Recommendations for a secure Caribbean marina

[Ashman]

I know it’s is a long way off but we need to leave our boat in a marina for two months when we fly back to the UK next March.

Our plan is to be somewhere in the Leeward Islands so that when we return to the boat early in May we can head straight south back to Trinidad and Tobago or the ABCs ready for the hurricane season.

A safe marina preferably with security on an island having easy access to European flights would be ideal - I’m hopeful somebody will be able help me with suggestions based on experiencing a similar challenge.

 

[temptress]

I know it’s is a long way off but we need to leave our boat in a marina for two months when we fly back to the UK next March.

Our plan is to be somewhere in the Leeward Islands so that when we return to the boat early in May we can head straight south back to Trinidad and Tobago or the ABCs ready for the hurricane season.

A safe marina preferably with security on an island having easy access to European flights would be ideal - I’m hopeful somebody will be able help me with suggestions based on experiencing a similar challenge.

GRENADA is probably your best choice. PORT Louis is safe and secure, so is Le phar Blue (so.?} , my personal choice would be Whisper Cove Marina in Clarks court Bay very safe and the owners are very friendly.

 

[TQA]

Port Louis Marina Grenada or Rodney Bay in St Lucia. Marigot bay St Lucia would be OK as well.

If I had to choose one for my baby it would be Rodney Bay. Very professional feel to the operation.

 

[Ashman]

Thank you Temptress and TQA for your replies they wre much appreciated. I had a look at your suggested marinas on the internet last night and will get price quotes from all of them.
Indicated rates are a lot higher than here in Brazil but the quality of their services and pontoons are probably going to be much better.

 

[Jeannius]

As TQA says, Port Louis Grenada, if you want to stay in the water. I'd look at hauling out though at Grenada Marine. Less to worry about if the boat is out of the water IMHO.

 

[Monique]

Look Bonaire harbour. Is well secured from all trades and north winds.

Lovely island. (Cannot load .jpg saved as .pdf... bo*****s

 

[Ariadne]

Why not just haul out in Trinidad, its cheaper and safer than Grenada?
Peakes, Powerboats, Coral Cove and Crews Inn, all have good haul out facilities with secure compounds, and hauling is cheaper than sitting on a marina berth!

Flights to the UK are also cheaper from Trinidad...............

 

[Ashman]

Why not just haul out in Trinidad, its cheaper and safer than Grenada?
Peakes, Powerboats, Coral Cove and Crews Inn, all have good haul out facilities with secure compounds, and hauling is cheaper than sitting on a marina berth!

Flights to the UK are also cheaper from Trinidad...............

We are shortly sailing to Trinidad to meet our Grand Daughter who is flying out at the beginning of August to stay with us for a few weeks – we’ll probably ‘do’ Trinidad pretty intensively…. After that we’ll cruise T & Tobago until December before heading up the Leeward Islands before returning (probably now to Grenada) for the critical two months when we fly back in March to the UK for a family wedding…….after that we’ll probably haul out in Trinidad…..undoubtedly by then there will be a (another) long list of maintenance jobs to be done!
So IYO which is the best / most pleasant yard to haul out in Trinidad for a liveaboard DIY crew?

 

[TQA]

Peakes without a doubt is slightly more up market but in practice there is little to choose between Peakes and Power Boats for getting out onto the hard and getting the work done. Both have a good supply of skilled workers and in house chandlery.

I hauled at Power Boats and will do again.

 

[Ariadne]

Its horses for course in Trinidad, we haul in Coral Cove as its cheaper, and you can hire anybody you like and negotiate a deal. Some don't the idea of not having boatyard guaranteed work, but the marina was filing quickly with all the DIY peeps, there is usually a good crowd there and a pretty tidy social scene, although the facilities can be a bit rustic at times!

Get there in time and have an asl around and see how you feel about where you haul. The boat will be safe in any yard, it really is down to you.

But do spend some time there and explore the place, it's well worth it.

 

[Wandering Star]

I kept a 39 foot boat in Le Phare Bleu for a couple of years. It's a very friendly and lovely place. Not being the wealthiest sailor in the World, I actually used a hybrid arrangement. There is/was a small outfit run by a couple of Brits with an office in LPB Marina called (I think) Island Dreams, they have a few swinging moorings in St Julian's Bay next door to LPB Marina. The arrangement I had was that I would email them a few days before me and my family flew out and they made sure the boat was fuelled and watered and in the Marina for me on arrival, then once we flew home, the boat was moved back by them, to their mooring. Saved a packet, I only sailed my boat home after XL Airlines went bust and left BA & Virgin with a near monopoly on UK flights to Grenada which made flying out to the boat during school holidays unaffordable - otherwise I would still be out there!