Anguilla

Anguilla is a flat coral island whose appeal rests almost entirely on its beaches and the quality of its small hotel and restaurant scene. There is no charter fleet based here to speak of — most yachts visiting Anguilla depart from Sint Maarten, an easy northward passage of eight nautical miles across the channel. The island's west and south-west coasts provide the anchorages. Road Bay, at the north-west end, is the port of entry and the location of a handful of beach bars and restaurants. Sandy Ground, the settlement behind the bay, has a low-key local character. Further south, Meads Bay and Shoal Bay West offer open-roadstead anchoring in calm conditions — beautiful for a daytime stop, less comfortable if the wind shifts to the south or west. Shoal Bay East, on the north coast, is frequently cited as the island's finest beach — a long curve of powdery white sand with reef snorkelling at its eastern end. The anchorage here is exposed to the trade-wind swell and is a day stop only. The island's smaller coves — Little Bay, accessible only by boat or a scramble down the cliff, and Crocus Bay with its cliffside restaurant — offer variety without the scale of the main beaches. Anguilla's restaurant scene is disproportionate to its size. A handful of establishments, concentrated along Meads Bay and Shoal Bay, serve cuisine that draws influences from French Caribbean, West Indian, and contemporary American cooking. The island's luxury hotels — small, discreet, and expensive — set a tone that is confident without ostentation. Sailing conditions around Anguilla are straightforward. The trade winds provide a reliable breeze, and the passages between Anguilla, Sint Maarten, and St Barths are short enough to be accomplished in a half-day. The main navigational consideration is the reef system off the island's north and east coasts, which extends well offshore in places. Provisioning on Anguilla is limited to small supermarkets with Caribbean basics. For a full provisioning run, Sint Maarten's Dutch-side supermarkets are the practical option. Fuel is available at Road Bay. Water is scarce on the island and should be conserved.