Anchoring at Sauteurs, Grenada – Things to Know About This Anchorage

Sauteurs has become a good anchorage ever since they put in the breakwater several years ago.

But still most people sailing around Grenada seem to skip this anchorage. And I have to admit, there are some good reasons to anchor at Sauteurs and some reasons not to, which I want to share in this article.

Anchoring at Sauteurs, Grenada

This a rolly anchorage, and you do want to check the weather before you go here.

Swells can wrap around the breakwater and make it uncomfortable at the anchorage. The swells can also cause breaking surf on the beach, especially when the wind turns northeasterly.

But, in good weather, it’s a beautiful bay and I would say it’s well worth anchoring here.

The breakwater, intended to protect the beachfront businesses and main street from erosion, isn’t shown on all charts yet. If your chart doesn’t show it, you can find it on the northeast side of the bay, where the reef is.

There is a good sandy patch with a depth of about 5 meters inside the bay, just left of the dock, and you can safely anchor here.

But, if there is space, I’d recommend anchoring as far in as your draft allows.

Tuck in behind the breakwater as much as you can to get the least rolly spot. Watch out for the reef, the sea moss farms, and local moorings which can sometimes be very small and hard to spot.

Don’t try to anchor here at night. Even though you are right in front of a town, there are hardly any lights at night and there are many small local boats moored that are tricky to see, plus there is the reef to avoid on both ends of the bay.

The reefs are easily spotted and avoided in daylight by the way.

Unlike what some pilot books say it is really not a difficult anchorage to get to, as long as you enter during the day and in calm weather.

There is a large dock in the middle of the bay but it isn’t suitable for dinghies. You can beach your dinghy instead and from there explore the town and surrounding area.

Holding is good in sand, and we managed to connect to a surprisingly good, open wifi network from the boat.

The Town of Sauteurs & Why It’s Worth Visiting

Sauteurs is a lovely historic, rural town with a nice beach and the friendliest people.

You can find a few supermarkets and other shops in town plus a number of bars and simple places to eat.

Sauteurs doesn’t receive many tourists, and that seems to make the locals all the more welcoming.

Walk up Leapers Hill and go to St. Patricks Roman Catholic Church. Behind the church, in front of the graveyard, you’ll find a lookout point giving you a great view across the bay.

There is a tiny shop next to the church selling delicious homemade ice cream! The woman running it is also happy to give you a little tour of the sites and will share lots of stories about the history of Grenada and current life here.

If you want more information about the best hikes around town, which bus to take, current events, etc., she is also a great person to ask.

Crab Hole, behind the pier on the other side of town, is worth checking out as well. It’s a low-key outdoor venue with a stage that can get very lively, especially on weekends.

This does mean that it can be a bit loud at anchorage when Crab Hole is having a late night. A good excuse to just join them for an evening of drinking, dancing and hanging out with the locals!

There is a good bus terminal in town with a few nice food stalls next to it.

And with Sauteurs being the northernmost anchorage in Grenada, it’s a good base to explore the north of the island from.

Also Read: Sailing in Grenada – Things to Know. In this article I describe all other anchorages in Grenada plus a lot of additional tips & information.

Final Note About Sauteurs’ Anchorage

The bay is often quite full of local fishing boats, and there are a lot of small mooring buoys. This leaves limited space for visiting yachts to tuck behind the breakwater. Two or three will fit, but not many more.

But, it’s not a common anchorage for most to sail to, so most likely you’ll be the only one trying to anchor here.

Sauteurs’ breakwater was created to protect the beachfront, but has now shown to also cause some unexpected coastal erosion and is therefore heavily criticized.

If this might influence your decision to anchor here, this article provides further information. 

Also Read:

• The Best Caribbean Islands to Visit & Why
• Why You Shouldn’t Take Seashells From the Beach
• Life in Grenada – What It’s Like to Move to & Live in Grenada
• Sailing in Saint Lucia – Anchorages, Sailing Tips & More
• Anchoring in Mullet Bay, St Maarten
• Sailing Across the Atlantic – My Experiences