Charter starting March 16 on Just Kat from CYOA in St. Thomas. Planning on spending 2nd night on Peter Island. Would like to spend most of our time in Deadman's Bay, but heard it's not good for overnight. If we get a mooring ball in Great Harbour, how far is the walk to Deadman's? Is there a marked trail?

We overnight there all the time. I would check weather and watch for a swell. There is some grass on the bottom, so look for sand and drop the hook. We always dive the anchor to check the set. BTW the walk is very easy and there is only one way to go.

My preference would be to stay there. Is the snorkeling good? If weather prohibits, then we will use Great Harbour as a backup to overnight.

i believe the poster above is commenting about deadmans bay.

i'm commenting about great harbour, the balls are near oceans 7, you'd have to dinghy to the opposite end of the harbour where the land forms a "V" and Sprat bay is on the other side. you will land your dinghy on a small rocky beach and there may be a blind man helping you, his name is Conrad and we give him some money and beers as he "watches" the dinghies for people. walk past the beach and there is a trail, you'll walk past Conrads house, then see the docks in Sprat Harbour, the path will split at the paved road and the lower path will take you to the boutique and to Tradewinds, the upper path will take you to the beach and to deadmans beach bar, we eat and drink at the beach bar but the lounges are for guests, if you keep walking you'll see the spa and if you walk past that, you'll be at big reef bay which is picturesque, this is a leisurely walk and we do it every visit. enjoy

i believe the poster above is commenting about deadmans bay.


so was I, we anchor in Deadmans

Yes, the OP was stating their preference would be to stay in Deadman's - very do-able as Evan has stated above -- lovely place to anchor for night.

I do not trust the bottom at Deadman's Bay. Especially up in the east corner. I watched a fully burried 44 lb CQR attatched to a Bene 505 cut a furrow at least a boat length long in less than 30 minutes.

Have anchored in Deadman's many times. I would opt for great harbor if swells are up or high wind is forecasted. The hike to Deadman's from GH is very easy. Follow the path to Peter Island Resort then follow the signs. Unfortunately Conrad has passed on. He was quite a character.

Thanks for all the advice!

We picked up a mooring ball in Great Harbour a few weeks ago. They now have a few mooring balls fairly close to the shore where you beach the dinghy.

The walk past Conrad's house to Sprat and Deadman's isn't difficult but it does take quite a few steps. I would recommend reasonable walking shoes.

Many years ago we would take a few beers in a bag with ice and sit with Conrad. The stories he would tell were incredible. In later years we had to disguise the beers because his sister had a fit if he had a toddy. Now every time we walk past his home we always pause and toast an old friend.

i'm very sad to hear of his passing, we started referring to great harbour as Conrad's that it's become the name we refer to now, i really have to think where great harbour is when someone is asking, "Oh, you mean Conrad's!" We too will raise a toast to him, it's so sad because we're bringing boating friends with us who have never been to the BVI and Conrad has been a fixture in many stories, i feel bad that our friends have missed the chance to meet him. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

RIP Conrad
A smile crosses my face thinking of you taking care of our dinghies from just a little further away than you were before, please still keep an eye on us.

Easy walk from great harbor. Definitely need foot cover - flip flops fine. About a 10 minute walk. There are a number of mooring balls near trail head.
We did this last week - very easy and well marked.

So, I guess to play it safe and not worry about having to move the boat later in the day, we should try and get a mooring ball in Great Harbour and just walk to Deadman's?

Or just anchor in Deadmans bay, it's fine for a overnight.
G

Here is a great link to read up on the infamous Conrad Smith...."a cold beer for safe passage". He was a true BVI gem! http://blog.ctnews.com/kantor/2013/08/02/passing-of-a-bvi-elder/

I thought Peter Island was private and off limits for hiking around unless you pay some sort of day use fee to the resort?

Sorry to hear of Conrad's passing. Reminds me of the now gone inhabitant of Salt Island--Norwell Durant. These men were island gentlemen who were links to what the BVI used to be. Both are/will be sorely missed by those of us priveledged to have spent some time with them. May they RIP! http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/icons/sad.gif