Anchorage· St Barthelemy· Leeward Islands
Gustavia Outer Anchorage
17° 53.9′ N · 62° 51.4′ W · approximate
The open roadstead west of La Pointe and Fort Oscar, where cruising boats anchor or pick up port moorings outside the buoyed entrance channel, with the town a short dinghy ride away and superyachts lying further out on long chain.
Practical
Position is a point in the anchoring area about 250 m off the west side of La Pointe, derived from the OpenStreetMap coastline (approx); keep clear of the buoyed entrance channel, where anchoring is prohibited. Happy Charter (2026) describes a buoy field to the south-east of the entrance where many boats lie close together and some anchor; if crowded and there is no south-east swell you can anchor just outside, about 8 m on sand where the anchor holds reliably - but do not go too shallow: a reef with poor holding lies just beyond. Noforeignland reviewers (2024-2025) report it crowded and rolly from swell and wake, about EUR 35-40 per night (verify locally); a 45 ft catamaran paid about EUR 121 for four days (Happy Charter). Fees are paid on clearing out at the capitainerie. Untenable or very uncomfortable in a northerly ground swell (roughly Nov-Apr) - move to the inner harbour or leave. Dinghy dock: the larger dinghy dock is on the southern (right-hand) side of the harbour; the smaller dock past the superyachts is often full. Superyachts anchor further out in about 50 ft (15 m) of water.
Best for
Budget overnight close to town
Season
Dec-May best; rolly in N/NW swell
Nearby
- Fort Oscar (Gendarmerie)0.2 NM away
- Gustavia Chandlery & Marine Services (St Barth Marine)0.2 NM away
- Gustavia Port of Entry: Hours & Immigration (Gendarmerie)0.2 NM away
- Les Petits Saints0.2 NM away
- Bastille Day & Fete de Saint-Barthelemy0.3 NM away
- Gros Ilets0.3 NM away
- Gustavia Dinghy Docks0.3 NM away
- Gustavia Ferry Terminal0.3 NM away