Port Morgan : Profile

Location

The Island suffered little damage from the January 2010 earthquake, however was badly affected by chronic lack of supplies.

The Island of Ile à Vache, at the SW corner of Haiti, is beautiful and a safe place to visit by cruising yachts. The anchorage is at Port Morgan at the NW corner of the island.

Ile à Vache is best approached from the West. Keep a sharp lookout for lobster and fish pots. There is a shoal coming into the Baie de Feret on the east side which should be kept well clear of.

Dugouts may rush to you as soon as you come in sight, they are friendly people from Caye Coq and will offer you assistance in entering and anchoring.

The owners of Port Morgan are French and have been running the hotel and restaurant for many years. The island has no cars or electricity and the people are gentle and welcoming.

Last updated June 2010.

Although not yet designated an official port of entry, boats that use Port Morgan can complete clearance formalities there. The port office monitors Channels 16 and 9, and will deal with customs and immigration formalities on behalf of boats using their services, for a small fee.

Update April 2010:
Clearance procedures may have changed with the current situation. Cruisers who visited during the January 2010 earthquake had to travel to Les Cayes by ferry to check in with immigration. There was no need to check in with any other officials such as customs or quarantine. If the boat stays less than about a week or ten days, immigration clearance in and out can be done at the same time. Cruisers visiting in March 2010 reported not having to deal with any formalities.

Hotel Port Morgan
Tel:509 3921-0000, 3923 0000, 3922-0000, 3663 5164
portmorgan@hughes.net

Docking

There is excellent holding throughout the Baie.

Port Morgan itself, a small inlet with good holding and hurricane proof protection, has a 4m entrance and is rather small, with a few moorings installed but no berths.

On approach, call Port Morgan Marina on VHF Ch.16 and they will send out a pilot to guide you into the anchorage.

Last updated June 2010.

Port Morgan Marina
Village Touristique Morgan, BP 118, Les Cayes
Tel:(509) 3921 0000 / +509 3922 0000, VHF Channel 09, 16
www.port-morgan.com, portmorgan@hughes.net
Moorings, dinghy dock, electricity, fuel, LPG and water (in limited quantities), also laundry and some repair facilities. International phone, fax and e-mail. The Port Morgan Hotel, on the same complex, has a swimming pool, restaurant and dive centre.

New Free Caribbean Cruising Guide - A Thinking Mans Guide to Voyages South (23 Jul 2011)

French for Cruisers Book Review (09 Jul 2010)

Reports to Consider if Planning a Cruise to Haiti (08 Jun 2010)

Visit to Ile a Vache, Haiti - March 2010 (27 May 2010)

UPDATE: A message from Haiti (28 Jan 2010)

Charleston, SC to St.Marc, Haiti (24 Jun 2008)

Grenada to the Virgin Islands, A Cruising Guide to the Lesser Antilles: Book Review (23 May 2008)

Hurricane Irene - The First Hurricane of the Season due to hit the US this Weekend (23 Aug 2011)

Floating Doctors 2010-2011 Medical Relief Expedition (09 Aug 2011)

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