Grenada to Trinidad

Plan to leave Prickly Bay, Mt. Hartman Bay or Hog Island around 5pm for an overnight sail to Trinidad.  You will need enough light to gain deeper water south of the reef complex before the sun sets.  The exit routes from Prickly Bay and Hog Island are easier than from Mt. Hartman Bay.  We prefer to leave from Hog Island because we gain more easting and hence a better sailing angle when leaving from here as opposed to Prickly Bay.

Wait for a good weather window before you attempt this crossing.  A good weather window is one with easterly winds of 10-15 knots and seas 5 feet or less.  You will get hammered if the winds are blowing 20 knots from the east with seas in excess of 7 feet.  Wait it out!

This sail is an 80 mile beat or close reach across the swiftly flowing equatorial current.  The equatorial current will set you to the west so make sure you are headed more east-southeast rather than southeast for your course.  Make as much easterly progress as you can because you will need that angle when the full force of the equatorial current pushes you westward at about 2-4 knots.  This is an open water crossing so plan accordingly.

Hazards

There is only 1 hazard to navigation along this route, once you are in the deeper water south of Grenada.  That hazard is the Hibiscus Gas Platform that has been built about 25 miles north of Trinidad and is owned by Trinidad.  This huge structure is actually east of your course so it should not present a problem.  However if you are lucky enough to have gained more easterly progress than anticipated the platform may be closer than normal to your course.  You are allowed to be within approximately 2 miles of the platform but that is as close as you can get.  If you try to approach any closer than 2 miles you will be greeted by a vessel which will escort you out of their secure area.

The platform sends out a large radar beam that extends out 5 miles.  This radar image will be quite noticeable and you cannot mistake it for anything else.  Since you will most likely approach the vicinity of the platform in the dark you will see it shining brightly in the distance.  It is not a cruise ship!

After approximately 10-12 hours you will encounter the nighttime lee of Trinidad and be forced to motor.  The winds most likely will have become lighter about half way across due to the influence of the large Trinidadian landmass.

Entrance

Your plotted course should have been set to enter through the First Boca, Boca de Monos (mouth of the monkey).  There is no reason to use any Boca other than Boca de Monos.  The entrance is easy, deep and wide.  The current flows into and out of the Bocas at about 4 knots.  Considering you left Grenada at 5 pm you will enter Boca de Monos after sunrise so there will be plenty of light to observe Scotland Bay and the wonderful anchorage there on the way in.  Do not think of anchoring at Scotland Bay before you have cleared Customs in Chaguaramas.  The penalties can be severe.

Once inside Boca de Monos the scenery is spectacular.  Listen for the Howler Monkeys from the verdant hillsides in the early morning calm.  Congratulations, you have arrived in Trinidad, the crossroads for sailors from all over the world!

Once south of the Boca de Monos take up an easterly course and pass on either side of Gasparillo Island.  Your destination lies at the head of the bay: Trinidad Customs and Immigration. 

Customs & Immigration

The Customs dock is located at the outer Crew’s Inn dock on your starboard side and has room for 2 vessels at a time at the T-dock.  You must tie up to the Customs T-dock upon arrival.   Do not anchor out, pick up a mooring or tie up in a Crew’s Inn slip and attempt to clear Customs.  That is a BIG no-no.  If the T-dock is full you may have to drift around the harbor waiting for the dock to open up.  This should not take long so be patient.  Avoid proceeding much further east past the Customs T-dock as the water will shallow quickly.  This shallow inner harbor is home to the local fishing boats who roar past the customs dock at full throttle. 

Once you are tied at the Customs dock make sure to use plenty of fenders!  Those picturesque fishing boats exiting the inner harbor throw huge wakes that can and will damage your vessel at the dock.  There are no speed zones in Chaguaramas harbor, let alone a no wake zone!  You have been warned.

Normal Customs and Immigration hours begin at 8 AM and not before, no matter what you read in the guide books.  Checking into Customs and Immigration before the official opening will result in overtime charges.  The Customs and Immigration officials are efficient and professional.  There will be fees for clearing into Trinidad.  You can pay the fees with either US dollars or Trinidad’s currency – the “TT”.  No other currency is accepted.  If you are short on cash there is an ATM machine located near the Hi/Lo grocery store near the Customs office.  This machine dispenses TT dollars only.

You will be tired from your crossing but the Customs people expect you to be coherent, properly dressed and fill out their forms correctly.  You are required to declare all weapons and they will be confiscated by Customs (with a receipt) and returned when you check out of the country.  This is a very strict rule.  It would be rare indeed for a Customs official to inspect your vessel at check-in but it could happen.  An inspection sometime during your stay in Trinidad could also occur should the need arise (theft, etc.).  Flares can be considered safety equipment and not weapons; it is up to you how to declare them on the form.

Pets are not permitted ashore in Trinidad.  This is a zero tolerance law.  Breaking this law will lead to the immediate death of your pet.

Chaguaramas

Chaguaramas harbor is polluted.  The holding is poor, the bottom is littered with debris and the anchoring area is deep (50-60 feet in many places).  Chaguaramas is a commercial harbor so vessels of all shapes, sizes and nationalities use the anchorage.  Large offshore platforms have a special anchorage just outside the designated anchorage.

Designated anchorage?  Yes, there is a designated anchorage in Chaguaramas harbor for cruisers.  This area is marked with yellow buoys and anchoring is permitted inside this area.  Also within this area are YSATT moorings which you can arrange to pick up at the YSATT office or call them on your VHF, channel 68, PRIOR to picking up a vacant mooring.

The other options for staying in Chaguaramas include anchoring in Scotland Bay (quite a distance from Chaguarmas) or getting a slip at one of the several marinas in Chaguaramas.  It is wise to arrange for a slip prior to your arrival in Trinidad.

Another set of options for your stay in Trinidad is to proceed further east and around Point Gourde to the TTSA anchorage area.  This anchorage is shallower than the Chaguaramas anchorage and is opposite the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association facility.  The anchorage is not protected from east winds.  This anchorage also tends to be noisy on weekends and holidays and security is something that you should worry about.

A final option is to arrange for a slip at the TTYC (Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club), further east than TTSA.  Prior arrangements must be made to secure a slip here.

Cruiser’s Net

Once you have settled in make sure to listen to the Cruiser’s Information Net every morning (except Sunday) at 8:00 AM on VHF Channel 68.  This net is the best in the Caribbean.

Trinidad to Grenada (or Further North)

Leave Chaguaramas Harbor at noon or 1:00 pm and sail overnight to Grenada.  With this early departure you will make landfall in Grenada in the dark.  This is not recommended!  Then why leave so early?  By leaving early you can leisurely motor to Scotland Bay to prepare yourself for an early evening crossing.  It is helpful to get away from the hub of activity early and get your mind into cruising mode once again.  If this is your choice you can then depart Scotland Bay before sunset and have an overnight crossing to Grenada where you will arrive after sunrise.

However, if your destination is further north at Carriacou or even the Grenadines, a noon or 1:00 pm departure will enable you to arrive there after first light.  This is a very attractive option for many cruisers not wanting to clear into Grenada again.  A leisurely motor-sail along the leeward coast of Grenada is free from all dangers within a half mile of the coast. 

Pass either side of Kick-em’-Jenny but DO NOT sail inside the exclusion zone for obvious reasons.  It is safer to sail west of the exclusion zone in the dark of night. 

Handbook for Caribbean Cruising

Volume 1: Eastern Caribbean

Grenada to Trinidad

Trinidad to Grenada