Cockburn Harbor is located on South Caicos Island, and is widely known as one of the best harbors in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This harbor is frequently used by fisherman, commercial vessels, and cruising boaters, with good protection from all directions. Cockburn Harbor is located 25 miles west of Cockburn Town on Grand Turk Island and 40 miles southeast of North Caicos Island.

Cockburn Harbor is entered via an approach from East Bay on the southern end of South Caicos Island between Dove Cay (northeast side of the inlet) and Long Cay (southwest side of the inlet) where you will find consistent 16- 20-foot depths.

From East Bay, set a course between the flashing red (unnumbered) light on Long Cay and the flashing green (unnumbered) light on Dove Cay (there are two sailboats making the passage between the two cays in the image above). Dove cay is to the right (east) and Long Cay to the left (west).

Once you have cleared the inlet, you can proceed northwest to the anchorage, which is located off the old marina. Holding is good here, and even during strong blows, waves and swells are manageable. If the wind pipes up out of the south for an extended period of time, swells can start to become bothersome in the anchorage, however.

See our “Local Notices to Mariners” blog for updates on the latest conditions and advisories for this area.