Barbuda Clearing-Out

Hi everyone,

On Sunday we cleared-out of Antigua & Barbuda at Codrington.  Codrington is the main town on Barbuda.  To do so we dinghied ashore across the pass into the lagoon, and across the lagoon to Codrington.  This wouldn't have been so easy a few years ago before a hurricane broke through the sandbank which previously separated the sea from the lagoon.

Codrington Dock

On Saturday we motored a couple of miles north in Low Bay to position ourselves for the run ashore.  The Navionics charts were pretty accurate.  We didn't find the 2.7m patch it shows, finding 4m there.

The image below shows our track in red and our route by dinghy into Codrington.  The position of a day buoy marking the S end of the sandbank is shown.  Beware shallow water to its NNW.

Route to Codrington

The photo below shows the derelict resort on the N sandband.  It was undermined and collapsed during the hurricane.

Derelict Resort

The photo below shows the derelict resort from the S, with the day buoy on the right.  We were lucky that the weather on Sunday was light - 10 knot E.  Our little dinghy and its Torqeedo outboard managed it easily.  Overall it was a 5nm round-trip which used 40% of the battery.  Most of that was on the into-wind leg.

View N across the shallows showing the buoy

Approaching Codrington Harbour

Once ashore we walked E into town.  Everyone was cheerful and helpful.  Turns out Google shows the Police Station incorrectly but directions got us there easily.  The staff there directed us to Customs & Immigration, calling them out to assist us.  They prefer cruisers to visit in the mornings.  We were pleasantly surprised we were able to clear out.

Customs & Immigration Building

The clearing out process was simple and straightforward.  Mr John the customs man found our eSeaClear file and produced our clearing out papers cheerfully.  Better to file the departure notification before turning up, but bear in mind Low Bay mobile coverage is poor.

With the formalities completed we walked around the town.  Sadly there are many derelict houses.  Equally there are many rebuilt buildings, particularly government buildings and churches.  The school buildings are immaculate.

Restored Church

Unrestored home

We're really pleased we dinghied ashore.  Being able to clear out was a bonus.  It was nice to see the 'real' Barbuda, vice the posh resorts and private mansions near Cocoa Point.  We didn't bother going ashore to see the latter!

Trust all's well where you are!