Rodney Bay Marina
A protected marina near Gros Islet with fuel, dining, chandlery, groceries and fast access to the north end.
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The complete charter-planning guide
Sailing
Saint Lucia
Trade-wind passages. Rainforest shores. The Pitons rising directly from your cockpit.
Bareboat · Skippered · CrewedReviewed July 27, 2026
Best seasonDecember–May
Classic charter7–10 nights
Primary baseRodney Bay Marina
ExperienceIntermediate+
Why Saint Lucia works
A spectacular coast—and a gateway to much bigger sailing.
Saint Lucia can support a slow coastal week, but its real strength is choice. Start at a full-service northern base, sail beneath volcanic peaks, cross north to Martinique or turn south toward the Grenadines. The scenery is generous; the passages are not always gentle. Strong trades, deep water close to shore and gusts spilling from the mountains make this a meaningful step beyond beginner cruising grounds.
01
Arrive a day early
UVF is a long road transfer from Rodney Bay. Protect the briefing and first sailing day from flight delays.
02
Expect real wind
The lee coast can look serene while strong gusts descend near headlands and the Pitons.
03
Use the moorings
Soufrière’s managed marine area protects coral with designated yacht moorings and zoning.
04
Choose one ambition
Martinique, the Grenadines and a relaxed Saint Lucia week are three different charters.
Moorings & Sunsail base
Rodney Bay makes the complicated part easy.
Bareboat or crewed
The Moorings and Sunsail currently offer Saint Lucia programs. Fleet, skipper and one-way availability vary by date.
SLU is close · UVF is not
George F. L. Charles is near the base; most international arrivals use Hewanorra, roughly a long cross-island transfer away.
Premium charter brand
The Moorings
Rodney Bay Marina
Compare current sailing catamarans, power yachts, crewed options and published route ideas.
Current fleet & quotes ↗Sailing-focused sister brand
Sunsail
Rodney Bay Marina
Useful for current bareboat requirements, base details and Saint Lucia, Martinique or one-way route options.
Current fleet & quotes ↗Skipper requirements
A formal license may not be the deciding factor, but documented recent experience on a comparable yacht is. Expect the operator to review a sailing résumé and retain the right to require a checkout or professional skipper.
Provisioning strategy
Provision heavily in the north. Rodney Bay has the island’s best combination of supermarkets, specialty items, ice and marina delivery. Marigot and Soufrière can replenish basics, but they are poor places to discover the crew considers coffee a human right.
Choose the shape of the charter
One base. Three very different weeks.
Saint Lucia coast
Rodney Bay, Marigot, Soufrière, the Pitons and selected west-coast coves. Best for a first Windward charter, mixed-experience crews and travelers who want substantial time ashore.
Saint Lucia + Martinique
Pair the Pitons with Sainte-Anne or Le Marin. The open-water passage and formal clearance raise the difficulty, but French provisioning and a completely different culture make the contrast worthwhile.
One-way to Grenada
Continue through Saint Vincent, Bequia, the Tobago Cays and Carriacou. This is the grand route, with longer exposed passages, multiple clearances and far more temptation than a seven-night calendar can absorb.
Anchorages & moorings
The west coast is the route. The mountains set the mood.
Rodney Bay
Charter base · marina · provisionsThe island’s easiest launch point, with The Moorings and Sunsail, fuel, restaurants, supermarkets and repair support. The outer bay can offer anchoring room, but the marina is the practical first and final night.
Marigot Bay
Marina · moorings · sheltered harborA famously enclosed harbor with restaurants and shore services. Space is tight, traffic is active and the inner bay can feel still and warm; reserve a berth or use an authorized mooring.
Anse Cochon
Day stop · snorkelingA useful swim and lunch stop on the west coast. It is more exposed and limited than a full-service overnight, so judge swell and holding conditions conservatively.
Anse Chastanet
SMMA moorings · reefA beautiful marine-area stop with immediate snorkeling and access toward Soufrière. Use the correct yacht mooring and keep clear of dive buoys and swimming zones.
Soufrière Bay
Town access · SMMA mooringsThe best base for the volcano, waterfalls and markets. Boat boys may assist with moorings; use authorized services, agree prices first and follow current SMMA instructions.
Between the Pitons
Iconic mooring · resort accessThe cinematic Saint Lucia night. Mooring availability, depth, wind gusts and resort landing arrangements matter; never improvise an anchor in protected habitat.
Laborie
Weather-dependent anchorageA quiet southwestern village stop for experienced crews in settled conditions. Facilities and shelter are limited compared with Rodney Bay or Marigot.
Use SMMA mooringsFollow buoy colors, zoning and collector instructions around Soufrière.
Do not anchor on coralClear-looking water is not permission; reef and seagrass habitat can be hard to read from deck height.
Plan for gustsKatabatic and headland gusts can arrive much stronger than the apparent wind in a protected bay.
Secure the dinghyUse recognized landings, lock when advised and agree any assistance price before accepting it.
Conditions & passage planning
The lee coast is protected.
Prime season
December–April
Drier weather and established trades, with the strongest demand and occasional Christmas-wind surges.
Warm shoulder
May–June
Warmer, quieter and often attractive, with rising humidity and greater tropical-weather attention.
Storm season
July–November
Higher heat, rainfall and Atlantic hurricane risk. Charter operations, insurance and itineraries may be restricted.
Rodney Bay → Marigot Bayabout 12 nm
A comfortable first leg along the leeward coast.
Marigot Bay → Soufrièreabout 12–14 nm
The scenery grows steadily more dramatic.
Soufrière → Pitons Bayabout 2–3 nm
Short mileage; mooring choice and gusts matter more.
Rodney Bay → Sainte-Anne, Martiniqueroughly 22–28 nm
An exposed international passage; the exact route and destination change the total.
Soufrière → Blue Lagoon, Saint Vincentroughly 40–45 nm
A serious open-water day with acceleration zones and clearance planning.
Planning estimates only. Plot the actual route using current charts, notices, forecast, yacht performance and the base briefing.
Clearance & borders
Coastal cruising is simple. Crossing to another country is not the same trip.
01
Within Saint Lucia
A locally based charter will receive documents and cruising instructions from the base. Carry the vessel papers and crew passports, obey marine-area fees and confirm which ports or bays the contract permits.
02
Foreign arrivals
Enter at an official port, fly the appropriate quarantine flag and keep crew aboard until health, customs and immigration formalities are complete. Office locations and hours can change; contact the destination port before arrival.
03
Martinique or the Grenadines
Clear out of Saint Lucia and into the next jurisdiction using its current process. Every crew member needs appropriate documents. An operator’s permission, territorial clearance and marine-park permit are separate requirements.
A calm seven-night plan
Let the Pitons be the destination.
Day 1
Rodney Bay
Board, provision and complete briefings. Keep the yacht in the marina or make only a short shakedown move.
Day 2
Rodney Bay → Marigot Bay
A manageable first coastal sail with time to learn the boat and enjoy dinner ashore.
Day 3
Marigot → Anse Chastanet / Soufrière
Continue down the lee coast, enter the managed marine area and take an official mooring.
Day 4
Soufrière & the Pitons
Stay put for Tet Paul, the volcano, waterfalls or a long swim. Moving five miles simply to say the yacht moved is not compulsory.
Day 5
Pitons → Anse Cochon or Marigot
Begin north with a reef stop, then choose the overnight by swell, mooring availability and crew energy.
Day 6
Marigot → Rodney Bay
Return north with daylight to refuel, shop or visit Pigeon Island.
Day 7
Base return
Meet the contracted return window with time for inspection, debriefing and the airport transfer.
Navigation note: This is editorial inspiration, not a sailing plan. The charter contract, current charts, weather, marine-area instructions and skipper judgment control every leg.
Official sources & live checks
Open these before leaving the dock.
Fleet rules, marina procedures, mooring status, clearance offices and forecasts change. Recheck them close to departure.