Tobago Cays: The Explore Charter Cruising Guide for the Caribbean.

A two flash beacon on the cays will come into line to lead you in.

When approaching the cays from the N, the cautious navigator would do well to leave Bayline and the unmarked shoal patch to port until the day beacons are in line.

Make a cautious approach in good light and be prepared to eyeball your way around.

The southern entrance is more complex, and should be attempted for the first time only in good light.

From the top of the mast  cruising trough the dark-blue water of the channel is very easy.

The most popular anchorage is in the gut between the two islands. A strong current sometimes rushes through the channel, and yachts should lie to a mooring with two anchors off the bow, one to the E and the other to the W.

In summer conditions, the favorite place is just to windward of the little beach on Jamesby, the southernmost of the group, or as far to the SE of Baradal as the draft allows you.

In Obsession, drawing 7 feet, we could roam all over the banks inside the reef.

The top of the mast photo was taken here in 1992.

Snorkeling is of course superb out on the Horseshoe Reef, especially due E of the northern tip of Baradal, where there is a break in the reef.

Lobsters and conch can be caught with ease on the outermost tip of the reef.

A good place for beginners to practice is of the beach on the SE side of Petit Bateau, the southern­most of the two main islands.

Outside the Horseshoe in Petit Tabac, in settled or summer weather, an anchor­age can sometimes be found in the Horseshoe's lee. If not, take the dinghy through the small-boat pass up by Baradal and play Robinson Crusoe for a bit.

Also in settled weather, eyeball it out to the sprawling World's End Reef, where you will be absolutely alone, seemingly in the middle of the ocean. The holding is good, and there's no reason why you shouldn't overnight there in a calm spell.

It’s a funny feeling, though-there's not a scrap of land between you and central Africa.