Anchorage· St Thomas· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Cowpet Bay Anchorage & St. Thomas Yacht Club
18° 19.0′ N · 64° 50.5′ W · approximate
The north arm of St. James Bay, home of the St. Thomas Yacht Club and its small-boat racing, and the base for the St. Thomas International Regatta.
Practical
Position approximate: in Cowpet Bay at the OpenStreetMap label, checked to be in the water. Coast Pilot: 0.3 mile wide between Water Point and Deck Point, depths 8 to 21 ft; the yacht club has a pier and private facilities at the head of the bay. St. James Bay outside gives secure anchorage in 21 to 50 ft except in hurricanes. Many private moorings: anchor clear of them. Designated DPNR anchorage. USVI anchoring rules: DPNR requires an Anchoring Permit for recreational vessels anchoring in USVI waters without a mooring permit, and charter vessels not registered in the USVI need a Cruising Permit for overnight anchoring; pollution and refuse discharge fines run to US$10,000 per offense (DPNR site, 2026). DPNR enforces a 14-day limit in any one designated anchorage in a six-month period (Noonsite, 2018); move bays to restart the count or apply for a long-term permit (up to 30 days). See the separate St. Thomas Yacht Club entry for club hours and events.
Best for
Racing week and a quieter east-end anchorage
Nearby
- St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR)0.1 NM away
- St. Thomas Yacht Club0.2 NM away
- Aqua Action Dive Center (Secret Harbour)0.6 NM away
- Christmas Cove (Great St James)0.6 NM away
- Pizza Pi (Christmas Cove)0.6 NM away
- Red Hook Bay Anchorage (Muller Bay)0.6 NM away
- Sunset Grille (Secret Harbour)0.6 NM away
- Nazareth Bay Anchorage (Secret Harbour)0.7 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).