Yacht Moorings

Sheltered waters, calm trade winds, and proximity to village life make it an ideal stop for sailors seeking an authentic local experience.

The Bay

Laborie has a sheltered bay perfectly suited for yachting and other marine-based activities. But it also has several reefs, which need to be protected and restored, and which can pose a danger to yachts! Mariners should click here to make sure that they are guided to safe passage into the Laborie Bay.

Since it is not a Port of Entry, Laborie Bay falls within the policing responsibilities of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force exercised both through the Laborie Police Station (located very near the jetty) and the Marine Unit which has a base in Vieux Fort some 5 Km (3 Miles) to the East.

Yachts should clear into and out of Saint Lucia at Vieux Fort or Soufriere. A “Permit to Moor” is required to anchor or moor in Laborie Bay.

Yacht Services and Amenities

Laborie offers many services to yachts and their crew. Diesel, gasoline and kerosene are available from the gas station located at the end of the jetty. There is a hardware store (Jn Pierre Enterprises) in the village and a specialised marine section at another hardware store (True Value) in the nearby town of Vieux Fort. Laborie is a welcoming community, with several restaurants and bars, a popular beach, a craft centre and a daily supply of fresh fish.

Environmental Considerations

Anchoring and waste disposal by yachts can cause significant damage to the marine environment. A detailed Environmental Plan is being developed and will soon be published on this page. This plan will include:

  • Compulsory use of Holding Tanks within Laborie Bay
  • Solid Waste Management Plan recognizing requirements for disposal of Yacht Waste in dedicated facilities.
  • Waste Oil and Battery Disposal Facility
  • Signage to direct visitors to existing public toilets located within short walking distance from pier
  • “No Anchoring Zones” to reduce coral degradation and sea grass damage

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to visit the Laborie-Augier Constituency Council, the Laborie Fishers and Consumers Cooperative (at the gas station near the jetty) or the Laborie Development Foundation. You can also contact us by email at lawad.labowi@gmail.com.

The Project

The Anse Kawèt Crafters, a community organisation in Laborie, has obtained funding from the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility to implement a project entitled Lawad Labowi: effective management of, and sustainable livelihoods in, Laborie Bay, Saint Lucia.

By mid-2016, this project will achieve two primary objectives:

  • Establish a permanent, effective and participatory management regime for the Laborie Bay
  • Maintain, expand and diversify opportunities for local sustainable livelihoods and economic activities based on the sustainable use of coastal resources

The development of yachting is a critical part of this project, and the first phase has been the installation of navigation marks to assist in the safe passage into the Bay.

These activities are supported by Marigot Sunshine Ltd.

Instructions For Mariners

  • Safewater Mark to provide a starting point for the entrance passage to the harbour
    Lit ISO 10 secs 13°44'23.93"N 60° 59'57.42"W
  • Port hand (Green) marker to mark the eastern edge of the Laborie Reef
    13°44'50.44"N 61° 0'1.25"W
  • South Cardinal marker to mark the southern tip of the channel divide and central reef
    Lit Qu 6sec & L Fl 13°44'49.06"N 60°59'55.86"W
  • Starboard hand (Red) marker to mark the shoals to the west of the harbour
    13°44'48.70"N 60°59'51.76"W
  • South Cardinal marker to mark the southern extremity of the reef dividing the east anchorage
    Lit Qu 6sec & L Fl 13°44'57.54"N 61° 0'3.89"W
  • Starboard hand (Red) marker for the landward end of the entrance channel
    13°44'56.87"N 60°59'46.22"W
  • Port hand (Green) marker for the landward end of the entrance channel
    13°44'59.87"N 60°59'49.18"W

Unlit buoys are fitted with coloured reflective tape for nighttime identification.

The Safe Water mark should be approached prior to altering course towards the church tower, on 033° (M), which course should lead between the outer Cardinal and Starboard hand marks.

This chartlet is reproduced with the kind permission of Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd. of St. Ives, Cambridge, UK. who have assisted with the cartography for this project, with the kind assistance of Don Street, of Glandore, County Cork, Eire.