The Port

Yatching port - Petit-Bourg

Up until the last century, the road from Basse-Terre ended at Petit-Bourg. Stagecoach passengers traveling from that seat of government were obliged to stop here to board the boat for Pointe-à-Pitre. In addition to being a passenger port, this major sea outlet provided Petit-Bourg with other means of economic development some savvy businessmen built a fortune on. Located in the "Vinégri" (or Vinaigrerie) quarter, the port opens directly onto Petit Cul-de Sac Marin bay, where the distance from the coastal shelf to the 200-meter line can be up to 5 to 10 nautical miles. As elsewhere on the island, the primary water craft used by fisherman-sailors here is the “canot saintois” (literally, “dinghy from Saintes, Guadeloupe”), which is constructed of local woods (pear, red mahogany, red gum), plywood or, increasingly, resin, without a deck. Its dimensions vary between 3.5 and 6 meters and it is equipped with outboard motors. In addition to fishing activities, the port offers a marina for pleasure boats and, over the past few years, has become a setting for both competitive and recreational rowing and paddling. This activity has been developed in partnership with the Ligue de Guadeloupe des Sociétés d’Aviron (“League of Guadeloupe Rowing Societies”). It is part of a broader effort to protect the environment and natural heritage of the Petit Cul-du-Sac Marin shoreline.