Would love to visit CGB on our upcoming charter. We skipped it last year, primarily because our dinghy dock experience the year before that was rather brutal. Going in and tying off was a breeze, but by the time we came back after exploring, the surge was so bad the dinghy on each side of ours had punctured against the dock and were sinking. Ours was fine, but we had to cut the line to get off the dock cleet and boarding was quite precarious.

Though I'm sure those conditions don't always replicate, I'm curious if there are other options for getting the dinghy to shore. Is there, for instance, anywhere we can reliably and safely beach the dinghy?

Usually the location and reef protect Cane Garden Bay from big waves and the dinghy dock has little wave action. The only time the dinghy dock, and the whole anchorage, is potentially dangerous is during a north swell. And those are very accurately predicted on weather apps, the most commonly used one is Windguru BVI. If the waves are coming anywhere from NE to NW with more than about 1.5m with a long period then the whole anchorage should be avoided. If there's no north swell, then the dinghy dock will be accessible.