Guide Updates

Trinidad and Tobago

Piracy between Trinidad and Grenada

Christmas week 2009.

A cruising yacht was held up by pirates about half way between Trinidad and Grenada by seven men with guns in what appeared to be a Venezuelan Pirogue. They did not harm the couple on board but stole everything they could carry away.

This follows several incidents a little over a year ago, that were not successful.. Success often leads to repetition so caution is advised.

Update July 2010. There have been no incidents since that time, with hundreds of boats making the passage between Trinidad and the islands to the north,  and the Trinidad coastguard has stepped up its patrols in this area.

New Regulation in Trinidad JULY 2010 

Once you have cleared in to Trinidad you must get permission from customs for any move you wish to make to any other anchorage. The captain must go to customs with the arrival document from customs so that the officers can note the intended location of the vessel and the date they left Chaguaramas Bay.  This is has to be written in and stamped by customs officials.  This must also be done upon their return to Chaguaramas Bay.

The ability for customs to do this has always been on the books and was strictly applied prior to the creation of the yachting industry in Trinidad. However, when many yachts started to visit the rule was relaxed and for many years and  yachts were free to move around Trinidad's anchorages.

New Regulation in Tobago 

Only boats with special permission may access Bucoo Reef. Permission is not being granted to yachts or their tenders, so you may not use your tender to go snorkeling on the reef. You may still swim out there from the beach.

Tobago

Store Bay Marine Services Limited, Unit B, Bago's Beach Bar, Pigeon Point Road, Crown Point, Tobago web: www.sbms.co.tt, e: john@sbms.co.tt tel: 660 8468 mobile: 390 5408 VHF: Ch06

New cafe in Charloteville.

I just got the following: 

I have a Cafe in Charlotteville, Spring Street ( just opposite of the jetty to go up 200 yds. ). We sell nice Cappuccino and fresh juices and are also open for breakfast and dinner on request. It may be interesting for your travellers. You can visit my homepage www.topriver.com  .Best regards, Rainer Tichai, Top River Pearl

The following came from Caribbean Compass:

Hazards to Navigation Off Tobago

Sailors should beware of 12 Fish Aggregation Devices (FADS) that have been placed in the waters off the north coast of Tobago. Each FAD consists of two bamboo rafts tied in tandem and anchored. Each FAD is marked by a flagged buoy. The two rafts (each nine to 12 feet long) comprising each FAD are connected by 35 metres of polypropylene rope. The FADS are located in an area roughly between 11°18’N, 60°34’W and 11°23’N, 60°58’W. They are apparently unlit. For more information phone (868) 471-4696. In the same general area, oil-drilling operations are underway. If you see the anchored drilling rig, you are advised to give it a wide berth, maintaining a distance of at least 500 metres. In addition to the rig, anchors in sets of eight have been pre-laid in other well exploration sites. Vessels are also advised to give the anchor marker buoys a wide berth. Relevant Notices to Mariners will be broadcast on North Post Radio (Trinidad). North Post Radio monitors VHF Channel 16 and MF 2182 USB, then uses VHF Channels 24, 25, 26, or 27.

below are cruiser updates that offer new information  from the updated guide:

09/14/09

Mooring Buoys in Store Bay from Anthony Perrin

there are now a number of free buoys (I counted around a dozen) for cruisers in Store Bay, Tobago. They were apparently put in place some two or three months ago, which now obviates the need to drop anchor, with all the risks entailed with the 330-volt electric cable from Trinidad that runs in through the bay.

I have now heard some of the moorings are not so good already

Immigration  and other notes from Richard Watson - s/y Sobriyah Nov 07

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Tobago April22, 2009, Hi Chris, We were referred to you by Heather and Sam (unfortunately I did not get their last name) they sail a catamaran. They live in England when they are not sailing. They came and had a meal at our cafe and told us that we should contact you and let you know about our cafe. They did say if they saw you on their travels they would let you know about us. We have just reopened our cafe after being closed for 8 years. We are cooking grilled food; chicken, fish, vegetables, lamb, beef/fish/veggie burgers and hot dogs, usually served with chips and coleslaw but we can make baked potatoes, pasta salad or rice.  We cook everything fresh so once it is ordered we grill. Our prices are reasonable local prices and we do not have a different price for tourists and locals. We do not currently serve alcohol but our guests are welcome to bring it in to enjoy with their meal. We have done a buffet meal for a group of people off a catamaran for that we did a price per person. We are located on Windward Road at the eastern edge of Delaford where it becomes Kings Bay. We have a sweeping view of Kings Bay. Some boats do come and stay in the bay from time to time but not as much as Pirates Bay in Charlotteville. Our phone number is 868 771 2716 or of course you can email us at this address. If you are traveling around the island please stop by the cafe if you have a chance. We are listed on the My Tobago website. Hope to hear from you soon. Joanne and Michael

05/09/05

Trinidad

Many thanks to Jim Graham for the follwoing:
Here is the latest - as of beginning of December 2008 - on the 
purchase of diesel fuel in Chagauramas Bay, Trinidad.  Because of a 
incident several months ago involving cruisers getting fuel at the Power 
Boats Mutual fuel dock in Chagauramas Bay, Trinidad the following new 
procedures have been instituted.
    Power Boats Mutual Fuel dock is open every day but occasionally will 
be out of fuel. They have had to install a separate 2000 gal diesel tank 
and new pumps to dispense "international" fuel to boats not owned and 
flagged in Trinidad.  The new price of this "international" diesel is 
about US$0.85 per liter or US$3.20 per US gallon - it will vary some 
with season and oil prices.
    International flagged vessels must visit the Power Boats offices 
during the normal weekday hours at least 48 hours before the planned 
time of refueling with diesel. You must present the ship's documents and 
clearance papers for copying and state the approximate amount of diesel 
needed.
    Diesel amounts over 1000 gallons must be obtained from the Power 
Boats Commercial docks across the bay next to Crews Inn. Be warned this 
commercial fueling facility is designed for large ships and the smallest 
hose nozzle they have is 1.5 inches in diameter.
    Purchase of gasoline or diesel in gerry can quantities (5 gallons / 
20 liters)  is not restricted.

I notice a very nice looking cafe (Cafe del Mare) has opened on the water font in Crews Inn Marina.

07/20/2010