Off the Beaten Path: From Liberia to São Tomé & Príncipe

Liberia Anchorage & Gulf of Guinea Passage – SV REBELS (Jan–Feb 2026)

Crew: Elena Levon and Robert D. “Kamikaze”
SV REBELS (Vagabond 47 ketch, Polish-registered)

Liberia Anchorages

Officials were informed of the vessel’s presence. Advance visas and yellow fever documentation are recommended for this region.

Bullom Town Point, Liberia, near Coconut Cove Retreat (approx. 5°56.4’N, 10°6.8’W)

• Anchored here in January 2026 for emergency repairs
• Seabed: sand and mud with some scattered rock
• Holding: generally adequate in settled dry-season conditions
• Exposure: open anchorage; swell can cause rolling
• No marina or yacht infrastructure
• Local fishermen operate along this coastline
• Coastguard / Port Control monitor VHF Channel 16

Bullom South (approx. 5°56.2’N, 10°6.5’W)

• Offers similar conditions to the above anchorage, with more consistent sand/mud holding.

Passage: Liberia to São Tomé and Príncipe

Departure from Liberia was followed by an offshore passage of 1,000+ nautical miles across the Gulf of Guinea, sailed double-handed.

Conditions encountered:

• Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) activity
• Squalls up to 40–46 knots
• Frequent lightning and heavy rainfall
• Variable and shifting winds
• Confused, short-period seas

The Guinea Current provided favorable conditions for this passage.

The vessel sailed primarily under main and outer jib, with periods of motor-sailing (approx. 900 rpm) for control and battery charging when required.

No security incidents were encountered during this crossing. Standard offshore watch-keeping procedures were maintained (AIS active, navigation lights on).

Summary:

This route remains uncommon for private cruising yachts due to limited infrastructure, variable equatorial weather, security concerns and general lack of support facilities. With preparation and flexibility, both the Liberian coast and offshore passage toward São Tomé are navigable.

Elena Levon
SV REBELS

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About the Author

Since 2023, the Polish-registered sailing yacht Rebels—a 1989 Vagabond 47 co-owned by Captain Robert and First Mate Elena Levon—has been undertaking an unconventional north-to-south West African expedition, sailing “the wrong way” against prevailing winds toward South Africa and the Indian Ocean.

The journey began with extensive cruising around the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Morocco. In 2024, they sailed to Cape Verde and completed a rare eastward return against winds and currents, stopping in Mauritania and Western Sahara. In 2025, they headed south again via Senegal, Guinea-Bissau (during political unrest), Sierra Leone, Liberia, and São Tomé & Príncipe.

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