Rodney Bay Marina
Rodney Bay St Lucia - Pilotage info.
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION, Info here is no substitute for proper navigational data.
SINCE THIS WAS WRITTEN Rodney Bay has had a makeover, dunno what but i know its had one.
Rodney bay Marina is the largest marina in St Lucia, probably one of the largest in the Caribbean. Its deep enough for most boats, fully enclosed and secure. This is probably why its then end point for the ARC. Its also a very conventional marina. Finger pontoons etc.
Rodney bay marina is in a lagoon, the lagoon has one entrance, a narrow channel out between stone groins into the bay. Entrance point pretty much dead west. The bay is relatively free of dangers, provided you maintain sane distance off the shore. The exception is the "barrel of beef", presumably cockney rhyming slang for reef. It is a large rock with a beacon on it (dunno if it actually works) about 2 meters high. Near it are other lower rocks so leave it well clear. The barrel o beef is in the south west corner of the bay. The channel itself is narrow and marked by 2 beacons red and green, in the American style (red right returning). Both work at time of writing. Its clear there were at one stage leading lights. One is visible on the road behind the entrance however the Brig Unicorn and the new travel lift dock are certain to obscure it, even if it does work which I doubt. Apparently the channel groins ends have spread a bit. but so long as you pass between the beacons I doubt there's a problem. The Lagoon is in 2 parts, the first reached contains the marina, fuel dock and boatyard. Round to the right (south west) the lagoon opens out into a second section. There are a few private docks around the edge, but Anchoring is allowed except off the southern end of the Marina Docks (the big tourist cats maneuver here). The marina its self is a promontory on the eastern side of the main lagoon, with three docks running north south. The western most dock is A dock, a continuous run. The other docks are cut in two by the marina promontory, B and C to the north D and E to the south. Even numbered berths are on the western sides and even numbers on the eastern sides. Fingers are short and concrete, there is also a post either wood or concrete off the ends of the fingers for a stern line or bow spring, so be ready to loop a rope over this on your way in. The pontoons are fixed not floating, the tidal range is not huge but it is bigger than a normal fender. Normal practice is to hang 2 or more fenders together on high one low. Since the pontoons are short, once parked concentrate fenders at the end of the finger. You may need to get creative in fendering the aft post! The fueling dock and boat yard are separate from the marina on the north side of the Lagoon. There is a large tank and diesel sign in the actual entrance channel, however this is for the local small fishing boats not the yachty fuel dock which is further in. Water is also available from the fuel dock, but I think you have to pay. Anchoring in the marina is fine, bottom is thick cloying mud, you won't drag as such but you might creep as the anchor oozes its way through the mud. Have a bucket and brush available when you haul it up. We once had a tripping line buoyed to the anchor. It was dragged into the mud, through the hole the anchor made and back up after it, covered in mud as we hauled the anchor up. Do not anchor of the southern end of the docks. The southern lagoon can be anchored in as well. All are flat calm. Around the marina are plenty of spots for your dinghy. Most of the docks around the edge of the lagoon are private, however theres one at the Boatyard pub in the boatyard to the north. Reportedly the shopping mall has one at the southern side of the southern lagoon. In the southwest corner of the south lagoon is the "Village Green" Which used to be used by yachties, however this area is locals green space and appears to have fallen out of yachty use. Finally there is a dinghy dock on the southern side of the entrance channel, its marked "customers only", but the bar is never open and nobody seems to take any notice. The is easy access from here to the beach.
Water, electricity and in some fingers cable TV are available.. All require connection and meter reading by marina staff. if you come in at an odd time or Christmas new year etc, the security will connect you, but expect to sort in out later when the office re-opens.
WiFi is also available, but not terribly reliable at time of writing. Whostpot# can usually be accessed from the boat, however these are paid for via pre paid tokens from the rent a car shop. When it works, it logs in via a web browser. There is a free hotspot called "cw hotspot" which works intermittently, but is not going to reach your boat. This is best used at the picnic tables by the bread basket cafe.
Bars, there is Skuttlebutts (formally Rodney Bay Marina Bar, Formally 3 Amigos) large with a pool area, does food most of the day (beer $5.5EC). Upstairs is Bosuns (beer $5EC) also a restaurant. The prices of drinks very wildly (some times daily too) Vodka Coke was $15EC! Stick to rum based ones as foreign spirits will probably be more.
Cafe's, the are 2 cafe's both on the ground floor of the main marina block, both are similar doing breakfasty things and baguettes etc. The CafeNavigational info.
Approaches
Channel
Lagoon
Marina
Anchorages
Dinghy Docks
Services.
Pontoons
Ashore