Effect of tides on anchoring in Eastern Caribbean

[eddystone]

Come May, barring a positive test result, I'm off to Antigua (someone's got to do it), coinciding with 70th. I've no experience of anchoring in the Caribbean. Only previous visit was to BVIs, before Covid, where we picked up moorings all the time. As I understand it the tidal streams inshore should be very weak although different offshore depending on whether they are adding to or subtracting from the Caribbean stream. Which makes me wonder whether a boat at anchor will actually swing at all on the basis that wind is always dominant and that should be fairly consistent 15-20 knots from E/SE. That would be good as I wouldn't have to worry about anchor resetting with change of tidal current direction. In the BVIs I don't remember swinging because we had stronger Christmas winds than I'd expected, at least for the first week, gusting over 30 knots even in "sheltered" anchorages and always seemed to be lying to the wind.
Perhaps this is a rum-induced false memory?

 

[geem]

No worry about tides at all. Maybe a foot of tidal range in Antigua. No noticeable current in anchorages. Winds for the last two weeks have been 20 gusting 30kts. Similar for a few more days yet. Perfect kitesurfing conditions ?

 

[Neeves]

Come May, barring a positive test result, I'm off to Antigua (someone's got to do it), coinciding with 70th. I've no experience of anchoring in the Caribbean. Only previous visit was to BVIs, before Covid, where we picked up moorings all the time. As I understand it the tidal streams inshore should be very weak although different offshore depending on whether they are adding to or subtracting from the Caribbean stream. Which makes me wonder whether a boat at anchor will actually swing at all on the basis that wind is always dominant and that should be fairly consistent 15-20 knots from E/SE. That would be good as I wouldn't have to worry about anchor resetting with change of tidal current direction. In the BVIs I don't remember swinging because we had stronger Christmas winds than I'd expected, at least for the first week, gusting over 30 knots even in "sheltered" anchorages and always seemed to be lying to the wind.
Perhaps this is a rum-induced false memory?

Good Luck with the venture.

Let us know how it all develops. Members like you and Geem live the dream and are a source of both inspiration and real life experiences that are of considerable educational value or simply fascinating reading. We will all benefit from posts.

Take care, stay safe

Jonathan.

 

[AndrewB]

No worry about tides at all. Maybe a foot of tidal range in Antigua. No noticeable current in anchorages.

Check. There are great anchorages around Antigua. This is me anchored off Bird Island on the NE coast. Exposed to the full trade wind, there is a tiny lee. But when I took this photo I'd rowed the dinghy outside the lee, and was lucky to make it back!

 

[roaringgirl]

No tides to worry about. I recommend getting round to great bird island for a few days. Lovely shaded beach.

 

[Zing]

If you choose your spot half well you will have no problems. I did encounter reversing currents once only, but I was in an odd spot and exposed unusually to high currents. At the north end of Nevis.

You can get reversals of wind, but it is extremely rare to be more than very light in the ‘wrong’ direction. A relatively frequent spot for this is Deshaies, Guadeloupe.

Similar info on your other thread:
Bahamian moor in Caribbean

 

[geem]

Check. There are great anchorages around Antigua. This is me anchored off Bird Island on the NE coast. Exposed to the full trade wind, there is a tiny lee. But when I took this photo I'd rowed the dinghy outside the lee, and was lucky to make it back!

Yep, we have been anchored at Green Island about 250 metres away from Bird Island for the last two weeks. Great kitesurfing. Trades blowing hard the whole time.

 

[rotrax]

Our only experience was very weak tides, the boat, a 57 foot cat was always windrode.

Have a great trip.