Sargassum at Baie Coco, Pointe la Rose (Le Robert): today's report
Heavy
Shit's bad
Baie Coco opens at the end of the Pointe la Rose peninsula, in Le Robert, on the Atlantic side of Martinique. It is a small, mangrove-fringed beach set deep inside the wide sheltered lagoon that carves up the whole east coast.
This page reports sargassum at Baie Coco for today: the 0 to 5 score, a map of the east Atlantic zone covering Vauclin, Le François and Le Robert, and how the nearby beaches compare. It is updated each morning, which saves you the drive out to the point on a bad day.
Baie Coco (Pointe la Rose) on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
This is the windward side. Le Robert's Atlantic shore takes whatever the trade winds push in from the open ocean first, and the bay itself faces east, straight into the prevailing wind. The offshore coral barrier flattens the swell, but it does not stop the seaweed: floating mats slip through the passes and then drift towards the back of the coves.
What happens next depends on the shape of the shoreline as much as on the landing itself. Shallow water around Pointe la Rose and the mangrove edge act as a natural trap, so weed that gets in leaves slowly and breaks down where it lies, smell included. A wind swinging round to the south can clear the same bay within a day. Hence the value of a score written this morning.
Frequently asked questions
Is Baie Coco heavily exposed to sargassum?
More than the Caribbean coast, yes. The beach faces due east, into the trade winds that carry rafts across the Atlantic. The coral barrier filters swell rather than seaweed, which enters through the passes.
How can I check conditions before heading to Pointe la Rose?
Look at the FanGass score from 0 to 5 and the east Atlantic map on the morning of your trip. Readings are rebuilt daily, so you can shift your plans by a few hours or pick another cove.
Does the Pointe la Rose trail run past the seaweed?
The path follows mangrove and sheltered shallows, exactly where drifting weed piles up once it enters the bay. During a landing, the smell of decomposition can reach the trail before you even see the water.
Where should I go if Baie Coco is covered?
Leeward beaches around Les Trois-Îlets or Anse-à-l'Âne are usually spared on the same day. Within Le Robert, compare the islets: exposure changes from one anchorage to the next depending on which way it faces.