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Grenada Sailing Festival St Georges, Grenada – 12°03.00'N, 61°45.00'W
St Georges, Grenada – 12°03.00'N, 61°45.00'W
Entry requirements
Vessels must proceed immediately to a Port of Entry and report as soon as the Customs/Immigration offices open. All crew must report in person. Documents required are; the vessel 's Certificate of Registration (original), an outward clearance from the last port/country of call and valid passports for all crew members.
Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are one country.
The Grenada Yachting Act 2000 allows for 72 hour in-and-out clearance:
Section 5 (3) The master may make a departure report at the time of arrival provided that the master intends to depart within seventy-two hours of arrival
Unlike St. Lucia, where the in-and-out clearance is automatically on the same form when you request it, in the Grenada system you will still have to ask for and complete both the inward clearance forms and the departure forms when you make the clearance. But you may do so as long as you are going to leave within seventy two hours.
Transit requirements (departing one port, entering another)
Once a vessel has entered and cleared Customs and Immigration there are no formalities or restrictions for visiting other ports/islands within Grenada and Carriacou.
Check out at a Port of Entry when leaving.
Search and rescue
Emergency and health services
See the Grenada Cruisers Group on Facebook where all contact information is maintained or just call on VHF Channel 68 and one of the local VHF Net controllers will answer and give you the emergency numbers you require.
Other comments
A Grenada Cruisers VHF Radio Net operates on Ch 66 via a repeater at 0730 local time on Monday to Saturday daily. This provides weather info and access to other useful information and can be heard as far north as Union Island.
An SSB radio net, the Coconut Telegraph, runs throughout the East Caribbean on 8170KHz USB (J3E) at 0800 local time. Requests for information will normally be answered by somebody when checking in.
Cruising information (specific to this cruising area)
Last updated by Dan Hogarth on 27 October 2015.
Recommended cruising guides
“Sailors Guide to the Windward Islands” (Martinique to Grenada) by Chris Doyle and published by Cruising Guide Publications. 2007-2008 was 13th edition. This is an excellent guide and is the cruiser 's "bible" in the Eastern Caribbean. Chris cruises the area continually and updates his guides every two years.
“Grenada to the Virgin Islands” by Jacques Patuelli, published by Imray and translated from the French.
Street 's Cruising Guide to the Eastern Caribbean: Martinique to Trinidad. This guide may be out of print but it is worth finding a copy as it covers all the bays not covered in the other guides, where no one else goes.
Some of the ports of entry
Free downloadable cruising guides by Frank Virgintino
A Cruising Guide to the Lesser Antilles
Volume 3 The Windward Islands
http://freecruisingguides.com/guides/LesserAntilles-Volume3.zip
Chris Doyle, The Leeward Islands, constantly updated; highly recommended.
Grenada: St George 's lagoon & Prickly Bay. For some years there has been a small customs/immigration office at Grenada Marine at St David 's but it is not always manned. Check first with Grenada Marine.
Carriacou: now in Tyrell Bay at the Boatyard - preferred to Hillsbrough.
Customs/Immigration office working hours are Monday/Friday 0800-1545 and Saturday 0800-1230. They are normally open on Saturday afternoon and Sunday but overtime will be charged.
Harbours to leave your yacht for 1 month or more
Many cruisers spend the hurricane season afloat in any of the southern bays or St Georges. Grenada used to be considered outside the "hurricane belt" until Hurricane Ivan (Cat 5) struck Grenada in September 2004, the first for 28 years.
Carriacou: Tyrrel Bay Yacht haul-out.
Weather information
Chris Parker in Florida, under the banner of the Caribbean Weather Centre http://mwxc.com/
broadcasts a daily (except Sunday) weather forecast for the Caribbean on SSB 8137 kHz USB at 0700 local time and 8104 kHz USB at 0830. Also available to subscribers by email. Detailed forecasts for specific areas may be obtained by Subscribers. For up-to-date details of times and subscription rates check with Chris at: chris@mwxc.com [mailto:chris@mwxc.com]
"Eric" broadcasts forecast details for the Eastern Caribbean 7 days a week on 3855 kHz LowerSB at 0630. Note: this is intended for Amateur Radio operators but can be received by anyone able to tune to Ham frequencies.
OCC net: Frequency 4027 kHz upper sideband and time is 0730 local E Caribbean time from November through April.
Caribbean Compass site showing HF weather broadcasts in the Caribbean. See http://www.caribbeancompass.com/ssb_radio_0609.pdf
Tidal information
Cruising permits and restrictions
Upon arrival each vessel is issued a cruising permit valid for one month by customs when clearing in. The charges are dependent upon vessel size. The latest charges are available at http://www.caribbeancompass.com/grenadarules.htm . In Quarter 1 - 2012 the fees for a 12m yacht were EC$75 per month. AT that time there were about EC$4.10 per £Sterling or EC$2.70 per $US.
Spearfishing by visitors is illegal, as is buying lobster out of season.
Radio and communications
The OCC SSB Net operates at 0730 Mon-Sat from November to April at 6227 kHz USB. Also the Coconut Telegraph Net at 0800 daily on 8170 USB.
See 16 below for the Caribbean Safety and Security Net. This frequency (8104 kHz USB) is frequently used by cruisers for contacting other cruising boats between 0800 and 0815 and immediately after the Net finishes and before Chris Parker comes on air at about 0835.
Free WiFi at Grenada Marine, St David 's and probably other marinas.
A chageable WiFi service, HotHotHotSpot, is provided in Prickly Bay, Grenada by the Image Locker in Antigua (www.hothothotspot.com [http://www.hothothotspot.com/])
General advice, places to go, warnings
Recommended Marine Services in Carriacou engineering and aluminium or stainless fabrication: Dominique at his floating workshop in Tyrell Bay. Recommended Marine Services in Grenada Carpenter and ship-wright: Jim Cottle at Cottle Boat Works near Prickly Bay Diesel engineer: Mike at Palm Tree Marine at Le Phare Bleu marina.
Sail repairs and canvas work Tyrell Bay - Andy at Institches just south of the cargo jetty or on board Yellowbird (+14734438878). General upholstery & canvass work etc - Kathy Textiles - +14734430149 (winter/spring only).
Both Budget Marine and Island WaterWorld have agents in Tyrell Bay via the Boatyard - sourced from Grenada with a next day service available (can be same day if ordered by 0830). Limited chandlery at Boatyard.
If making passage northwards from Grenada, or southwards to Grenada, especially if going to/from St David 's, consideration should be given to sailing along the east (windward) shore to avoid the wind shadow of the island. One is likely to experience higher seas but get a much clearer wind.
Beware the active underwater volcano two miles west of Isle de Ronde on the NW corner of Grenada, also known as Kick 'em Jenny.
Safety and security
Melodye Pompa operates the Caribbean Safety and Security Net daily at 0815 on 8104 kHz USB. She also maintains a computer database of safety and security incidents. This Net serves as a forum for reporting/discussing safety and security incidents throughout the Caribbean as well as for "boat watches" for overdue vessels. It has a very wide daily audience. See also www.safetyandsecuritynet.com [http://www.safetyandsecuritynet.com/]
Grenada and Carriacou are generally quite safe although it is wise not to walk in unfrequented areas after dark. There are very few incidents of thefts from boats and armed robberies and boarding at night are almost unknown. Nevertheless normal security precautions should be taken especially with dinghies and outboards as dinghy/outboard theft is rife throughout the Caribbean. The engine & fuel tank should be locked to the dinghy and the dinghy should be locked with a wire or chain when left unattended ashore. At night, dinghies should be either locked to the boat or, preferably, hoisted out of the water.
St Georges - Information Submitted by Ben Smith
2) Date 09 February 2006
3) Harbour or Area Covered Include Lat & Long The Lagoon, St Georges, Grenada 12°03N 61°45W
4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts Marina and anchoring options available, little wind gets into the Lagoon and holding for anchor is good as bottom is mud.
5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage Marina berths available at Grenada Yacht Club or anchoring in the middle of the Lagoon.
6) Entry Ports St Georges
7) Formal Requirements for Yachts Entering/Departing:
from/to abroad Check in with customs on shore once anchored or berthed in marina.
8) Location/Existence of:
a) harbour master For Grenada Yacht Club - Usually on the dock, can be hailed on VHF ch. 16
b) customs/immigration In Grenada Yacht Club buildings
10) Attitude of Officials to Visiting Yachtsmen Very friendly
11) Repair/Hauling Facilities None seen in St Georges
12) Sailing Directions or Charts The entrance/channel to St Georges and the Lagoon is marked by green and red buoys, follow the red buoys (leaving them to starboard) to enter the Lagoon. We used the following charts/books: Grenada to the Virgin Islands – Jacques Patuelli Lesser Antillies – R.C.C. Pilotage
14) Port Radio Services In VHF ch 16 and 12
16) Yacht Club(S) Grenada Yacht Club
17) Other Facilities: drinking water Available from Grenada Yacht Club fuel Available from Grenada Yacht Club gas (propane)/gaz chandlers Island Water World is the closest chandlers, located on the road running around the lagoon. bank In the Carenage, St Georges shops/market A Foodland Mall is situated in the lagoon and has a dingy dock for customers, other shopping has to be done at the market in St Georges restaurants/hotels Restaurant at Yacht Club, other’s can be found in St Georges, I think there’s a god one called The Nutmeg on the waterfront at the Carenage. post office/telephones including mobile facilities In St Georges internet cafes Javakool Internet Café in the Carenage is probably the closest. It does make an additional charge of $5 EC if you want to connect your own laptop. best mailing address I think that the Yacht Club can take mail, there was a sign on the wall mentioning this although we didn’t enquire about it. showers Grenada Yacht Club, cost $1 EC laundry Grenada Yacht Club, cost for washer $8 EC, dryer $12 EC transport/air services Taxi available from the Yacht Club or buses from the main road. medical facilities/hospital
18) Recommendations or Warnings Entrance is reasonably straight forward and some yachts did enter at night. There had been several thefts in the lagoon on one particular night, but nothing has been reported since so this may have been a one-off. Security in the marina is said to be excellent.
19) Other Information – please include here general impressions, opinions, comments or any other matter which might be of use to those visiting.
The Lagoon - Information Submitted by Ben Smith, updated Alan Dunlop 2009
2) Date 09 February 2006
3) Harbour or Area Covered Include Lat & Long The Lagoon, St Georges, Grenada 12°03N 61°45W
4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts Marina and anchoring options available, little wind gets into The Lagoon and holding for anchor is good as bottom is mud.
5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage Marina berths available at Grenada Yacht Club, Port Louis Marina or anchoring in the middle of The Lagoon. Port Louis Marina is building a huge marina which will eventually cover the whole of the anchoring area within The Lagoon area and they are trying to charge for anchoring while they are building the marina.
6) Entry Ports St Georges
7) Formal Requirements for Yachts Entering/Departing: a) from/to same country b) from/to abroad Check in with customs on shore once anchored or berthed in marina. c) visa requirements
8) Location/Existence of:
a) harbour master For Grenada Yacht Club - Usually on the dock, can be hailed on VHF ch. 16
b) customs/immigration In Grenada Yacht Club buildings
10) Attitude of Officials to Visiting Yachtsmen Very friendly
11) Repair/Hauling Facilities None seen in St Georges
12) Sailing Directions or Charts The entrance/channel to St Georges and The Lagoon is marked by green and red buoys, follow the red buoys (leaving them to starboard) to enter The Lagoon. We used the following charts/books: Grenada to the Virgin Islands – Jacques Patuelli Lesser Antillies – R.C.C. Pilotage
14) Port Radio Services In VHF ch 16 and 12
16) Yacht Club(S) Grenada Yacht Club
17) Other Facilities:
drinking water Available from Grenada Yacht Club
fuel Available from Grenada Yacht Club
gas (propane)/gaz
chandlers Island Water World is the closest chandlers, located on the road running around The Lagoon.
bank In the Carenage, St Georges
shops/market A Foodland Mall is situated in The Lagoon and has a dingy dock for customers, other shopping has to be done at the market in St Georges
restaurants/hotels Restaurant at Yacht Club, other’s can be found in St Georges, I think there’s a god one called The Nutmeg on the waterfront at the Carenage.
post office/telephones including mobile facilities In St Georges internet cafes Javakool Internet Café in the Carenage is probably the closest. It does make an additional charge of $5 EC if you want to connect your own laptop. best mailing address I think that the Yacht Club can take mail, there was a sign on the wall mentioning this although we didn’t enquire about it.
showers Grenada Yacht Club, cost $1 EC l
aundry Grenada Yacht Club, cost for washer $8 EC, dryer $12 EC
transport/air services Taxi available from the Yacht Club or buses from the main road.
18) Recommendations or Warnings Entrance is reasonably straight forward and some yachts did enter at night. There had been several thefts in The Lagoon on one particular night, but nothing has been reported since so this may have been a one-off. Security in the marinas is said to be excellent.