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Is Anguilla Too Expensive for Sailing?

The Pros and Cons of Sailing in Anguilla

Should Anguilla be on your Sailing Destination List?

Anguilla is not a popular destination for sailors, but of course we had to find out why.  We had heard it was simple math.  Anguilla’s entry fees were unreasonably high.  But really how bad could it be?  If we planned our stay carefully, we could avoid the worst fees, right?

The passage from St. Martin to Anguilla was one of the most scenic captivating passages we have sailed.  We rounded Anguilla’s west end and were mesmerized first by the cliffs and then by the magnificent homes and resorts on those cliffs and beaches.   We were headed to Road Bay for the only check-in on the island. 

Road Bay Anguilla Cruising & Anchoring Fees

We arrived in Road Bay right at closing time.  You should know that anchoring in Road Bay is free.  You can make it your home base and then rent a car or scooters to see the rest of the island.  However, there are few public coastline areas.  Most are resorts or homes or restaurants.  So, we eliminated the land tour option.  We wanted to see the coastlines. 

Check-in at Road Bay was strange.  There was one office, but three different desks you need to visit within that office.  We were never quite sure what desk we were supposed to visit at which time.  They would talk between each other, then talk to us, but not really let us know they were talking to us.  When we didn’t answer, they couldn’t figure out why.  We filled the forms, and here is where it gets interesting. 

Your rate is based on your boat’s registered tonnage.  Gross Tonnage?  Net tonnage?  The gross tonnage is the volume of all enclosed spaces of the ship.  Our Leopard48 boat weight specs 37000 pounds dry weight, and if you convert to tons 18.5.    Gross tonnage is supposedly 55 – Net tonnage around 45.  Remember this is a volumetric measure that has nothing to do with physical weight.  Our USCG registration said 37 tons, so guess what we paid.  Too much!  We decided to invest for 2 nights. 

Harbour Fees – yachts up to 20 tons – $50.

Cruising Permit Fees as of 2022 publication – to go anywhere other than Road Bay.

5 to 20 tons– $225 EC ($85US) /day. 

Over 20 tons – $560 EC ($207US) /day.

You may only anchor overnight in non Marine Park areas. 

Full anchoring and cruising fees details here. 

We stayed at Road Bay the first evening.  We didn’t find a lot to like about Road Bay.  Too noisy and crowded with boats – many commercial.  The beach bars would be fun at night if you are so inclined – Elvis’ Beach Bar, and the Sand Bar looked the best.  The Doyle guide has a wealth of information that is useful for hikes, and activities here.   We did find an interesting snorkel – an underwater restaurant that sunk off the north shore. 

Anguilla Anchorages

The next day, we took the dinghy to Sandy Island.  What a beautiful spot for snorkeling and sunning, with a restaurant serving lobster and crayfish.  Totally at peace – except for worrying about the dinghy being secure.

Our next adventure was visiting Prickly Pear Island.  We anchored PILAR on the lee side of the island.  Not the easiest anchorage – it was deep and rocky.  Then we dinghied around the front side and hung out at the restaurant there – which was not open yet.  Finding a place to come ashore was a bit of a challenge, as the weather was a bit unsettled.  Too unsettled for any further offshore adventure to Dog Island.

Mead’s Bay – quite possibly the most perfect beach walk on the island. 

Crocus Bay and Davida restaurant – very protected anchorage with a wonderful restaurant – make sure you have reservations. 

Little Bay was our favorite spot.  There are two sections of mooring areas, but you can easily explore the whole bay by dinghy.  The cliffs, little caves and coves made perfect spots to hang out for the day.

Although we wanted to explore the south coast – Rendezvous Bay, Cove Bay and Maunday’s Bay, it would have meant beating into the waves and wind to get there, plus, we would have needed to return to Road Bay to check out, so we decided to call it good, and head to St. Barts.

Anguilla Marine Park areas are:

·  Little Bay Marine Park: The smallest protected zone. Known for dense seagrass beds and dramatic limestone cliffs. Anchoring is strictly banned here to protect the seafloor.

·  Sandy Island Marine Park: A small, white-sand cay surrounded by a shallow reef structure. Popular for casual snorkeling right off the beach.

·  Prickly Pear Cays Marine Park: Encompasses both Prickly Pear East and West. Known for rich coral reef ecosystems, underwater caverns, and vibrant nurse shark populations.

·  Shoal Bay-Island Harbour Marine Park: The largest park in the system. It covers a massive barrier reef system running along the northeast coast, shielding the main island from wave erosion.