Seasonal· St Lucia· Windward Islands
Northeast Trade Winds and Winter Swell (St Lucia)
13° 54.6′ N · 60° 58.7′ W · approximate
St Lucia's sailing is shaped by steady east to north-east trades, calm lee anchorages on the west coast, and occasional winter north-west ground swells that make the open bays rolly.
Practical
Position is the centre of the island (approx). The west coast is sheltered from the Atlantic, with trade winds typically 10-20 knots and short 8-15 nm hops between stops (Saint Lucia Tourism Authority); the channels to Martinique and St Vincent are rougher. Best season December to May (tourism authority) or December to June (Noonsite). Winter north and north-west ground swell affects Rodney Bay, Pigeon Island, Anse Cochon and Anse Chastanet; Marigot Bay and the Rodney Bay lagoon stay calm. Mountain gusts swirl down into Soufrière Bay and the Pitons (EnezGreen). Forecast sources: St Lucia Met Services (linked by Noonsite) and the St Lucia Cruiser Net at 8:30 am on VHF 68.
Best for
Picking anchorages by wind and swell
Season
Trades year-round; ground swells mainly in winter
Nearby
- St Lucia Hurricane SeasonRight here
- Morne Gimie Summit Hike3.3 NM away
- Promise Supermarket and Marigot Road Shops3.9 NM away
- St Lucia Parrot (Jacquot) in the Quilesse and Edmund Forests3.9 NM away
- Anse La Raye Friday Fish Fry4.2 NM away
- Enbas Saut Waterfall Trail (Edmund Forest Reserve)4.2 NM away
- JJ's Paradise (Marigot Bay)4.2 NM away
- Anse La Raye Anchorage4.3 NM away