We traveled from Nevis to St. Kitts on a sunny, light wind day. We were able to unfurl the Genoa and sail on a port tack the whole way at a whopping 2-4 knots! Since our next anchorage was only 7 nautical miles away, we decided to take a nice leisurely sail and enjoy a morning on the water with our friends on Bistari sailing behind.
We originally went to anchor outside of Basseterre, the capital city of St. Kitts. However, the anchorage was so rolly that we decided to turn around and go to White House Bay anchorage instead. That proved to be a great decision!
Of interest, Saint Kitts is named after Saint Christopher, the island’s official name. But since “Kit” is a shortened form of “Christopher,” the island became known as St. Kitts. The west coast of St. Kitts borders the Caribbean Sea, and the east coast faces the Atlantic Ocean. We kept the boat on the leeward side of the island, the side facing the Caribbean, as that’s where all the protected anchorages are located.
We discovered that White House Bay anchorage, on the southeast end of St. Kitts, is the calmest anchorage around the island. It is also one of the most beautiful!
what a wonderful reminder of God’s promise never to flood the earth again!
White House Bay is a large anchorage, and the surroundings are stunning. There is a small beach and a dock nearby, with an abandoned restaurant called Salt Plage. I saw pictures of it online, and it was quite the happening spot prior to Covid. You can still enjoy walking around the facilities or watch the sunset from one of the benches left behind. Our favorite thing to do was hike on the back roads leading to the nearby marina, then finish with a swim or snorkel.
Snorkeling in this area is impressive, and it is what distinguishes White House Bay from other beaches around St. Kitts. There are a number of reefs in the bay, and the coral is healthy and vibrant. There are also several underwater shipwrecks close to shore which offer a more adventuresome dive or snorkeling excursion. According to reports from the St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project, one of these wrecks lies in just 9 feet of water, some 102 feet from the beach. We opted for snorkeling the reefs instead of the wrecks, and found the water clear, refreshing, and teeming with underwater life.
Even though there aren’t any amenities at White House Bay, they are easily accessible from that location. Christophe Harbour Marina is only a short dinghy ride away in the Great Salt Pond. They offer a free dingy dock for cruisers, and onsite customs clearance and immigration services. The customs officials work Monday-Friday from 10am-6pm, but I’d call the marina first to make sure the officials are around. The grounds are immaculate, and they don’t mind cruisers walking around or lounging at their outside tables. Covid hit this marina hard and most of the shops are closed. They are trying to recover and get the coffee shop, boutiques, and market back in operation. It will sure be nice when they do!
Christophe Harbour Marina is very friendly to transient boaters. They will even take you to The Pavilion Resort in one of their shuttles, where you can enjoy lunch or dinner overlooking the ocean and a natural-edged pool. It’s a beautiful beach club and a treat to enjoy the tropical surroundings without having to pay for a room. We tipped Andy, the shuttle driver, who turned out to be a great tour guide, and we were grateful for the opportunity to see a few verdant monkeys along the road.
We rented a car from Island Auto Rentals [+1 (869) 762-4416] one day and they dropped it off at Christophe Harbour Marina. It was so convenient to be able to lock up our dinghy on a dock at this private marina, and then rent a car from there. More to come about our drive around the island later. All in all, White House Bay was a great place to anchor, and we highly recommend it!