Calliagua Bay

Marinas near Calliagua Bay

Introduction:

Calliagua Bay is located on the southern end of St. Vincent Island, which is a part of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines island chain. St. Vincent is the northernmost and largest of all the islands in the group. Calliagua Bay is home to a few of the more popular yachting destinations and anchorages on St. Vincent, two of those being Young Island Cut and Blue Lagoon.

Blue Lagoon is located off the east and of Calliagua Bay and is the best protected of the two areas. Young Island Cut is located about a half-mile west of Blue Lagoon tucked just behind Young Island. It is open on both ends, but affords good protection from most directions. Although Blue Lagoon is open to the south and west, it is protected by a large reef that surrounds the mooring fields, anchorage, and marinas here.

Calliagua Bay itself is wide open to many weather patterns and is used by few yachts. It is visible in the center of the image above, with Blue Lagoon and Young Island Cut visible to the right (east) and left (west), respectively.

History:

Known by the Caribs as Hairoun (“Land of the Blessed”), St. Vincent was first inhabited by the Ciboney, a grouping of Meso-Indians. The economy of these hunter-gatherers depended heavily on marine resources as well as the land. They used basic tools and weapons and built rock shelters and semi permanent villages.

The first permanent settlers arrived on the shores of St. Vincent in 1635. These new inhabitants were African slaves who survived the sinking of the Dutch slave ship on which they were being transported.

In 1925 a Legislative Council was inaugurated but it was not until 1951 that universal adult suffrage was introduced. St.Vincent and the Grenadines belonged to the Windward Islands  Federation until 1959 and the West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1962. Britain granted  internal self-government to the isLand in 1969 and as a British Assodated State, Vincentians were responsible for their internal affairs while Great Britain handled foreign affairs and defense.

[i]Information Courtesy St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Tourism and Culture[/i]

Navigating the Water:

Located to the right (east) above, Blue Lagoon is protected by an extensive reef that has two breaks in it. Even when the wind clocks out of the south, the reef dampens the swells and the anchorage remains relatively comfortable.

Although the image above appears to show the primary channel into Blue Lagoon at the bottom, it is entirely too narrow and is dangerous to use. If you look closely at the left side of the lagoon, you can see the set of markers that defines the west entrance, which is the one you will want to use.

Once clear of the break in the reef, proceed into the anchorage and pick a spot that is a safe distance from the other boats in the anchorage. There is a marina with transient slips and limited repair capabilities and SunSail also has an operations base in the lagoon. Twenty moorings in the lagoon are administered by the TMM Charter Company.

Young Island Cut is to the left (west), with anchorage located behind the island. Note the long shoal extending south on the west side of Calliagua Bay and give it plenty of room when navigating Young Island Cut.

Local Notices to Mariners:

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

Helpful Links:

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Tourism and Culture.