Bermuda Moorings, Anchorages, Marinas

[rmbriggs]

I’ll be making our first trip to Bermuda in May and I’m trying to find information on moorings, anchorage sites, marinas, or recommended cruising guides. I looked at the Bermuda tourist site and have a list of marinas but some seem exclusive or for super yachts. Also not a lot of information on available cruising guides. My Navionics and Active Captain do not show a lot recommended anchorages or any moorings.

Any suggestions or comments will be very helpful.

[TheOffice]

You can anchor in St George. Best bet in Hamilton is the Royal Bermuda Amateur Dinghy Club.

[AnsleyS]

You have to go into St George to pass thru customs and it is an OK Anchorage. The dinghy club is a very welcoming bar with showers. There is a motorbike rental place right by the town dock which makes seeing the rest of the island easy. Just be sure to call Bermuda control on the vhf as you approach the island. They get a bit uptight if you don't check in.

[Orion Jim]

Visiting Yachts

Fill out this Pre-arrival form before you depart to save yourself having to provide all of the info via VHF when approaching the island. Bermuda Radio will hail you on VHF well before you arrive to discern your intentions. They will stipulate when you may approach the reefs and provide assistance/guidance if you or they deem it necessary. They will only allow you to approach the cut into St. George’s Harbor when it is clear of traffic. You must then proceed immediately to the Customs dock on Ordinance Island in St. George’s Harbor.
After you have cleared Customs you are free to travel throughout the islands where there are numerous decent anchorages. St. George’s Harbor has two main anchorages, Convict Bay and Powder Hole. Each has fine holding ground.

[MicHughV]

St. Georges is where you'll have to check in.
It's a narrow cut, difficult to see from offshore, so head for the sea buoy.

Be mindful that Bermuda is ringed by reefs. A night approach is not recommended, so stand off well clear, until you can see where you are going.

There are several Bermuda " guides", just google "Bermuda Guides" and you will be directed to several.

As noted above, be sure to give Bermuda Harbor Control a call on vhf when still far out. Their station is up on a hill near the cut. They see everything and they, being British, are very picky about formalities. You can also call them on SSB if so equipped. You can visit their office if you want.

Once thru' the cut, there are some noticeable wrecks to avoid, but plenty of room to throw down a hook, once formalities are done with. There are usually a number of boats anchored there.

Bermuda is a lovely place to visit, but bring a fat wallet, as things are expensive there, as almost everything is " imported"

You can rent scooters there to see the island. These are everywhere. Also good bus service.

It is obligatory to down a " dark and stormy" beverage on arrival. Failure to do so is punishable by twenty lashes.

[AiniA]

Most people anchor in St George's Harbour, between Ordinance Island and the Dinghy Club. There is a dinghy dock across from the customs dock. You sometimes can get docking in St Georges, check at the fancy office leading to Ordinance. Not sure you can reserve ahead of time. You can get Wifi on the park bench outside the tourist office.

[Hobiehobie]

Once you check in at customs you can tie-up alongside the town dock in St Georges. I spend a lovely week there last June. The anchorage is fine but it was nice to be on the town Quay and dispense with the dink. Sometimes it can be busy and you will need to raft up, but while I was there no rafting was required. The Bermuda Radio chaps are delightful and very helpful, but don’t annoy them by not calling ahead!