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Rodney Bay Marina lies in a sheltered lagoon at the north-western tip of St Lucia, near the town of Gros Islet north of the capital Castries. Here you can read how to get to the marina from both airports, where to park and shop, what wind to expect, which sailing destinations lie between Martinique and the Grenadines, and what skippers need to bear in mind when clearing in and berthing.
The essentials at a glance
- International flights usually land at Hewanorra Airport in the south of the island; from there it's about an hour and a half's drive to the marina. George F. L. Charles regional airport near Castries is considerably closer.
- The marina lies on the eastern shore of a sheltered lagoon; a car park and the supermarket G's Marina Mart are located directly at the marina.
- Shops, restaurants and a bank are on site, along with a provisioning service run by the marina.
- From December to May is the dry season with steady trade winds from north-east to east.
Where is Rodney Bay Marina on St Lucia?
Rodney Bay Marina lies on the eastern shore of the lagoon behind Rodney Bay, on Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway. A narrow entrance in the north leads from the open bay into the lagoon, so that the boats are completely surrounded by land. West of the lagoon lies Reduit Beach, to the north the town of Gros Islet, and at the northern end of the bay Pigeon Island.
Map from OpenStreetMap. When the map is displayed, data is transmitted to the provider.
More InformationThe marina belongs to the IGY Marinas network. Rodney Bay is also one of St Lucia's ports of entry; customs and immigration have their office at the marina. Yachts also anchor in the open Rodney Bay outside the lagoon.
Arriving at Rodney Bay Marina for trip departure
From Hewanorra or George F. L. Charles Airport to the marina
St Lucia has two airports. Hewanorra international airport (code UVF) lies near Vieux Fort at the southern tip, 56 kilometres south of Castries. The marina is at the other end of the island; by taxi you're looking at about an hour and a half's journey. The airport is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
George F. L. Charles Airport (code SLU) lies on Vigie Beach, just under four kilometres north of the centre of Castries. It is the regional hub for flights to neighbouring islands. The marina is around eight kilometres away as the crow flies. There are also helicopter transfers between the two airports which cut out the long drive across the island.
You can recognise licensed taxis by their light blue number plates with the code TX. There are no fixed fares; the price depends on distance, number of passengers and luggage. So agree it before the journey. The marina also arranges transfers.
By hire car, minibus or ferry
St Lucia has left-hand traffic. To drive you need a temporary driving permit in addition to your licence, which you can obtain at the airports, from the police in Castries or from the car hire company.
The public transport is minibuses with green number plates and the code M. A journey currently costs 2.50 to 8 East Caribbean dollars. With trip luggage a taxi is more convenient. Ferries connect St Lucia with Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe.
Parking
A car park is located directly at the marina on Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway, the main road in the north of the island, just a few steps from the pontoons.
Showers and sanitary facilities
The marina has individual showers for its guests and a laundry service.
Shopping for the trip
The supermarket G's Marina Mart is located directly at the marina; a smaller shop, JD's Mini Mart, is around 600 metres away in Gros Islet. Also on the marina site are the Shops at Rodney Bay Marina with shops, a café and restaurants, and a bank branch. For bulk shopping the marina offers a provisioning service.
A larger supermarket and more banks can be found at Baywalk Shopping Mall at the entrance to Rodney Bay Village. There is also a post office in Rodney Bay.
Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services
Pharmacies can be found on Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway around 500 metres from the marina; another, MC Drugstore, is on Mall Road after around 900 metres. A doctor's surgery is located around one kilometre away on Hotel Road in Reduit, and there is also the Rodney Bay Medical Centre in Rodney Bay.
- 999 or 911: emergency number for police, fire brigade and ambulance
- At sea: VHF Channel 16 for distress and calling
Entry to St Lucia
For entry by air you need a valid passport and a return flight ticket, which St Lucia requires from all visitors. Whether you also need a visa depends on your nationality. The binding regulations are on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of St Lucia.
What does Rodney Bay Marina offer?
Rodney Bay Marina has 253 berths and accommodates yachts up to just under 87 metres in length and 3.9 metres draught. Electricity and water are available at the berth; customs and immigration are located in the marina.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Rodney Bay lagoon, Gros Islet, northwest St Lucia |
| Position (approximate) | 14° 04,5′ N, 060° 56,9′ W |
| Operator | IGY Marinas |
| Berths | 253, of which 32 for large yachts |
| Largest yacht | Length 86.8 m, beam 18.3 m, draught 3.9 m |
| VHF channel | 16 |
| Phone | +1 758 458 7200 |
| Office | Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat and Sun 8am–4pm |
| Authorities | Customs and immigration in the marina |
| Boatyard | Travellift 75 t, hardstanding berths |
| Distances | George F. L. Charles Airport approx. 8 km as the crow flies, Hewanorra Airport approx. 38 km as the crow flies |
Equipment
The pontoons have electricity at 30 and 50 amps, and for large yachts also 100 amps single- and three-phase. Water is metered at the pontoon and marina staff connect the supply. A fuel berth is located in the marina, plus Wi-Fi, waste disposal and laundry service. The marina has its own boatyard with an in-house technical team, a 75-tonne travellift and hardstanding spaces.
What is the weather like in Rodney Bay for sailing?
The trade winds blow over St Lucia almost all year round, mostly from the northeast to east. December to May is the dry season. June to November is the rainy season with heavy showers and thunderstorms.
The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, and is usually most active from August to October. During this time, tropical waves and storms can bring gusts up to gale force and heavy seas.
Rodney Bay lies in the lee on the west coast; the lagoon is completely surrounded by land. The weather service reports sea state for the area within a radius of around 40 kilometres of the island, which includes the channel to Martinique.
Which sailing destinations can you reach from Rodney Bay Marina?
From Rodney Bay you sail south along the lee coast to the bays of Marigot and Soufrière, or north across the channel to Martinique. The distances are rounded over-water distances on the usual course from the marina; use the chart for precise planning.
- Marigot Bay: approx. 10 nm
- Soufrière: approx. 17 nm
- Bay between the Pitons: approx. 18 nm
- Le Marin on Martinique: approx. 25 nm
- Bequia: approx. 70 nm, along the lee coast of St Vincent
Marigot Bay lies about halfway down the west coast south of Castries. The narrow bay is very sheltered and is considered a particularly protected anchorage. You can also clear in and out here; customs is located in the yacht reception building in the Marina Village.
Soufrière and the Pitons lie in the southwest. The two volcanic peaks Gros Piton at 770 metres and Petit Piton at 743 metres form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Pitons Management Area. Offshore lies the Soufrière Marine Management Area, an 11-kilometre stretch of marine reserve where special rules apply (see below under skipper information).
Martinique is part of France; Le Marin in the south of the island is the main yacht harbour. How trips begin there and how you clear in is covered in the profile of Le Marin on Martinique.
Bequia is part of St Vincent and the Grenadines, a different country. Anyone sailing there must first call directly at a port of entry and stop nowhere else beforehand.
What can you do ashore in Rodney Bay on a harbour day?
Beach, town and national park lie around the bay; many destinations around the marina are within walking distance.
- Reduit Beach: The long sandy beach at Rodney Bay is one of the most popular in the north, with calm water for swimming and watersports. The floating water park Splash Island lies on the beach.
- Pigeon Island: The national park at the northern end of the bay was formerly a military base. Spread over roughly 18 hectares are ruins from the battles between France and England, walking trails and two beaches.
- Friday night in Gros Islet: Every Friday evening the fishing village turns into a street party with grilled fish, street food and music from soca to reggae. The party has been going for more than 50 years.
- Market in Castries: In the capital, traders sell fresh fruit and vegetables, spices and snacks.
- Gros Piton: A day in port is also enough for a car trip to Soufrière and the climb up Gros Piton.
For skippers: Clearing in, berthing and sea weather in Rodney Bay
At Rodney Bay Marina you can clear in directly; Customs and Immigration share an office there. You can reach the marina on VHF channel 16.
Clearing in at Rodney Bay Marina
Ports of entry for yachts are Rodney Bay, Marigot Bay and Soufrière. Castries mainly serves cruise ships and cargo vessels.
- You complete customs clearance within 24 hours of arrival. Until then, no one goes ashore.
- Bring: ship's papers, clearance from the last port, crew and passenger list and the passports of everyone on board, plus any required visas.
- Customs is staffed Mondays to Thursdays from 8 to 12 and 13 to 16:30, Fridays from 8 to 18, and at weekends and public holidays from 8 to 16:30. Outside regular hours, overtime charges apply.
- The clearance fee is 5 East Caribbean dollars for yachts under 40 feet and 15 East Caribbean dollars for yachts of 40 feet and over, plus smaller fees for things such as port health clearance and navigation aids (as of October 2026).
The binding rules and all fees are on the website of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.
Registration and harbour regulations
- Without a confirmed reservation, a berth is not guaranteed, so book ahead.
- You can arrive from 8 o'clock, and must depart by 12 o'clock.
- Anyone arriving outside office hours must notify the marina at least 24 hours in advance.
- Throughout the lagoon: no wake, so drive slowly.
- From 22:00 the marina observes night-time quiet hours.
Approach
Rodney Bay opens westwards to the Caribbean Sea. Pigeon Island with its fortress ruins at the northern end of the bay is a good landmark. From the bay, a narrow entrance leads into the lagoon and to the marina. Yachts also anchor in the open bay in front of the lagoon.
Berthing outside the marina and moorings at the Pitons
Outside the ports of entry you need a permit to berth, which Customs issues for 25 East Caribbean dollars. The marine reserve off Soufrière and the Pitons is managed by the Soufrière Marine Management Association (SMMA). It determines where yachts may pick up moorings and where they may anchor, and issues permits for snorkelling and diving. A mooring costs yachts up to 70 feet 54 East Caribbean dollars per night or 324 dollars per week (as of October 2026). The SMMA office is on the waterfront road in Soufrière, where Customs is also located.
Which sea weather forecast applies to St Lucia?
The responsible service is the Saint Lucia Meteorological Services. It publishes a forecast daily at 6, 12 and 18 o'clock Weather forecast with wind and expected sea state within a radius of around 40 kilometres of the island, together with notices and warnings. Information on severe weather and tropical storms is disseminated by the disaster management authority NEMO, including via a WhatsApp channel.
Trips from Rodney Bay Marina on Törnfinder
In October 2026 there are 4 trip dates on Törnfinder over the next twelve months starting or finishing at Rodney Bay. Most depart in February, January and December; 8 days is typical.
You can find offers throughout the sailing area under Sailing in the Caribbean, Atlantic crossings under Cabin Charter for a Transatlantic Crossing and all other sailing areas in the trip overview.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport is nearest to Rodney Bay Marina?
George F. L. Charles Airport near Castries, around eight kilometres as the crow flies. It is served mainly by regional flights. Long-haul flights mostly land at Hewanorra at the southern tip of the island.
Can I shop at Rodney Bay Marina?
Yes, the G's Marina Mart supermarket is right at the marina. There are also shops, restaurants, a bank and the marina's provisioning service on site; you will find a larger supermarket in the Baywalk Shopping Mall.
Where do I park at trip start at Rodney Bay Marina?
Right at the marina: the car park is on Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway, around 50 metres from the marina.
Are there showers at Rodney Bay Marina?
Yes, the marina has individual showers for its guests and a laundry service.
Do I need a return flight ticket for St Lucia?
Yes, St Lucia requires all visitors to hold a return flight ticket. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality.
Can I clear in at Rodney Bay Marina?
Yes, customs and immigration are based right at the marina. You clear in within 24 hours of arrival; until then the crew stays on board.
When does the ARC arrive at Rodney Bay?
In December. The Atlantic Rally starts every year in November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; most yachts reach Rodney Bay after around 2,700 nautical miles in mid-December.
