All activities / Sailing / Rodney Bay
Sailing in Rodney Bay
Rodney Bay is the resort and marina hub at the north end of Saint Lucia, in the Gros Islet quarter. Its IGY marina is the island's yachting centre and the finish line of the annual ARC transatlantic rally, and a causeway links the bay to the Pigeon Island National Landmark, a restored British fort that serves as the main stage for the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival.
Why here
Rodney Bay is the sailing capital of Saint Lucia and one of the best-known jumping-off points in the eastern Caribbean. The sheltered, man-made lagoon at IGY Rodney Bay Marina is the island's main yacht base and, every December, the finish line of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, when more than 200 boats arrive off the trade-wind crossing from the Canaries to a champagne welcome on the dock. From here the classic Windward Islands run opens up in both directions: south along Saint Lucia's own west coast to anchor beneath the Pitons at Soufriere, or north across the channel to Martinique, both comfortable day sails in steady 15-to-20-knot trades and flat, protected water in the lee of the islands. You can take the helm on a bareboat charter, join a crewed yacht, or spend a day on one of the big local catamarans that run down the coast with snorkel stops and rum on board. The combination of reliable wind, short hops between anchorages and a full-service marina makes it an ideal place to learn, to charter or simply to sail.
Best months
The prime sailing season runs from December to May, outside the June-to-November Atlantic hurricane season, with the steadiest north-east trades and the driest weather. Winds are typically 15 to 20 knots and the water in the lee of the islands is flat and forgiving, though the open channel crossings to Martinique and to the south can be lumpier with wind against current. Rodney Bay Marina is fully serviced with fuel, water, provisioning and customs clearance on site. The ARC arrivals through December fill the marina and the town, so book berths and charters well ahead around then.
Getting there & around
Rodney Bay sits about 15 minutes from Castries and the George F. L. Charles airport in the north, or roughly 90 minutes from the main Hewanorra international airport in the south. The marina is the base for bareboat and crewed charters and for day-sail catamarans, all within walking distance of hotels, restaurants and provisioning. Bareboat charter requires sailing experience and usually a resume or check-out sail; crewed charters and day trips need none. Book charters and, especially, December berths early. Customs and immigration clearance for onward island-hopping is handled at the marina.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
DSL Yachting
OutfitterDSL Yachting has run bareboat charters out of IGY Rodney Bay Marina since 1991, when the Austrian sailors Ulrich and Sandra Meixner set it up as the island's dedicated charter base. It keeps a small, closely maintained fleet of monohulls and catamarans, and Rodney Bay's position at the top of Saint Lucia makes it the natural launch point for a sail south to the Pitons or north to Martinique. Alongside charters the company handles yacht management, brokerage and deliveries across the Windwards.
Sea Spray Cruises
OutfitterSea Spray Cruises is a locally run operator at Rodney Bay Marina in Gros Islet, sailing three large catamarans including the Tout Bagay and the Jus Tango. Its signature trip is the full-day west-coast sail down to Soufriere and the Pitons, with stops to snorkel protected bays and visit a waterfall, and it also runs sunset sails and private charters out of the bay. The crews are as well known for the on-board party as for the sailing, a proper Saint Lucian day out under canvas.