Explore: Union Island
General Info
Union Island is located midway between Grenada and St. Vincent and is equidistant from Barbados, Trinidad and Martinique. It is the largest island in the southern Grenadines and the clear waters of the protected bay at Clifton Harbour is a popular anchorage.
Security
Dinghy and outboard theft and petty theft from yachts is increasing here. Be extra vigilant with securing your valuable items at all times (including dock lines and fenders) and be sure to lift and lock your dinghy and outboard at night.
Read Piracy & Security reports and comments from cruisers.
Last updated: July 2019
Position: 12° 35’30″N, 61° 24’25″W (entrance to Clifton Bay)
Clearance
For full details on clearance, fees and regulations see SVG Formalities.
Customs and Immigration are based here and clearance can be carried out at Clifton Bay. Immigration is based at the airport and Customs has offices at both the ferry dock and the airport.
Berthing at the Anchorage YC or anchoring on the eastern side of the bay make the walk to the airport for clearing in a short one.
Last updated March 2018.
Docking
Union Island has several anchorages around the island as well as stern-to berths at several small docks. There is a dinghy dock just outside the elegant L’Aquarium restaurant in the Bourganville complex.
Note: The safety department at SVG Air strongly urges yachts to avoid the area within 2 miles of the airport’s final approach area in Union Island. Parasailing activities south of the airport can cause difficulties in aircraft landing there.
Anchoring and Mooring
Do not anchor in coral or seagrass beds, but use moorings where provided or select sandy areas.
Clifton Harbour
This is the most popular spot because it’s close to the Anchorage Yacht Club, restaurants and bars, provisioning services, hotels and guest houses, and tourist information services.
There are moorings in Clifton Harbour put down by the Tobago Cays Marine Park. Most are located out close to the reef and have TCMP on them. A park ranger will come to collect the fee and if a boat boy helps you with the mooring, they are supposed to give you their card to pass on to the park rangers who will then give the boat boy commission. If the boat boy asks you to pay him directly, tell him you cannot pay him unless he provides a receipt. See comments at bottom of the page for the latest fees. Be sure to check the mooring for strength.
There is a good dinghy dock at Bourganville.
Ashton Lagoon
Ashton Lagoon is the largest bay in the Grenadines. The secluded harbour has a unique mangrove/seagrass/coral reef ecosystem. To protect the fragile habitat ten new moorings have been put in the lagoon by Sustainable Grenadines and are currently free for visiting yachts to use. The moorings are white and marked with blue SusGren and a number.
Chatham Bay
This is a popular anchorage on the west coast of the island with beautiful views. Pick a sandy patch to drop your anchor in, however, avoid under the cliff to the north-west of the bay as this is now a dive site. Some brief intense gusts of wind do at times roll down the hills surrounding the bay, but in general, it’s a calm anchorage. It is common to see a great many sea turtles here and the snorkelling is good on the north and south sides of the bay. This bay is pretty underdeveloped, however, there are some small beach bars/restaurants ashore and the low key Chatham Bay Resort. The beach bar owners are very helpful and can normally assist cruisers if required.
Frigate Rock
Ten new mooring blocks have been installed in the Frigate Rock area, Union Island, by the Sustainable Grenadines Inc. This is a popular spot for kite and windsurfers.
Docking
There are stern-to berths at the Anchorage Yacht Club, the Bourganville dock and at several other small docks.
Last updated: January 2019
