Eustatia Anchorage

Anybody ever overnight off the southwest of Eustatia? Do the reefs provide enough protection?

Inside the reef offers several good areas to anchor. You need to make sure your on sand not coral. That entire area is however off limits for charter boats.
G

We have never been red lined for Eustacia.. Not sure if it is a judgement of competency but not one of our 14 charters have ever said it was off limits.

Sunsail didn't red line it last year either. In fact I asked about it during the chart briefing but we didn't anchor there.

jboothe did they red line anything when you were there? Reason I ask is because when we were there in November the briefer didn't say anything about redlines. He did mention the shortcut to Leverick and the one near the airport but all he said was you'd probably be ok in a cat but he didn't recommend it for a mono. I was a little surprised...

Jccarr, I'd just ask the charter outfit to make sure (assuming you aren't talking about a private boat).

What does Red Line mean? I have chartered 10 times with four different companies and never heard of this. Must be a Moorings thing.

You pretty much nailed it. They never really said anything was off limits and they even encouraged going to Anegada.

Redlining is when the briefer takes a chart and draws red lines where they don't allow you to go. Some outfits are very restrictive and some aren't.

We have been using Sunsail, and I don't remember a restriction on that area but a may have missed it. I will check again prior to the next trip. Mainly wanting to understand how protected the spot is, anybody overnight end there and how did it go.

The folding chart in the VI cruising guide shows (in red) areas "typically" off limits to charter boats, Eustatia sound included. The charts provided by sunsail and moorings haven't been marked up for some years, it seems.

If you waive the chart briefing (as we do), you're probably on the hook for knowing where you're allowed to go even if you didn't receive any info.

Having an incident in an area considered "off limits" can affect the insurance situation.

I've seen a whole fleet of moorings/sunsail cats anchored behind Eustatia island during that kiteboarding event.

MrEZgoin,

Not trying to be cantankerous but I just looked at the chart from the 2013/2014 guide and it looks like they don't do that anymore. I do seem to remember what you're talking about but of course the old chart is gone.

Not at all, I was going from memory and just checked a copy I have around, but that is 14th ed.

I appreciate the correction if this has changed.

We anchored there a few years ago when Julian Putley was our captain. Julian was very familiar with the reef and knew exactly where to anchor and how to stay off of the reef. I personally would not try it without someone that has extensive local knowldge of this reef. However, to answer your question, it was a bit rolly that night, no swells, just a good bit of boat movement from the wind.

Cheers,

Tony

I confess, I'm a sucker for a new spot that few go to and if the sun is above and I can see the the reefs/coral I'm not afraid to navigate the area. But I also confess that I am very bad at predicting how conditions will be once we get there. So we always have an alternate that is available before dark and usually a third out just in case. I've seen private boats up in deep bay and oil nut and always wanted to go but so far we were either restricted or on the way to another secret spot. One of these days the combination of rules and weather will be right and I hope we find a new spot we love. Usually we've found that anchoring behind reefs is great but it all depends...