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SAIL PILOT GUIDE - DOMINICA
Anchorage Soufriere
SECURITY
Access: EASY
Shelter: medium - Other shelter: Prince Rupert Bay, dist,: 25 M.
Entry at night: YES - Moistening for the night: YES
Draught Max: No problem
Attention: Overflow at Scotts Head and attention to the coast of the Northeast of the Bay.
Waypoint NAVIGATION: 15° 13, 45 N - 061° 23, 26 W,
Moistening: Very deep, anchorage bahamien.
COMMENTARY OF NAVIGATION
Attention at Scotts Head: the breakers spread even farther than indicated on the chart. At least 300 m. Avoid the en rade (Harbour entrance?) at Soufrière and especially the coast between Soufrière and Scott Head Village: numerous coral heads and non charted features.
The anchorage at Scotts Head Village is very deep:It is recommended you carry an aussière a terre (land/ground hawser?)
Attention wind is very unsteady and swirling. Violent gusts are common.
Do not moor on the buoys on Scotts Head itself , they are reserved for diving.
ATTENTION: Scotts Head and the Bay of Soufrière may now have been designated a maritime reserve and protected zone and therefore forbidden for anchoring (Do not go without permit that you can request when attending to the entry formalities !).
SERVICES
Bakery in Scotts Head Village.
Possibility to buy fish direct from the fishermen.
BARS & RESTAURANT
Trigger: bar, restaurant in Scotts Head Village,
/ / VHF: channel 16
COMMUNICATIONS
Taxicabs
DIVING
- Anchorage Dive Centers, at the hotel,
/ / Tél: (767)448-2638 / / fax: (767)448-5680
/ / VHF: channel 16 / / www.anchoragehotel.dm
- Nature Island Dive (village of Soufrière)
(Don't forget you can only dive here with a club .
ON LAND
Diving and the snorkeling are a must around Scott Head. ATTENTION: snorkeling can only be practiced in the setting of a club. Lourdes fines (up tol 2000 US $) in case of infringements...
YOUR COMMENTS
Erica "Some uniformed men told me that it was forbidden to drop anchor... I showed them the SHOM book information about anchoring but nothing doing: it is "outdated, no good anymore"! They could not show me any written evidence of these new rules!. We left at dusk and decided to go to Roseau. Half way there the men caught us up and demanded our passports.... We got them back the next day at the police station/customs at Roseau for a fine of: US $500. -!!! We also met others who had been fined US$ 2000 for snorkeling.
Prince Rupert Bay
SECURITY
Access: VERY EASY
Shelter: GOOD - Other shelter: The Saints, dist,: 20 M.
Entry at night: YES - anchorage for the night: YES
Draught Max: No problem
Attention: Wreckages (indicated on the chart)
Waypoint NAVIGATION: 15° 34, 2 N - 061° 28, 95 W,
Anchorage: Good holding, sand.
COMMENTARY OF NAVIGATION
No problems of navigation in this bay of two-miles long and one-mile wide. Anchorage anywhere in the bay. Attention to the wreckages just showing on the surface before the city centre. The anchorage in the North is the quietest, especially in the case of a surge from the North. It is a way off the centre of the city and the "welcome committee" is less pressing... Another possibility to avoid the boat boys,: the anchorage on the river La Moins, away from the city, but often choppy.
Mooring buoys in front of the Coconut Beach Hotel (VHF 16)
The first "boat boy" will be traditionally your "contact" on the island. It is with him that you will deal to arrange a visit to the Indian river, a tour by taxicab around the island, the purchase of fruits or local handicraft. Avoid dealing with several people!... If the "boat boys" become too pressing, or even impolite, refuse the dialogue completely.
The boat boys are now federated by the ministry of the tourism and have a license, that they will gladly show you.
LANDING: attention to the dinghies, they represent an important value and are coveted. Have it guarded (restaurant or hotels) or disembark with your "boat boy."
SERVICES
- No services except water in the N of the bay close to the pier. Delicate to manoeuver if wind is strong.
- In Portsmouth you will find grocery stores, service station, a magnificent market on Saturday (fish, fruits, vegetables), a small market Tuesday, some boutiques of local handicraft.
- Pharmacy in the main street open from 0830H to 1600H, Sunday from 0830H to noon.
- Hospital (5 min by taxicab): clean but not always a physician...
- The Coconut Beach Club offers a yacht service: launderette, showers, mechanics base, ice. They also organize tours of the island and a visit to the Indian.
/ / Tél: (767)448-5393 / / Tél: (767)445-5693
/ / VHF: channel 16
BARS & RESTAURANTS
- The Purple Turtle Restaurant (anchorage to the North) beautiful view, possible to dinghy right there. Managed by Patricia and Vincent Etienne (Creole cuisine) BBQ and evenings on the beach
/ / Tél: (767)448-3494 / / Tél: (767)445-5351.
- Mango Bay Restaurant I: (anchorage to the North) (Caribbean kitchen) BBQ, happy hour from 1800 to 1900H
/ / Tél: (767)445-3099
- Mango Bay Restaurant II: (center of Portsmouth, Bay Street) also a bar restaurant managed by Peter Pascal (Caribbean kitchen) BBQ, happy hour 1800 to 1900H / / Tél: (767)445-3099.
COMMUNICATIONS
Bus and taxicabs.
DIVING
Cabrits Dive Center / / Tél: (767)445-3010 / /
Fax: (767)445-3011 / / VHF: channel 16
(Only dive with a club or you will be fined dearly.)
ON LAND
The ascent of the Indian River by boat and visit to the city. The visit of the river lasts about 2 hours and cost 10 US $per person + 2 US $of tax to pay at the mouth of the river.
Tour of the island by taxicab costs about 100 USD for a car with driver for 5/6 hours.
OUR COMMENT
Very beautiful bay, very protected, especially to the North. The boat boys are a little pressing but often kind. Good starting point for one visit of the island, if you can be bothered...
At the time of our last visit (December 2001), the ambiance was excellent.
Albert is an excellent "boat boy", polite, competent and average prices.
YOUR COMMENT
Dennis:
Spaghetti (Man's nickname???) is very agreeable but a bit chèrot (dear?)! It is necessary to negotiate the price first .In March 2003 they wanted US$120 for 2 taxicabs-boat to go and return and 1 hour in the Indian river. We negotiated it for US$90 and it was only worth about US$50 .Francois on the other hand was very kind and made a big effort to speak french. His price of US$120 for a tour of the island in mini van is correct. Ask him to bring you to one his contacts in a very good restaurant in the Caribbean reserve.
Frédéric: January 2003: Anchorage to the North. No Problem with the boat boys, on the contrary: Lawrence of Arabia for the visit, and Sugar Daddy for the fruits: 2 names that I recommend to you. In particular, if you do the Indian river with Lawrence Of Arabia (15 euros / each), ask him to carve you some animals out of stalks: a terrific owl. Worth stopping at Dominique for!!
Vincent: February 2002 "Better ambiance in PORTHMOUTH since the boatboys joined an association taking charge of the yachtsmen and protecting them as well as their boats during their stay. Ask for SPAGUETTI (Eric Christopher), he is very kind and speaksfrench very well. For one visit of the island that is very beautiful, ask for Francois who works with SPAGUETTI. The importance is to take a boat-boy on arrival and not to change some if it suits you. The Euro is now accepted on the basis of 1 EURO = 2 EC.
Armand: July 2001: "... I recommend the restaurant "chez Switzerland", as they say. Some boatboys a bit pressing, but on the whole correct and some friendly. I recommend calling "Lawrence of Arabia " or "Bounty" but I advise against "Uncle Sam", conceited and naughty.
Erica: "We had trouble in the anchorage at ˆPortmouth, 4 o clock in the morning, in full sleep, we were visited by 2 local individuals, one with knife. I won't speak of the details, it is nightmarish. At my screams they took flight, but one of the crew, attempting to defend himself, received a serious cut to the finger. About 15 boats were an anchorage around us. When we gave the alert over VHF and with the fog horn of mist, nobody moved except one woman woken by the VHF.
Pierre: "Excellent stage: not the least problem with the dominiquais; on the contrary: very good contact. Tour of the island by taxicab: 20 $per person US"
Muriel: ""Indian river"?, "sources? ", "taxicab? "The offers flow... insistent but without aggressiveness. Were we saved by being on a "touch and go" stopover or by arriving following day of carnival?.. In any cases, the fruits we bought were perfect... I would hesitate, however, to leave the boat without a team member on board. February "27, 01.
ROSEAU
SECURITY
Access: EASY
Shelter: medium - Other shelter: Prince Rupert Bay, dist,: 15 M.
Entry at night: YES - Anchorage for the night: YES in quiet and established conditions only.
Draught Max: No problem
Attention: Don't leave boat without surveillance.
Waypoint NAVIGATION: 15° 17, 88N - 061° 23, 6 W. The anchorage for the Anchorage Hotel: 15° 17, 16 N - 061° 22,63 W
Anchorage: Rather deep: anchorage bahamien. Attach the line to a firm tree at the North of the hotel. or actually to a mooring buoy belonging at the hotel.
COMMENTARY OF NAVIGATION
- It is prohibited to anchor in front of the Deepwater Port without the previous authorization of the harbor authorities whose call is on VHF channel 16. Besides, water is not very clear there.
- Prefer the anchorage of the Anchorage Hotel. The mooring buoys installed by the hotel are free but you must introduce yourselves at the reception of the hotel. If no mooring buoy is free, warn the hotel of your arrival (VHF 16) so that they take care of the aussière. Bahamien anchoring or simple anchoring if the conditions are very quiet. Attention to the strong declivity of the bottom. At night, four big white spotlights allow you to identify the hotel.
LANDING: Excellent dinghy dock at the hotel.
SERVICES
The Anchorage Hotel offers a very good service for yachts: washing facilities, swimming pool, restaurant, organization of visits of the island.
Contact "Pancho", he will help you with the formalities and the trips. He speaks a little French
(email: panchocecil@hotmail.com)
In town: grocery store, market, handicrafts (basketwork, pottery).
Small ship's chandler in the Old Street.
BARS & RESTAURANTS
- The Anchorage Hotel (very welcoming for yachts) / / Tél: (767)448-2638
/ / Fax: (767)448-5680 / / VHF: channel 16 / / www.anchoragehotel.dm
- Fort Young Hotel (new amenities and magnificent view) / / Tél: (767)448-5000 / / fax: (767)448-5006 / / www.fortyounghotel.com
COMMUNICATIONS
Taxicabs.
DIVING
Anchorage Dive Centers, at the hotel,
/ / Tél: (767)448-2638 / / fax: (767)448-5680
/ / VHF: channel 16 / / www.anchoragehotel.dm
(Don't forget you must be accompanied by a club)
ON LAND
- Visit of the town.
- Visit the Mprme de Trois Piton, National Park recognized by the UNESCO as a world heritage site.
- Do an island tour in a taxi or minibus (better than organised tour).
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NOT TO BE MISSED: the "Titou Gorge", bathing in a canyon, incredible!
OUR COMMENT
The town is interesting: old houses made of wood with terraces but also more recent concrete onest.
The Trafalgar Falls is beautiful but "Titou Gorge" is exceptional! The botanical garden is disappointing.
Anyway, don't visit if a big cruise ship is making a stopover at Roseau.
Lately there have been reports of a rather aggressive ambiance in the town...
YOUR COMMENT
Freddy: "Arriving at night to anchor at the hotel doesn't pose a problem."
Jean-Pierre "Attention, in front of the Anchorage hotel the buoys are not free: US$ 2, pay attention to the friendly type with a rowboat yellow hb, he will help you to take your buoy and will make you pay for the US$ 2. After you arrive you ???? possibility of showers. You can eat at the hotel: but expensive and really not that good, even the breakfast. In town the Fort Young hotel is a very smart but very dear and then it is necessary to have the immodium (antacid?). Chinese restaurant in town is fine. Be aware that there is a charge of EC$2,50 but make attention in Roseau if you arrive outside of hours they may try it on and charge US$25 (????) in June 2001.
Maite: "In Roseau, Chez la Doudou Pension offers you two rooms each. 2 minutes from the center of Salisbury or you can find a restaurant with local prices. "
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