Bermuda is surrounded by a reef, which limits the outer approach to one channel except for locals very familiar with the area. The hazards extend well offshore as well.
That being said, the channels are well marked if sometimes narrow by necessity (such as Town Cut). We chose to bring Envolee in safely during daylight hours from start to finish. (pics at end of notes)
Visiting yachts are expected to fill out arrival questionnaires in advance and hail or be hailed by the authorities as soon as they’re within VHF range. The principal form can be filled out online and a medical form for each crew member can be filled out in person. The authorities are very friendly and helpful.
As a special note for American yacht, flare guns are considered firearms and not legal in Bermuda. Secondhand information indicates that they may be held by the customs authorities during a visit, but given their relative lack of signaling value compared to permitted devices such as standard SOLAS parachute flares, they don’t seem to me to be worth carrying.
Unless special circumstances apply, such as an organized racing event with special customs/immigration arrangements, a visiting yacht will probably check in at the St. George’s Harbor customs dock. It’s a small dock but adequate for small to medium yachts though it’s hard to imagine more than two or three even small yachts tied up there.
The basic entrance is to reach the approach channel (we chose to give a wide berth to the reefs, pass close by the official outer entrance buoy “SB”, and follow the channel from there.
In daylight, the markers have good spacing and visibility. Town Cut itself has several land-based marks and posts, with the deep water extending almost to shore on both sides. Once through Town Cut, the channel is clearly marked up until the customs dock, which will be to starboard. A mooring field and anchorage is adjacent and at the time of our arrival bled over a little towards the customs house but leaving ample room for significantly larger yachts to maneuver. Megayachts were generally tied up on the opposite side of Ordnance Island from the customs house.
Our entrance procedure was:
- Close to SB buoy
- Enter the Town cut beginning in the channel between #1 and #2
- Then SG1 and SG2
- Leave odd numbered SG’s to stbd up through SG9, honoring the port markers
- Leaving SG9 to stbd, turn towards the eastern end of Ordinance Island
- Tie up at the customs dock on the north side of the island.
Pics: note that the SB approach buoy has red and white sides.
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