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The Coiley Family - SV Double Waters - Bermuda

St.George’s & Hamilton, Bermuda 32° 23’’ N 64° 38’ W

1) INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY Anthony Fawcett - Wotan Dept of Tourism - Bermuda
2) DATE Updated 2006 1998
3) HARBOUR OR AREA COVERED St.George’s & Hamilton, Bermuda 32° 23’’ N 64° 38’ W
4) SUITABILITY AND ATTRACTION FOR YACHTS A staging post for those heading north or south up the western Atlantic, or a jumping off or arriving point for those crossing the Atlantic from either way. An incredibly clean and tidy island after the Caribbean.
5) MARINAS, BERTHING OR ANCHORAGE HM Dockyard Marina at the extreme western end of the island. The old HM Dockyard is beautiful. It is being slowly restored and is well worth a visit. There is water and electricity on the pontoons and a fuelling berth in the marina. It is not particularly well organised and in particular the showers are pretty dreadful. There are good restaurants around the marina and a small chandlery. Provisions need to be purchased from a supermarket about 2 miles from the marina. Buses run from the marina and taxis can be called but they tend to be busy when cruise liners are in which is practically everyday! There is a cruise liner berth just outside the marina. There are no hire cars available on the island, but ferry services run from HM Dockyard into Hamilton which takes a mere 20 minutes. Bus services on the island are very good. The main road on the island would not disgrace a Cornwall country lane, but that is the charm of the island. All houses are required to paint their roofs white once a year so that the rain water which they collect in their cisterns, also a requirement, is kept clean. At St. George’s yachts raft alongside the dock walls on the N side of Ordnance Island on a first come first served basis, or, alternatively, it is possible to anchor off the town. In Hamilton at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club’s marina or the Dockyard marina.
6) ENTRY PORTS St.George’s or Hamilton. Talk to the very helpful Bermuda Harbour Radio station on VHF Ch 16 before arriving.
7) FORMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR YACHTS ENTERING/DEPARTING
a) from/to same country Clear this with Bermuda Harbour Radio.
b) from/to abroad The Customs and Immigration are highly efficient. You are required to call Bermuda Radio on VHF as you approach Bermuda for clearance to enter. They will ask very detailed questions about your yacht and its equipment. Clear in at St. George’s with usual ship’s papers, passports, 2 copies of the Crew List and a list of the food on board.
c) visa requirements Not for UK, USA or Western Europeans, but for many other nationalities. Enquire before arriving.
8) LOCATION/EXISTENCE OF
a) harbour master On Ordnance Island, St. George’s
b) customs/immigration Customs dock for entering Bermuda on north side of Ordnance island.
c) health authorities All at above dock.
9) CONTROL OF FOREIGN YACHTS Duty may be payable on yachts staying longer than 6 months
10) ATTITUDE OF OFFICIALS TO VISITING YACHTSMEN Good
11) REPAIR/HAULING FACILITIES There are a number of boatyards and the Harbour Radio may be contacted for assistance in making arrangements for emergency repairs. At Mills Creek Marine there is a travel lift for yachts up to 65f loa and 35 tons. Larger vessels, up to 200ft and 40ft beam can be hauled out at Meter Industries. Both marine electric and electronic repairs can be undertaken, also sail repair at Ocean Sails.
12) SAILING DIRECTIONS OR CHARTS BA 334 for the whole Island and BA 868 for St. David’s Head and the Town Cut, 867 and 1073 to approach Hamilton and for the harbour. Imray publish a chart of Bermuda E5, which covers the entire island on one chart. You need a good chart for the voyage from St Georges to HM Dockyard and Hamilton. The Bermuda reef is not somewhere to play around!
13) PORT RADIO SERVICES Before arriving contact Bermuda Harbour Radio station on 2182Khz of VHF Ch.16. They are most helpful, will help guide you in, tell you where to go and contact the authorities.
14) WEATHER FORECASTS The Bermuda Weather Service is excellent. It is situated near the airport control tower. They are happy to meet yachtsmen and give them 4 day forecasts and to discuss the likely developments. They will also provide information of the position of the Gulf Stream and advise you on where to cross it with maximum advantage in a cold eddy if you are heading north. All in all they are wonderfully helpful and provide a magnificent service. Forecasts will be given on request from Harbour Radio, or listen in at 1235 and 2035 GMT for forecasts for the Western North Atlantic and local Bermuda area. VHF Ch 27 at 1235 and 2035GMT daily The Bermuda Yacht Reporting Service, located on Ordnance Island, St. George’s, provides a display of the latest N. Atlantic weather forecast charts and details of the Gulf Stream. Navtex broadcasts can be received on 518 kHz (B) at 0010, 0410, 0810, 1210, 1610 & 2010 GMT.
15) YACHT CLUB(S) Royal Bermuda Yacht Club at Hamilton St Georges has a sailing club the St Georges Sports & Dinghy Club, just to the NW of the entrance to St Georges, where you can lie stern-to to their quay on an anchor. The berth is exposed to westerly winds and indeed can be exciting! The club is very friendly and helpful.
16) OTHER FACILITIES -
a) drinking water On Ordnance Quay, St. George’s or in Hamilton at the Royal Bermuda Y.C.marina.
b) fuel Fuel at special quay in St. George’s
c) gas (propane)/gaz/ Propane from Masters Bulls Head Gas Dept (Tel 295-4321, ext. 212) d) chandlers The Marine Locker, PW’s Marine Centre, St. George’s Boatyard.
e) bank In St. George’s or Hamilton, many ATM machines for major credit cards. American currency freely exchangeable and US travellers’ cheques are cashed everywhere.
f) shops/market Fair but expensive
g) restaurants/hotels Numerous
h) post office/telephones St. George’s or Hamilton
i) best mailing address c/o General Delivery, St. George’s or Hamilton or the R.B.Y.C.
j) showers R.B.Y.C. in Hamilton
k) laundry Laundromat in St. George’s, and in or near Hamilton.
l) transport/air services) International Airport. Good bus service, Taxis.
m) hospital King Edward VII Memorial hospital in Paget East just outside Hamilton.
n) anything else All yachts should be fitted with either holding tanks to contain sewage or have US Coastguard approved marine sanitation devices. No fresh vegetables or fruit should be brought in.
17) FIRST HAND RECOMMENDATIONS OR WARNINGS Animals arriving without proper documents will be refused entry and will be confined to the vessel or returned to the point of origin, as there are no quarantine facilities in Bermuda. When approaching Bermuda from the N it must be remembered that reefs extend up to 10miles offshore. Keep to the E and approach St. David’s head on a course of 2260 true.