TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Options for Secluded Anchorages

For our upcoming trip, we want to have a few nights at more secluded spots.

I know this has been asked before and I've combed past questions about this and come up with the following candidates (I may have filtered a few for reasons I've probably forgotten...):

Key Cay and Great Harbor on Peter - Key Cay sounds good but it feels odd to be on the South side of the island. Anything in particular to watch out for here?
Sandbox on Prickly Pear
Lee of Eustatia - This sounds great but I'm just a tad nervous about navigating there. I'm pretty sure I'd come in from the North vs coming through the channel by Saba. It's also hard to tell if it's out-of bounds for The Moorings.
White Bay on Guana
Diamond Cay on Jost

I've got the guide book so I have the particulars on these but I just wanted to get any other comments/recommendations/warnings from the wisdom of this group.

I'll be on a monohull.

Thanks

I like Key Cay. It's shallow though.

That southwest side of Prickly Pear is where we have anchored for an extended period, but still had some shelter and access to Saba and Bitter End. If you don't need amenities, off of Mosquito Island is nice if the wind is not blowing hard.

Cheers, RickG

Be aware that the two White balls in Key Cay are not for overnight use. They are dive balls for the wreck of the WillyT.

Long Bay on Virgin Gorda was very pleasant when we anchored there. We also tried Lee Bay on Great Camanoe but gave up because we had a hard time getting the anchor to hold. Although it has some mooring balls, Benures Bay on Norman is fairly secluded and their might be room to anchor (we used a ball).

The Key Cay anchorage is pretty easy anchoring with good sand holding, but the last time we were there in December it looked like someone was putting in a bunch of mooring balls so not sure if it is viable anymore. any heavy SE swell or wind i think could make it a pretty uncomfortable night.

The anchoring between Eustatia and Prickly Pear also has good holding in sand and is pretty comfortable in normal wind conditions. Have been there by ourselves and with as many as 5 other boats comfortably spaced. The reef offers good protection from all but a strong NE swell. The entrance to the north is pretty straight forward if you pay attention to the charts and steer clear of the reef extending from the north side of Eustatia to the west. You will likely have a few local boats run through the area behind you at fairly high speed though so just be aware.

White Bay on Guana has like 5 balls but not sure of their restrictions if you want to go ashore.

Diamond Cay has plenty of balls so I wouldn't call it secluded but is a fine anchorage to overnight in most of the time. For seclusion on JVD, would try Little Harbour as it tends to be much less crowded and a couple of classic restaurants to eat at as well.

Never overnighted at Long Bay so can't comment there. Love Savannah Bay as we almost always have the place to ourself but it is redlined for many charter companies.

Lots of boats are overnight at Savannah right now. very calm

On our February charter we spent a couple of hours anchored in White Bay, Peter Island. My first time on the south side of Peter, so that was cool. As we passed Key Cay it looked like there were multiple boats on mooring balls. Not what I expected to see, as I've always read here on TTOL how it's a tight space with room for only a couple of boats to anchor. I guess time marches on.

Dan

We really like Long Bay, VG. The sunsets are beautiful and the snorkeling is pretty good. We didn’t try it prior to Irma - I can only imagine how good the snorkeling was before the damage. The only thing about Long Bay is finding the right spot so you did not swing into the reefs on either side. The center has plenty of room and a good hold, but you have to get up in there or you are anchoring in fairly deep water. Additionally, there are usually other boats, so I would not call it a highly secluded Anchorage.

There are two Dive balls in Key Bay. They are not for overnight use.

Eustatia is good depending on the conditions. We’ve come through Saba channel, just put somebody on the bow. We anchored overnight there in the past on our 560 Lagoon (draws 5’). I’ve seen Moorings boats there before. My son was there in March, kids loved the water for e-foil and SUP, etc.