TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Southern Caribbean clearing customs in Grenada

We're doing a one way St. Lucia to Grenada trip in a few months. I'd like to plan to clear Grenada customss in St. George rather than Carriacou as we would prefer to spend one more day in the Grenadines and then sail directly to Grenada. Are there areas for temporary mooring or anchoring available near customs in St. George? Noonsite indicates that anchroing in "the Lagoon" is very limited. We prefer to anchor outside the harbor for the night so would prefer not to tie up overnight in a marina. Suggestions?

I have been in Grenada since July and have not seen any transient boats anchor in the lagoon, and I believe there are just a few private mooring, probably "grandfathered" from the time before the marina was there. You would most likely need to anchor outside the lagoon and dinghy in to the marina to clear customs. Friends who have anchored there recently have told me the holding can be less than ideal, so take your time finding a sandy spot :-)
If you do end up stopping in Carriacou, clearance now takes place in Tyrrell Bay, rather than Hillsborough.

Thank you. We have anchored outside the St. George Harbor entrance and also found less than ideal holding. It's good to learn that customs clearance can be done in Tyrrell. We were there overnight last year and found it to be much quieter and more pleasant than Hillsborough. A morning stop there might be better than pushing on to St. George and then having nowhere to moor or anchor as we try to get to customs before they close.
Other's experiences or suggestions?

Hello Anonymous. Not sure where your charter ends in Grenada. Moorings/Sunsail and Horizon are based in Port Louis Marina in the Lagoon. Customs is there in the marina so if you are sailing there on your last day and arriving in the marina then you will be at customs, as well. Other clearance options are:
Prickly Bay Marina in Prickly Bay (southeast shore)
Le Phare Bleu Marina (south shore)
Grenada Marine (south shore) mainly by appointment.
We have sailed down the windward side of Grenada and the fishing was great. Once you round the southeast coast you would then pass, Grenada Marine (anchor or mooring balls) then Le Phare Bleu (best to go into the marina or anchor in Clarkes Court Bay and dinghy over), then Prickly Bay before rounding Point Saline to head up the west coast to St. Georges.
The holding is sketchy outside of St. Georges but a good set is certainly possible and the dinghy ride in is not too bad.
BTW the clearance staff at Tyrell Bay are very nice and so are the officers in Grenada. One caveat, do not anchor in Mount Hartman Bay and hike to customs in Prickly. You will get your wrist slapped for that. The officers in Prickly Bay Marina want the boat in Prickly Bay, as well.
Good Luck. Kirk

Actually, it seems the Horizon base is at True Blue Bay. Their presence in Port Louis is for management of private yachts, if I understand correctly.
http://horizonyachtcharters.com/grenada/how-to-get-here/

My mistake. Have not chartered with them, just saw the sign on the building when visiting Port Louis this summer. Now that you mention it, I do not remember seeing any group of Horizon boats on the dock there except for what must have been the occasional visiting charter. I do recall seeing about 5 Dream Yacht boats together on the dock, though.