Nevis Dinghy Dock Feedback please

[OttawaSouth]

We winter on Nevis with our boat in the government mooring field and use the main dock at Charlestown for our dinghy.
Nevis lost one dock last fall in the big western swell, it is yet to be rebuilt.
I am looking for feedback of your experiences on Nevis, hoping to give some feedback to the harbour master about dinghy access to town.
Thanks.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by OttawaSouth

We winter on Nevis with our boat in the government mooring field and use the main dock at Charlestown for our dinghy.

Nevis lost one dock last fall in the big western swell, it is yet to be rebuilt.

I am looking for feedback of your experiences on Nevis, hoping to give some feedback to the harbour master about dinghy access to town.

Thanks.

In December the secondary concrete pier, next to the ferry dock, was still in place. However, it's not overly accessible to dinks. Is this the one you've been using to access town or the main ferry dock itself?

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[OttawaSouth]

Cruisers use both with their dinghies... but when there is a cruise ship in port the second dock with lower wooden loading area is off limits to cruisers and fishers.

[Zanshin]

That dock can chew up dinghies in a swell, and other cruisers have complained about the signage asking them _not_ to lock their dinghies when going ashore.

[neilsty]

Anchored off the beach in mid January and dinghies into town. The winds were out of the north to north west - really unusual. Somewhat of a swell at he dock. Tied off by ladder with h a long painter as there were 3 or 4 dinghies there. Spent day doing an island tour and long lunch. When got back one of the dinghy tubes had a big tear in it talked to dick master and he found someone to give us a ride back to the boat with dinghy in tow. Cost $450 to repair. Boat next to me in jolly harbour marina also got their dinghy torn in Charlestown the same week.

Bottom line is that we are less likely to go back to Nevis until they get a better dinghy dock. A simpler clearance system would also help, with a single office


Another comment - any winds out of the north the swells are too big to risk running the dinghy up onto Pineys beach. A dinghy dock on the beach would be a great idea, and get the restaurants on the beach a lot more business.

[neilsty]

Revised post with corrections to auto correct spell check.

Anchored off the beach in mid January and dinghies into town. The winds were out of the north to north west - really unusual. Somewhat of a swell at the dock. Tied off by ladder with a long painter as there were 3 or 4 dinghies there. Spent day doing an island tour and long lunch. When got back one of the dinghy tubes had a big tear in it. talked to dock master and he found someone to give us a ride back to the boat with dinghy in tow. Cost $450 to repair. Boat next to me in jolly harbour marina also got their dinghy torn in Charlestown the same week.

Bottom line is that we are less likely to go back to Nevis until they get a better dinghy dock. A simpler clearance system would also help, with a single office


Another comment - any winds out of the north the swells are too big to risk running the dinghy up onto Pineys beach. A dinghy dock on the beach would be a great idea, and get the restaurants on the beach a lot more business.

[sailon46]

After having visited every (almost) rock out there I have decided that charleston's mediocre facilities Including the dangerous dink mooring by the chain link fence and the guy threatening demeanor about locking the dink, I have crossed Nevis off my future itineraries. St Kitts yes ,Statia yes even north Monserrat yes.
Leave it to some less demanding sailors. I love the anchorage in front of the beach though.for a night anchorage stop over after a crossing from Guadeloupe or St Martin.
Ernie on the Mary Jane