Readers’ favourite Anchorages of the World
Showcasing your favourite anchorages.
Crocus Bay
From Ocean Sailor Readers John & Heather Leslie
Location:
Crocus Bay, Anguilla
Coordinates: 18°13.250’N 63°04.076’W
Seabed: Fairly good holding in sand
Protection: Good protection from the northeast to the south
A lovely escape from the madness of St. Barts or Saint Martin is to be found some 23NM and 7NM to the south in Crocus Bay, Anguilla. It is an excellent anchorage with nice restaurants and bars a short dinghy ride away on the beachfront. The restaurant Da’Vida is especially good boasting great food, drink, views and friendly staff.
The bay has a colourful history being a landing point for a French invasion force in 1745 and more recently a berthing area for British frigates, the latest being RFA Mounts Bay which offloaded all-terrain vehicles and construction material after Hurricane Irma.
One of the best features of Crocus Bay however is that it serves as a perfect place to leave early and head to Prickly Pear Cay which lies about 7NM to the northwest. This uninhabited island is the epitome of a tropical paradise with white sandy beaches and turquoise water. It was deserted from about 8 am when we arrived until other boats started arriving at about 2 pm.
Puerto Galera
From Ocean Sailor Reader David Wilkinson – Owner of Seneca Kraken 50
Location: Puerto Galera, Philippines
Coordinates: 13°30.621’N 120°57.016’E
Seabed: Good holding in mud
Protection: Well protected from wind and swell
Puerto Galera is on the northern shore of Mindoro, one of over 7,600 islands in the archipelago nation of the Philippines. Although you are unable to clear into the country through Puerto Galera, it is generally the first tropical anchorage you will find after clearing in the country from the north at Subic Bay or Batangas. With only two entrances into the bay, it is extremely well protected in all directions from swell and wind. In fact, it is one of the best natural typhoon shelters in the region. There are multiple anchorages throughout the bay however, I advise using Boquete Bay or Dalaruan Bay. You should also be careful not to damage the coral and local ecosystem. With a shallower draft, you can use the Puerto Galera visitor mooring buoys in the channel close to the town and ferry pier. There is not much boat traffic apart from visiting yachts and small Filipino ferries that run services to Batangas in the north.
The yacht club itself is well worth a visit. Established by local yachtsmen in 1991, it resides in a lovely wooden building that boasts a great restaurant and bar. The staff are very welcoming. There is an active sailing community and the yacht club organises three regattas each year and sail programs for the local kids. There are fuel services here and the yacht club can organise maintenance work. They can be contacted on +63 43 287-3401 or on VHF channel 68.
The local area offers great scuba diving, snorkelling and hiking and there are great beaches dotted along the coastline, such as White Beach to the west. As with the rest of the Philippines, the food is good and cheap, the people are friendly and the Filipino rum, Tanduay, is plentiful and cheap.
Cold Water Bay
From Ocean Sailor Reader Rene Tiemessen
Location: Cold Water Bay (Bestas Limani), Oludeniz, Turkey
Coordinates: 36°33.805’N 29°04.958’E
Seabed: Sand, good holding. Anchor in six to ten metres of water
Protection: Protected from all directions especially the prevailing north wind
Best time of the year: April, May, June, September and October
Just to be clear. We have seen thousands of beautiful bays and anchorages on our many years sailing around the world. And there are at least a hundred that could fit in this section. But sailing in Turkey is probably one of the best in the world to begin with. While living aboard our 1965 Classic 60ft Philip Rhodes sloop Alondra, one day we sailed into this beautiful spot along the SW coast of Turkey, close to Olüdeniz, some 13 NM from Fethiye and 16 NM SE of Göcek. Nearby is Gemiler Island, also known as St. Nicholas Island where you find the Byzantine ruins of five Greek churches built between the fourth and sixth centuries AD. Modern archaeologists believe that the island is the location of the tomb of St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. One of the churches on the island is dedicated
to him.
Sailing into the bay you see the white dome-shaped water cistern (Sarnıç) on top of the hill. Anchor just about anywhere, but we prefer the west side of the bay. Make sure to lay down as much chain as you can, and tie a line to the shore to settle right in. And then, pour a drink. You’re in heaven.
Actually, the reference to Cold Water bay can be experienced when you jump off the boat and take a swim deeper into the cove. Here a cold current flows into the sea from subterranean rivers.
At the beach, there is a path up the hill to Ali’s Restaurant. It offers excellent Turkish food and some Thai dishes (Ali’s wife is Thai), and if you have dinner in the evening, usually the next morning’s breakfast is for free. Also, Ali, or one of his mates, usually helps out in their dingy to tie your line to the shore.
What’s your favourite anchorage?
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