Marigot Lagoon

Is only a mile S of Grande Cul-de-Sac, and here a yacht would be quite secure even if a hurricane passed overhead 

Not long ago the lagoon was deserted. At night the beat of drums could be heard coming from the village on the hill, and the only lights to be seen were the fireflies among the palms. It was exciting and somehow all very African.

Then along came our friendly developer and in carne suburbia, Saint Lucia style. The tragedy of it all is that, despite the hotels and houses, hardly anyone seems to stick to living there.

On the port hand as you enter is Dolittle's Bar and Restaurant, a very pleasant little spot with a friendly atmosphere. Further in on the starboard hand is the Hurricane Hole Hotel, which has its own jetty, but don't rely on finding an empty spot there. The Moorings, a bareboat charter company, is based on the eastern side of Marigot's much-photographed sand spit, and has combined the aforemen­tioned establishments into one large entity, known as the Marigot Bay Resort.

The lagoon empties out during the day, then fills up again, chock-a-block, as the charter yachts return from their day's outings. Before you get your anchor down, you'll be visited by boys and young men who would like to sell you fruits, vegetables, and shell and coral jewelry, or do some work on your boat.

If you need a shade for your cockpit light, they'll weave you one from coconut palm fronds, to order, while you watch.

The vendors may row out in one of the locally made and brightly painted fishing boats, or they may paddle their bananas out on a board boat that is well past its prime.

Our old friend Admiral Rodney, when he in his turn was being hounded around the islands by the unsporting French, hid a small squadron behind the palms by lashing the fronds that are woven today into hats and lamp shades to the mastheads of his ships. 

On entering Marigot, favor the southern side of the channel until abeam of Dolittle's. Very shallow water runs out from the northern shore, almost to the mid channel. The inner harbor is deep with a muddy bottom. If people anchor close by, don't worry. The lagoon is so well protected that no one dances around on the anchor here.

We arrange a 2 week charter cruising trough the best of the Caribbean islands onboard the sailboat Audrey with capacity for 6 persons including: Captain and cook and all meals with open bar. The price is $125 per person a day with a minimum of 4 persons. For more information please contact us: audrey@explore-yachts.com