Traveltalkonline.com Forums


BVI Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors BVI Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics38,430
Posts310,044
Members26,538
Most Online2,218
Jan 21st, 2020
Top Posters(30 Days)
RonDon 115
pat 42
jazzgal 41
Todd 40
Member Spotlight
Posts: 89
Joined: May 2001
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
ecco, OceanDrop, vincent
Who's Online Now
46 registered members (UncleLuff, CaribbeanCanadians, camview, lcote, Ackman, davidandsusannj, eightzerobits, RickinAtlanta, hokiesailor, jagmansr, SXMScubaman, Kennys, George1234, Kmon, Brian&Andi, JeanneB, Manpot, WLE, taraavo, KirkB, ColoBoater, RonDon, Whale Tail, jazzgal, ohstate, NoelHall, lbksxm, foreversxm, MrEZgoin, steve74, road3682, pbd007, snman31, Fitzhughlaw, richard4th, Donaegada, 10 invisible), 890 guests, and 70 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Moorings/Anchorages in early January #102266
07/09/2016 07:31 AM
07/09/2016 07:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
S
Shifty Offline OP
Traveler
Shifty  Offline OP
Traveler
S
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
Greetings all. My wife and I are headed back for a charter out of Charlotte Amalie for a 7 day sail starting January 1. We are considering what is, for us, a pretty aggressive itenerary to include 2 nights at Anegada. If we did this, one potential daily plan would look like: St. Thomas to Leinster Bay on St. John; night 2 at North Sound; nights 3 and 4 at Anegada; night 5 at Jost; night 6 at Caneel; return to St. Thomas on day 7. We've sailed the BVI numerous times, but haven't been in January for years. And we have always moved around at a more leisurely pace. As such, I'd very much appreciate insight on two questions: 1). Does this itinerary sound feasible? 2). Given that we will be covering considerable passages most days, will we have difficulty in securing good anchorages/moorings later in the afternoon?

BVI Sponsors
Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: Shifty] #102267
07/09/2016 07:43 AM
07/09/2016 07:43 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
It's a personal choice how you enjoy spending your time. I am assuming that you have a large charter boat so you travel faster than a small boat.

It will be a long day to north sound. Perhaps lots of motor sailing too. There are lots of moorings in north south plus anchoring opportunities. Anegada is not far from north sound. You should not have a problem arriving early enough for a mooring ball. The wonky dog is a great spot for dinner. Anegada to jvd is a nice sail. Easily doable with a lunch stop along the way. Lots of moorings in various places should be available,especially little harbour.

So, other than to long day to north sound, it sounds doable. However, why not shorten that day a little and with an early start the next day get into north sound in the following morning.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: warren460] #102268
07/09/2016 09:16 AM
07/09/2016 09:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
Traveler
Breeze  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Well, consider this--- I was part of a crew, on a Frers 44, that left North Sound, Virgin Gorda ( at first light) for a check in by Noon at Red Hook Charlotte Amalie USVI.

It was before the < clear in at Cruz> but never the less, we still had time for a last swim at Christmas Cove. We were not late for check -in.

It is your vacation, do it the way you want. Yes, Leinster to North Sound is a long day, but you won't find North Sound a shut-out for either mooring or Anchorage. Anegada will be no problem. I'll leave the ear worm in your head that you'd EASILY be able to make check -in St Thomas from Jost on Day 7, which cleverly gives you room in your itinerary for " adjustment".

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: Breeze] #102269
07/09/2016 09:34 AM
07/09/2016 09:34 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
S
Shifty Offline OP
Traveler
Shifty  Offline OP
Traveler
S
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
Thanks Warren460 and Breeze. Grateful for your input. We are sailing a Beneteau 45 out of CYOA. I like the idea of Jost to Charlotte Amalie on last day to open an extra night earlier in the charter.

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: Shifty] #102270
07/09/2016 02:59 PM
07/09/2016 02:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
Traveler
Breeze  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
It is good to have plans that include " wiggle room". <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: Breeze] #102271
07/09/2016 03:45 PM
07/09/2016 03:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,199
Devon, UK
salica Offline
Traveler
salica  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,199
Devon, UK
Plan on being flexible. Winds and weather in January could change all pre thought arrangements. Don't forget you need to allow time to check in and out of USVI/BVI. Open minds, and plan B (C and D) are the best ways to enjoy the islands.

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: salica] #102272
07/09/2016 04:10 PM
07/09/2016 04:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
S
StormJib Offline
Traveler
StormJib  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
Any trip starting in the USVI with hopes of Anegada during December/January should take in the potential for North Swell and or the "Christmas Winds". If Anegada is important to anyone I would make all the distance possible North and upwind on the first day the weather makes that possible your your crew and boat. Even if that means a first full day first light departure for North Sound or even direct to Anegada. The rest of the trip should be a down hill, down wind sleigh ride. Each crew and each boat is different. Anegada is long way uphill when the breeze and sea are up. I have done North Sound to Red Hook and back more than once in the same day.

[Linked Image]

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: salica] #102273
07/09/2016 04:15 PM
07/09/2016 04:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
Traveler
Breeze  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Good point, Salica. From Leinster, clear in to the BVI is either Jost or Sopers. Yes, you can " clear out" at the same time, but clearing in at Cruz is also a necessary stop.

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: Breeze] #102274
07/09/2016 06:59 PM
07/09/2016 06:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
Clearing out at the same time can work, but once you clear out you have a limited number of hours until you leave. I don't recall if the limit is 24 or 48 hours.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: warren460] #102275
07/09/2016 07:23 PM
07/09/2016 07:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
Traveler
Breeze  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Perhaps things have changed more than I realize.

it used to work that you cleared in, stated how long you would be in the BVI, paid your fees based on x # days x# people, passports got stamped and your exit date was the exact date you specified, no need to revist to " clear out".

Regardless of changes to procedure, Jost is still a good choice for " last night" because it isn't all that tough to get the boat back to St Thomas for check in.

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: Breeze] #102276
07/10/2016 10:44 AM
07/10/2016 10:44 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
S
StormJib Offline
Traveler
StormJib  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
If the skipper is confident in the boat, the crew aboard, and the conditions of the day. You could always sail directly to and clear customs on Virgin Gorda. That would be just a normal day sail in most other charter locations around the world. You should make yourself fully aware of the procedures for arriving after closing time and clearing in the next morning.

Gun Creek, North Sound, Virgin Gorda: Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: Breeze] #102277
07/10/2016 11:40 AM
07/10/2016 11:40 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
Traveler
RickG  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We've been out sailing during those weeks the last four years. In 2015 and 2014 on our Beneteau 40 we had 25kt winds and gust over 35kts with a north swell.

In 2014 we attempted sailing from Norman to North Sound and had to change our plans - sailing upwind fully reefed was not going to happen. We did have a nice downwind sail to Jost Van Dyke instead, making better than 9 kts. The second week we had almost no wind or swell and motored from Coral Bay to North Sound on the south side. Weather matters.

In 2015 we were ready for weather and Plan B was to stick to sheltered anchorages and limit upwind sailing. We had two weeks of a hard blow and did not make North Sound or Anegada. Could we have? With a lot of uncomfortable motoring we could have made North Sound. Anegada and onward to Jost would have been a reach and would have been fun.

Leinster Bay is usually a good anchorage during Christmas winds and a north swell. If you get one of the inner moorings you'll be better protected. But, the outer moorings have AT&T coverage, if that is important to you.

Spending the night in the Caneel Bay anchorage is not something I want to do again in a monohull. Ferries wake you from 5AM to 1AM and its exposed to the north swell. I would recommend spending the night at Christmas Cove, Water Island or Brewers Bay the night before you return the boat.

We'll be out again for two weeks in January. As hard as it can blow, the positive side is that there are fewer boats out and its cooler than the summer low season.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: Moorings/Anchorages in early January [Re: RickG] #102278
07/10/2016 06:39 PM
07/10/2016 06:39 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
S
StormJib Offline
Traveler
StormJib  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
+1

Spending the night in the Caneel Bay anchorage is not something I want to do again in a monohull.


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1