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Sailing in Belize

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Melissajane
  11/16/2014 09:34 EST

New thread...

Sailing to Belize - there are lots of cruisers travelling to/from Mexico or Guatemala - easy legs to travel. From the Eastern Caribbean it is around a 10 day sail, depending on conditions of course. If you intend your boat to stay permanently in Belize it has to be imported into the country, and duty paid of around 30% of the value of the boat. If you are entering as a qrp, the boat is duty free, but you still need a customs broker to get the boat licenced with customs and Belize Port Authority.

Sailing outside the barrier reef either down the coast or out to the atolls is blue water sailing - ocean swells and deep water. Inside the atolls is extremely shallow - you can get through, but motoring with someone on the bow on watch rather than enjoyable cruising.

Sailing inside the barrier reef - depends where you are. Ambergris Cay/Cay Caulker/Cay Chapel area is very shallow - less than 10ft in many places - and you are constantly having to dodge the coral heads. From Belize City south the barrier reef extends away from the mainland, with almost nothing to hit in between, so the sail inside from Belize City to Placencia is easy. Around the barrier reef and cays you need a sharp look out for shallows and reef. The gps/navionics programs are not foolproof - do not sail by instruments only! There is a Belize Cruising guide by Freyer (cant remember the full name) that includes hand drawn maps and anchorages that is more accurate than the Admiralty charts.

Around Placencia the waters are shallow, with most boats anchoring behind Placencia Cay, or in one of the marinas up the lagoon where it is more protected.

In the case of hurricanes, boats either pull into the mangroves, or head to Rio Dulce, Guatemala.

Im sure there's a lot more I can add, but this is a good starting point.

Olorin
  11/16/2014 15:12 EST

So for those who have done sailing in and around Belize (a) any issues on security in keeping the boat there?, (b) are there many marinas up and down the coast of Belize where sailboats can tie up? (c) any sailing groups there?

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bobbyveee
  11/16/2014 16:38 EST

Hi Olorin, the problem is as Melissajane says, sailing between the shore and the 200 mile long reef is very frought, with problems, shallows, sand bars, coral out crops , currents etc. On the Cayes there are sailing clubs, no Marinas, just jetties, the sailing is in dingys or Hobie cats , most people who sail anything larger sail big cats because of the shallow draughts, If you are a stranger, you either charter a big cat or hire an experienced local 'guide' to take you thro inshore waters , as far as i know there are no ocean going yachts in Belize, when you think, cruise ships anchor outside the reef and passengers are brought ashore via shallow draught ferries. B elize itsnt like sailing in the Windies, especially here in St L . which is the HQ of ARC and a mecca for the sailing fraternity , You really need to get dow to Belize or wherever and you will understand better

Melissajane
  11/16/2014 17:30 EST

We have a sailboat here in Placencia, I used to sail a commercial catamaran out of San Pedro, and I used to run a catamaran company in Placencia. Personally I have never had a security problem. We had a couple of dinghies go missing at night at anchorages, which got blamed on fishermen - whether this is true or just bad knot-tying by the crew I cannot confirm, but no boardings/robberies.

There are a few marinas - several lagoonside in Placencia, one oceanside (very expensive), Sittee River is developing one, Old Belize in Belize City. I do not know of any north of this. As Bobbyveee says - lots of little docks where boats tie up, but most do not have power/water/marina facilities.

There are Optimist Sailing Clubs for the kids in the larger towns, but no sailing clubs for adults.

Olorin
  11/16/2014 20:04 EST

Thanks for the thoughts and comments. I've been to AC (but not Placencia) and been to several Carribean islands (but not STL--but given BobVee'sgood comments about it, it is on the list to visit soon). We are trying to figure out a place to retire (or at least spend time) in the next few years. Placencia has been high on the list (haven't been there yet, but just like Belize and was interested in sailing possibilities there). And I love diving. If it was just about sailing, Carribean islands would be on the top of the list. Just trying to get good on the ground intelligence from folks like you guys (which is extremely helpful).

bobbyveee
  11/17/2014 06:02 EST

Hi Olorin. You need to check out the new Dive school st lucia , being set up under the guidance of the world famous London dive school , its just coming to completion in Rodney bay, its very impressive, diving is big business here in St L

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dwake
  12/1/2014 08:55 EST

Belize has the most wonderful sailing/cruising opportunities but, at the same time, can be a bureaucratic and personal disaster to newcomers. Local knowledge is everything here. I know because I grew up here (Can. born), live and work here and have been living and experiencing here since the 60's (was away 20+ years) and I still don't completely know what's going on. Belize is the wild-west with ambiguous laws, sometimes corrupt officials, great people, modern and old fashioned pirates, ad infinitum.
Be prepared to have the best of times or be stripped clean and leaving with your tail between your legs. Belize is unique and will be an adventure. Amateurs should have a professional captain for the first few trips and everyone should have a copy of Captain Freya Rauscher's "Cruising Guide to Belize and Mexico's Caribbean Coast" (very thorough). Anyone who lives here must have a local captain's license and their boat must be locally licensed. For visitors, well that's where the ambiguity starts. dwak of the Bamboleo Inn.

Olorin
  12/1/2014 20:43 EST

Sounds like security is a big issue to secure the boat? Even in marinas? Is Placencia one of the top spots to base from (seems so from some on line research)? Are the electronic navigation systems very good coverage there?

JohnPBelize
  12/2/2014 09:51 EST

Sitte River Marina has 24 hour security. I keep my boat there and have never had a problem. The people are wonderful. Just make sure you check into the country. I went to the port Athority in Big Creek. Navagating with a good GPS chip is not a problem. Just dont go into the areas that say incomplete survey. Otherwise they are very complete

bobbyveee
  12/2/2014 10:08 EST

My neighbours boat and outboard were stolen from a secure jetty on AC earlier this yr, He suspects an insider job, but no proof. . Theres no Tracker system available for Marine or autos in Belize, so anything not tied down or secured of value ,walks' .
Im told that electronic, ie GPS based nav. systems are unreliable in the inshore waters , because sand bars move and the average depth of the water is around 8ft, hence the need for an experienced boat guide. From observation and talking to friends with large Cats. Cats are most popular for sailing within the reef , because of their shallow draught. But others on here are far more experienced than me, Im sure they will update you better than i can

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