Portsmouth - Docking

Moorings

Cruisers warn about testing the reliability of your PAYS mooring in Portsmouth before committing to using it, following a series of mooring failures in January 2025. PAYS are in the process of replacing older moorings.

Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services (P.A.Y.S.) are based here. This is a group of trained certified guides and local businesses that also patrol the north end of Prince Rupert Bay at night during the winter sailing season (November to the end of May) and offer a number of services to cruising boats (clearance assistance, ice, garbage, laundry, fuel, water etc.).

PAYS operate the mooring field in Prince Rupert Bay with approx. 40 moorings in 15-40ft of water, in front of the PAYS pavilion and dinghy dock. Late November 2024 there were less moorings than normal due to storm damage, however it is expected to get back to normal by January 2025 with plans for expansion (see details further down).

As you enter Prince Rupert Bay you will likely be approached by a PAYS member in their water taxi. They can be identified by the PAYS logo on their boat. Alternatively, call them on VHF. Ch.16 and they will assist with tying up to their maintained moorings.

The PAYS office is located on Purple Turtle Beach in Prince Rupert’s Bay. They have an internet café and showers. Their charge is XCD$30.00 a night, or XCD$180.00 a week, including all the services above and the mooring. PAYS accept XCD, USD, EURO and GBP (British Pound Sterling).

On Sundays (during the cruising season), they run a popular BBQ, cost XCD$50 per person, for all you can eat and drink (rum punch only!).

Moorings Expansion

There are plans to install 10 new moorings in front of the old Ross university in the southern corner of Prince Rupert Bay. PAYS will also be receiving 30 new moorings which will be installed in other anchorages on the west coast between Toucari in the south and Mero, south of Portsmouth during winter 2024/25. MERO (Mero Association of Yacht Services) is an expansion of the PAYS brand to copy the success in Portsmouth. There are plans to install a dinghy dock in Mero later in the season. It is hoped the PAYS brand will also be expanded to Newtown in the south.

https://paysdominica.com/

Dinghy Dock

There is a PAYS dinghy dock in good condition, however the lower platform is missing (November 2024), so getting from the dinghy to the dock can be difficult.

Anchoring

Prince Rupert Bay is a popular choice with yachts for anchoring, which is free. The holding is variable as some of the sand is mixed with coral rubble. Closer to the beach is generally the best holding.

PAYS staff are trying to monitor this area for yacht security, both during the daylight hours and overnight. However, it's a very large bay, so please help them out by anchoring close to them in the northernmost portion of Prince Rupert Bay, from the concrete fishing dock northward toward Purple Turtle.

Take care anchoring amidst the mooring buoys at the north end of the bay, and remember to allow 360 degrees of swing room to avoid entanglement with the markers.

Remember also that whilst you will see anchored boats all facing West during the day when the western sea breeze stops at dusk, everyone turns back east overnight. Eastern squalls often blow through the anchorage during the night, so it's important that you set your anchor and chain correctly.

It is not advisable to anchor in the south of Prince Rupert Bay where yacht thefts and boardings have been reported.

Note that Wednesday and Saturday nights are “Loud music nights”, so best to moor further offshore if you prefer the quiet.

In addition, it is common for local children to play around the dinghy docks unsupervised, so take care when tying up your dinghy.

WiFi is available in the harbour.

Security

Yacht burglaries and boardings, dinghy and outboard theft have been reported here in the past - see security reports for the latest info. via the info. icon. Be sure to lock up before leaving your boat and secure your valuables at all times, in particular when leaving your dinghy ashore on a dinghy dock.

Last updated:  November 2024