Charlestown Bay Anchorage (Canouan)

12° 42.7′ N · 61° 20.2′ W

Canouan's main lee-side anchorage off Charlestown (also called Grand Bay), a wide sand bay under green hills with the village, ferry wharf and customs just ashore. It is the natural first or last stop for boats between Bequia/Mustique and the Tobago Cays.

The Grenadines Grenada St Lucia & Martinique

Practical

Position is Chris Doyle's waypoint for the centre of the bay. Holding is good in sand and you can anchor anywhere except close to Soho Beach House (ex Tamarind Beach Hotel), whose frontage is full of moorings. The bay lies open to the NW: it gets uncomfortable in strong NE winds with a northerly swell, and gusts off the hills swing boats all over the place. Moorings near shore belong to the charter fleet; other moorings are run by local operators (Marcus and John), who also deliver water; Doyle's 2025 update says the Charlestown moorings and John's water delivery are fully operational. Vendors come alongside selling fish, lobster, bread, water, ice and diesel; filter any diesel bought this way. Landing: the Soho jetty is members-only and gated communities line the shore, so dinghy landing in town is awkward; beach landings can be hit by sudden waves. Soho House offers anchored yachts take-out, grocery delivery and laundry. Security: Noonsite reports more than 30 theft incidents around Canouan, including boardings through unlocked companionways in April/May 2025. Lock up at night and lift the dinghy.

Best for

Clearing in or out at Canouan and an overnight stop between Bequia and the Cays

Season

Year-round in normal trades; rolly in N swell

Itineraries that stop here

Grenadines Round Trip from St Vincent12 days

Practical

Best for

Season

Itineraries that stop here

Nearby