Sargassum at Pigeon Point Beach (English Harbour): today's check
Clear
Clean, go
Pigeon Point Beach lines the inner shore of Falmouth Harbour, a short walk from English Harbour on Antigua's south coast. Its 193 metres of calm sand are the everyday swim spot for crews and residents of the island's great sailing basin.
This page follows sargassum at Pigeon Point with a simple rating from 0 to 5, refreshed each morning, plus a map that sets the beach within the southern sector. The harbour water's state, a few circulating strands, an arrival out of the ordinary: one look sorts it out.
Pigeon Point Beach on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
The beach looks north-west from inside Falmouth Harbour, so it turns its back on the easterly trades twice over: first behind the bulk of Antigua, then behind the arms of the bay itself. Its only window on the open sea faces west-south-west, the opposite direction from the dominant flow.
Weed bound for this inner shore must first round Antigua, then climb the Falmouth Harbour entrance: few arrivals survive the detour. The whole southern sector, English Harbour included, counts as sheltered at an angle: Galleon Beach, in the neighbouring bay, opens a little more to the south-west and sometimes reacts before Pigeon Point does.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pigeon Point a safe pick during sargassum season?
It is one of the safer picks on Antigua. Tucked deep inside Falmouth Harbour and facing north-west, it is protected from the easterly flow twice over, by the island first and then by the bay itself.
How do I check the beach before walking down?
Use the southern-sector rating at the top of this page: it runs from 0 to 5 and is redone each morning. The map also lets you compare the neighbouring south-coast beaches at a glance.
How does it compare with Galleon Beach next door?
Galleon Beach lines English Harbour and opens to the south-west, a little closer to the passage out to sea. Pigeon Point, at the back of Falmouth Harbour, usually sees weed later and in smaller amounts.
Can sargassum still reach Falmouth Harbour?
Rarely, but it happens. A mat that has rounded the island can ride currents or a south to west wind through the entrance, which is exactly why a same-morning check is worth the few seconds.