Bequia Easter Regatta 2008 - Caribbean Compass

— Continued from previous page
Early mornings are best for sighting teals, pintails,
ducks, herons, moorhens, warblers, stilts and other
wetland species. Tiny fiddler and large land crabs
share the pond with birds, mongoose, iguana and
deer, whose footprints can be seen in soft mud around
A barrier reef protects Teague Bay from the roughest
seas and offers divers and snorkelers hours of fun
the still, brackish water.
Coakley Bay and Prune Bay
Coakley Bay and Prune Bay lie west of the “G1” beacon
(approximately 17˚45’59”N, 064˚38’11”W) and
offer pleasant day anchorages in nine to 13 feet of
water within a short distance of the beach. Watch for
isolated coral heads and the patch reef between the
two bays, and anchor in sand to avoid disturbing the
sea grass. At the west end of Prune Bay is Pull Point,
featuring a prominent house with a green roof, once
the home of Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic
bomb. No worries about radiation, but the swift current
and rocky shoreline will send the prudent mariner
further east to anchor. Park
moorings are for tenders and
small craft, while snorkelers
and swimmers enjoy the pristine
reefs and rocks. The
beach is usually deserted
except on weekends. In the
words of Marine Park Ranger
John Farchette III, “When
you’re on the beach, look out
to sea: you’re all alone —
unless somebody says something.”
Trails lead through shore
vegetation to salt ponds, where
deer and big blue land crabs
share the peaceful brackish
water with birds, mongoose
and other island critters.
Chenay, Coakley and Prune
Bays have been designated
“No Take Areas,” where commercial
and recreational fishing
are prohibited. No official
word on kite boarding, but it
looks good here and elsewhere
on the north shore, especially
during the Christmas winds.
Teague Bay
Tague, or Teague Bay is
well-known for its friendly St. Croix Yacht Club, which
welcomes cruisers with warm Crucian hospitality, a
dinghy dock, showers and clubhouse. The barrier reef
protects the bay from the roughest seas and offers divers
and snorkelers hours of fun. Yachts may enter the
reef at Coakley Bay, leaving the “G1” beacon to port:
proceed east about 1.7nm, keeping to the middle of the
channel, watch for and avoid the easy-to-see patch
reefs on either side.
In the southwestern corner of Teague Bay, moorings
in front of Duggan’s Reef Restaurant are in shallow
water and offer a spot to tie the tender while snorkeling
or swimming.
Cotton Garden Bay
East of Teague Bay, Park moorings at Cotton Garden
Bay are in front of Cramer’s Park, a large sandy public
beach with some facilities. These bays are designated
“Recreational Areas:” swimming, snorkeling, diving,
boating and recreational line fishing within 100 feet of
shore are permitted.
Visiting cruisers are invited to swim, dive and snorkel
in the park waters and to enjoy the beaches. To get
even more out of the Marine Park, take a free interpretive
tour with Ranger John Farchette III. He is a walking,
talking encyclopedia of St. Croix flora, fauna,
Carol Kramer-Burke, SEA program director,
with empty turtle shells from a nest at Chenay Bay
history, anthropology, geology and culture. Check the
East End Marine Park calendar at www.stxeastendmarinepark.org,
or call (340) 773-3367, for Wednesday
morning walking tours of the Park’s bays and adjacent
salt ponds, and for Saturday snorkel clinics, too.
The St. Croix East End Marine Park is part of the US
Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural
Resources, Coastal Zone Management Division.
Headquarters are located at the Great Pond Estate on
St. Croix’s south shore.
APRIL 2008 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 29