Union Island: Clifton Harbour, Chatham Bay and the Yachting Hub of the Southern Grenadines

Union Island is one of the most important yacht charter hubs in the southern Grenadines, combining dramatic volcanic scenery, colorful villages, sheltered anchorages and practical services for visiting yachts. Roughly three miles long and one mile wide, the island is centered around the communities of Clifton and Ashton, with steep ridges rising inland to Mount Taboi, the highest point in the Grenadines at approximately 999 feet.

For most yachts, Clifton Harbour provides the first introduction to Union Island. The broad reef-protected bay is filled with yachts, fishing boats, ferries and water taxis, while Clifton itself offers restaurants, supermarkets, fresh produce, yacht provisioning and Customs and Immigration services. On the opposite side of the island, Chatham Bay delivers an entirely different atmosphere, with a sweeping beach, green hills and one of Union's most secluded anchorages.

Union Island is also exceptionally well positioned for exploring the southern Grenadines. Mayreau and the Tobago Cays lie immediately to the north, while Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent, Carriacou and Grenada are natural onward destinations farther south. This combination of location, yacht services and contrasting anchorages makes Union Island an ideal provisioning stop, overnight base or final destination on a St. Vincent and the Grenadines yacht charter.

Clifton Harbour is the principal yacht arrival point and official port of entry on Union Island. The entrance lies behind extensive reef systems, so captains should use current charts and maintain careful visual navigation when approaching the harbor. Current cruising guidance also warns that marked and unmarked hazards can exist within the Clifton mooring field. Yachts should avoid anchoring near the protected reef, where Tobago Cays Marine Park moorings are located, while anchoring remains permitted on the western side of the bay.

Union Island Airport lies beside Clifton, creating another navigational consideration. SVG aviation authorities advise yachts to remain clear of the airport's final approach area. Elsewhere around the island, Ashton Harbour is shallow and protected by Frigate Island and offshore reefs, while Chatham Bay provides a much more open approach from the west. Captains exploring the coastline should use established routes rather than attempting shortcuts through shallow reef systems.

Clifton Harbour is Union Island's busiest yacht anchorage. Tobago Cays Marine Park is currently the authorized provider of temporary and overnight moorings in the harbor, with 19 plain white mooring buoys reported in recent cruising guidance. Anchoring is also possible on the western side of the bay, but yachts must remain clear of protected reef areas and should anchor only on suitable sandy seabed rather than coral or seagrass.

Chatham Bay provides the island's most scenic alternative, with extensive room, a long beach and generally good holding in sand. It is significantly quieter than Clifton and particularly attractive for swimming, sunset and a relaxed overnight stay. Ashton Harbour and the western side of Frigate Island offer additional options for suitable yachts, although much of Ashton Harbour is shallow and requires careful navigation.

Clifton is the island's main commercial and yachting center, with supermarkets, restaurants, bars, yacht provisioners, an open-air produce market and ferry connections. It is also an official yacht clearance point for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Current guidance states that yachts arriving from outside SVG territorial waters should complete their Union Island clearance through Clifton Harbour.

Beyond the waterfront, Union Island has a rugged interior of volcanic ridges, dry forest and steep peaks. Mount Taboi provides the island's highest viewpoint, while Fort Hill overlooks Clifton Harbour. The contrasting landscapes of Chatham Bay, Ashton Harbour, Frigate Island and the eastern reef system make Union one of the most varied islands to explore during a southern Grenadines yacht charter.