I will be going on a cruise with my wife, daughter, parents and aunts... the whole family! The cruise leaves from my home town San Juan PR on Jan. 9, 2011 and travels to: St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados. I pretty much know St. Thomas and Tortola like the back of my hand and I am really looking forward to scoring Cane Garden for the 101st time as this is cold front season... yea!!! I am so happy. Will take my surf mat for sure and maybe my Fish and/or bodyboard... Just arrive at port, rent a car and keep left jejeje.
I have never been surfing to Antigua, St. Lucia or Barbados. Does anyone here have any advice on these ports?
I have surfed the internet and there is a lot of info on Barbados, the west coast looks awesome and the offshore trade winds work in harmony with the cold front swells just like here in PR. I am really looking forward to scoring good Tropicana and some of the West points. Will probably not go to the East coast as trade winds usually blow onshore after 10 AM and the ship arrives at 8 AM, but if a good swell lights up the West I will be on it.
I have been exploring St. Lucia's and Antigua's West coast in Google Earth and have come up with some pretty neat set ups. Has anyone here surfed any of these 3 islands (Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados). Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Your cruise ship will land you at Bridgetown in Barbados, never surfed that area but most popular break on island is right there at South Point. Bathsheba holds an onshore wind well, and if there's not a lot of swell it may be the only thing going. Soup Bowls is an outstanding wave that will remind you of home in PR. Duppies is northernmost spot on backside, it'll be offshore on trades and bigger than anyplace else on that side. Maycocks will be a little smaller, but usually cleaner. Tropicanas and that area need a big swell to get to head high, and don't look at the bottom (you don't want to know what's under there). Trop's may be very crowded if breaking, but there's other waves nearby. Access is tough because it's all ritzy hotels and estates. If you wanna relax from dodging coral heads, there's one mellow reef peak called Gibbs north of Tropicana.
Thanks for the information. Duppies seems like a good wave, it looks like a good big wave spot I would like to try someday but I guess the access and the long swim are better left for a longer stay on the island. The cruise arrives at 8AM and Leaves at 5 PM so I better rent a car and check some of the nearby spots. I have heard the South works in winter too, it sounds strange but I guess that maybe the large NE swells wrap around as I know no south swells form at this time of the year. If there is a strong North or Northwest swell I will surely look around the West coast as the quality of the surf seems superior, I like large waves but I always choose quality over size. Thanks again for the information.
Anyone who has any information on St. Lucia or Antigua surfing please let me know. Have a nice day everyone!
I was in st. Lucia years ago, with no surf board, but still tried to keep up a steady search. Found a sick body surfing sandy bottom break on the south west side. It seemed like there were many reefs with promise on the west coast, with difficult jungle access. If you familiar with Tortola and PR, the Lesser Antillies might be a streatch, and conditions are fickle.
St Lucia west coast though picks up the swell but it is onshore most of the time (when you will be there, but it is best time for consistent swell), and generally difficult access (4wd).
With a decent swell you will get some nice offshore waves in the north eastern side of St Lucia. Surfed a few spots near Rodney Bay.
Pigeon Island catches the swell
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and a bit further south head to Windjammer Resort (name might have changed), it's near the town of Corinthea and is a great right hander in front of a break-water groin.
Don't go expecting surf, but if you catch it, you will get great waves, and if you are lucky you might even see another surfer....(bit boring when you are they only person out).
I am gonna go to ST Maarten next December, which I guess increases the chances there will be waves there. Anyone been there and have any advice on the better surf spots?