Storm Philippe in October 2023 destroyed buildings at the Yacht Club Marina; temporary container businesses reopened (Noonsite, Feb 2025).
Best for
A big, well-serviced anchorage within walking distance of the Dockyard
Season
Year-round; busiest Dec to May
Nearby
- Falmouth Harbour Marina0.2 NM away
- Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta0.3 NM away
- Antigua Sailing Week0.3 NM away
- Antigua Yacht Club0.3 NM away
- Bar-B's Restaurant & Bar (Antigua Yacht Club)0.3 NM away
- Budget Marine (English Harbour)0.3 NM away
- Catamaran Marina0.3 NM away
- Cloggy's Cafe (Antigua Yacht Club)0.3 NM away