Chaguaramas : Profile

Location

Lying about 80 miles south of Grenada, Chaguaramas is a sheltered bay. It lies on the extreme western end of Trinidad's northern coast, about 10nm from Port-of-Spain. The approach is via the narrow Boca (be aware of strong currents).

Position 10°40.5'W, 61°38.3'W.

The majority of boat yards and marine services are located in Chaguaramas.

Safety & Security

Much has been reported about the increase in crime and theft towards yachties in Chaguaramas. While unemployment has triggered an increase in theft from yachts in the Chaguaramas area these past 2 years, one must note that Trinidad has the highest concentration of boats for hurricane season in the Caribbean. The local business community ran security patrols at night which helped to reduce the number of thefts from boats here. From 23 November 2010 YSATT have appointed a hired professional service to patrol the waters and the land areas of Chaguaramas. This is IN ADDITION to the security service that each and every yard and marina has, however thefts do still occur.

A good source of up-to-date security information by cruisers is the Yahoo Trinidad for Cruising Sailors Forum.

Last updated November 2010.

Clearance

Entry formalities can be completed here as there is a permanent customs office.

Be sure to fly the Q flag.

Tie up to the Customs Dock, which is located next to Crew’s Inn Marina, at the eastern end of Chaguaramas Bay. It is at the base of the red-striped lighthouse. This must be done even if you have a reserved berth in the Crew's Inn marina.

Proceed with all the crew, passports and papers to the Customs Office (there are direction signs to it in the marina). The Immigration office is close to the Customs office. An overtime fee is payable to Customs if arriving outside normal working hours.

A clearance-out certificate from the last port will be required. Additional forms are required if any crew are leaving Trinidad by air.

Immigration and Customs are both open 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Last updated September 2010.

Crews Inn Hotel & Yachting Centre
Point Gourde, Chaguaramas, Trinidad, West Indies
Tel:(868) 634-4384, Fax:(868) 634-4542
68 slips - Features include: Finger style or parallel to electrical shore power 110 & 208 volts (100, 50 and 30 Amp service) Engle and 3 phase available, 60 cycle, 214ft. floating dock. Arrival and Departure Procedures - The Official Immigration office and Customs and Excise office are located at Crews Inn Hotel & Yachting Centre. (Tel (868) 634 4341)

Customs Office
Chaguaramas
Tel:(868) 634 4341
Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
The Customs and Excise office is located at Crews Inn Hotel & Yachting Centre. Please note Overtime charges are applicable outside of regular business hours 0700 to 1600.

Immigration Office
Tel:(868) 634 4341
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 16:00 hours
Arrival and Departure Procedures - The Immigration office is located at Crews Inn Hotel & Yachting Centre.

YSATT
PO Box 2852 TT Post, Chaguaramas
Tel:(868) 634 4938, Fax:(868) 634 2160
ysatt, at, trinidad.net
Non-profit association for businesses in the yachting industry. Services include providing tourist information, working closely with Customs and Immigration to smooth entry and clearance procedures and operating the marina water taxi service. The YSATT [pronounced Why Sat dot org] office is situated in the Crews Inn Village Square [Shipwright building,] at Crews Inn Marina in Chaguaramas Bay.

Docking

Their are a number of marinas here, all with varying levels of security.

There are 15 mooring buoys in the anchorage area controlled by YSATT. These are checked monthly for wear and tear. Moorings can not be reserved in advance of arrival; they are strictly accommodated on a first come first served basis. Upon arrival in Trinidad, contact the YSATT office or speak to the water taxi operator to advise of your need for a mooring. See YSATT moorings for more information.

If using these moorings, be aware that while it can blow for days from the east with flat seas, when a W or NW wind blows the bay is wide open and provides no protection. The seas and surge make up quickly and one must be careful to secure the mooring lines to prevent chafe.

The Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association in Harts Bay also have mooring buoys available, however this is not in Chaguarmas. Prices are cheap, however facilities are basic and there is no security.

It is also possible to anchor off the town or close to Carenage Bay. The bay can be rolly in a southerly wind as well as uncomfortable due to the number of craft operating around the bay at high speed.

The YSATT shuttle (water taxi) operates from 0730 to 2230 Monday to Saturday and can be called via VHF, call sign "YSATT Shuttle", on Channel 68. It is available for any journey within the bay. The shuttle became privately owned in October 2007, and now charges from TT$10/person to TT$30/person, depending on how far out into the bay you are going. Bookings can be made in advance for trips on Sundays and public holidays.

Note that this is a commercial harbour,and there are frequent oil and diesel spills here.

Last updated November 2010.

Coral Cove Marina & Boatyard
Western Main Road, Chaguaramas
Tel:1-868-634-2040/634 2244-7, Fax:1-868-634-2248, VHF Channel 68
coralcove@trinidad.net
40 slips (up to 90ft Mono hulls and wide slips for catamarans up to 45ft) and boatyard. All facilities, swimming pool, launderette, internet access. Call on VHF 68 to reserve a slip - reported to be rolly here. Full service boatyard, 60-Ton Travel Lift, complete repair service ~ painting, welding, woodworking, fiberglass, upholstery, canvas, sail repairs. Gd. boatyard if you want to work on your own boat.

Crews Inn Marina & Boatyard
Point Gourde, Chaguaramas
Tel:(868) 634 4384/5, Fax:(868) 634 4175, VHF Channel 77
dockmaster@crewsinn.com
Full facility 4/5 star marina. 200 ton travelift. 60 slips. Undercover sheds. Chandlery, general store, provisions, WiFi, pool, bbq area, hot showers. Helpful staff. Although there is 24hr security, thefts have been reported here.

Sweetwater Marina ( was Humming Bird Marine)
#2 Stella Maris Drive, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas
Tel:(868) 634 2773, Fax:(868) 634 4046, VHF Channel 68
sweetwatermarina@tstt.net.tt
100 berths. Water, electricity, telephone, restaurant.

Trinidad & Tobago Sailing Association
P.O. Box 3140, Carenage Post Office, Trinidad, West Indies
Tel:(868) 634-4210, Fax:( 868) 634-4376, VHF Channel 68
http://www.ttya.org , info@ttsailing.org
These moorings are located approx. 8nm east of Chaguaramas. The Association has a great number of moorings for locals and visitors, however the mooring area is not patrolled at night and there have been some thefts reported here.
Moorings (up to 15 tonnes) are available on a first come, first served basis and are inspected quarterly by a qualified diver. Full service haul-out yard, 15-ton marine hoist, moorings, bar and snack bar, office services, laundry, repair shed, water, ice, anchorage.

Tropical Marine Ltd
Western Main Road, Chaguaramas, Trinidad
Tel:(868) 634 4502/4453, Fax:(868) 634 4502/4453
tropicalmarineltd@hotmail.com
30 in-water berths, water, electricity, office services, retail shops, fibreglass material, fibreglass repair, diving equipment, tools, wind generators, restaurant.

Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YSATT)
P.O. Box 2852 TTPost, Chaguaramas
Tel:(868) 634 4938, Fax:(868) 634 2160
www.ysatt.org
Opening Hours: 0800-1200
The YSATT office has re-located to the westernmost office of the Shipwright Building at Crews Inn. YSATT will continue to provide contractor referrals, a compliments and complaints forum and visitor information. Also controls the mooring buoys.

Yacht Clubs

Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club - TTYC
Bayshore, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas
Tel:868-633-7420, Fax:868-633-6388
www.trinidadandtobagoyachtclub.com , ttyc@tstt.net.tt
Situated just minutes from downtown Port of Spain and Shopping Plaza just across the street with grocery, banking, doctor’s offices and pharmacy, and restaurants. The facility offers 60 in-water berths, security, cable TV, Interserv link-up and telephone service upon request. A restaurant and bar are located in the Clubhouse.