Best advice for a relaxing trip:

If there are north swells up (which there invariably are in the wintertime) find anchorages which are protected. Note that north swells have nothing to do with wind or weather. They come from thousands of miles away and can be severe even with 10 kt winds and 85 degree and sunny days.

In the BVI, best winter anchorages are Little Harbour, JVD, Sprat Bay Peter Island (3 moorings and a marina), The entire North Sound, Norman Island the Bight, Trellis Bay.

Anchor/Moor overnight in White Bay JVD, Cane Garden Bay,Great Harbour JVD, Caneel in the USVI and you will have a cranky crew in the morning.


You can work around this by doing Cane during the day and running over to Little Harbour at night for example, or White Bay and then going to LH at night. But study the geometry of the anchorages and remember to not be afraid to change your plan based on conditions.

-P