Hi. After a year of reading this forum we've decided to take our family adventure to the BVIs. It will be a 10 day catamaran with a skipper as this will be our first time sailing as well as on the BVIs. I learned through this forum that the best plan is have no plans or itinerary, however there are some places that we would not like to miss. They are JVD/Baths/Peter Island/Anegada/Norman

Having said that I put together three ideas (yeah I know...itineraries <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />) of how the trip should look like. Your expert advise as sailors in this paradise will be greatly appreciated. Please keep in mind that we are two adults and 3 kids 7, 10 and 13. 13 yr old daughter just finished her scuba lessons and will love to take the plunge with her father at Norman/Caves/Indians.

Idea #1
Day 1 Base to Norman/Caves
Day 2 Norman/ Indians/ to ST John (this is a must for my kids)
Day 3 St John to JVD
Day 4 JVD/Sandy Cay/ to Cane Garden
Day 5 Cane Garden to Guana (or Baths)Sleep Leverick
Day 6 Leverick to Saba/Eustatia/BEYC
Day 7 BEYC to Anegada
Day 8 Anegada to Scrub
Day 9 Scrub to Peter Island/The Bight
Day 10 Back to base

Idea #2
Day 1 Base to St John
Day 2 St John to JVD
The rest will stay the same as idea #1

Idea #3

Same spots but going counterclockwise and last day in St John.

PD I get motion sickness veryyyy fast. Any advise on that? Medicines/wrist bands??

We are on the final preparation and the closer the date is the more I feel HAPPYYYYYYYYY and have not even get there yet!!!!!!!!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

You can't do St John on that schedule as you have to check out of the BVIs and then check into US customs in Cruz bay. We normally allow the better part of a day for this. When returning to the BVIs you will need to clear in again.

sure you can, no problem at all, especially if your off the dock by noon, should be no problem with a Capt. Although you do not say where your base is. Clearing out of Soper's 1/2 hour at the most. Five miles to Cruz Bay, another hour, check in to Cruz, 5-15 minutes, sail back to Maho, another hour.

You are going to have a vacation of a lifetime and be forever infected with DIF.

Have you requested a captain? If you haven't I have a suggestion of one we have used three times and he is the best!

This is what I would recommend:

Cooper
Leverick
Anegada
Anegada
Scrub
Cane Garden Bay
Jost Van Dyke
Sopers Hole(clear out of BVI ) not an overnight stop, they do have some nice gift shops
St John
Sopers (check into BVI) not overnight stop
Norman
Peter Island


This route would be less sailing into the wind compared to your option 1 but gets to the same destinations. I suggest 2 nights at Anegada but you can play that by ear.


For seasickness see your General Practice Dr. to get an Rx for scopolamine patch (very effective, minor side effects- dry mouth) I suggest you try one prior to your trip so you know what side effects you have.

Cheers,
Tony

Clearing out/in with an experiences skipper is going to go quite quickly. You can stay on the boat in Sopers while he clears out and in. You can also clear out/in at Jost.

Cheers, RickG

I'd take St. John out of the mix and spend a 2nd night at Leverick or Anegada. I know you say it's a must for your 7, 10, and 13 year old but I doubt they will really know the difference between St. John and all the other islands.

For the kids, I'd try to hit Leverick on a night they have the BBQ and Jumbie dancers if you're there in season.

St.John is a must stop for us every trip.

I think your trying to do too much... Slow things down a bit and enjoy the places you stop. 10 days is not enough time to see everything and truly enjoy it.

If you really want to do St. John, how are you flying in? If you are flying in to St. Thomas, maybe you can arrange for the skipper to pick you up, then stop at St. John as you head over to the BVI.

Think about what you want to do at each stop - it all takes time and if you want to go at a relaxed pace, planning less will accomplish that.

Best bet for the Baths and just an overall fun time would be to spend two nights at Leverick (ideally Thu/Fri). First night, just get in by 3 or so. Rent a car and go out to dinner (we love Coco Maya).. Next day, tour the island - start at the baths, go to Copper Mine point. Maybe Savannah bay and certainly a final stop at Hog Heaven on the return. Here's a link to a day we did that..

http://svnoregrets.blogspot.com/2013/11/friday-day-7.html

Regarding touring Virgin Gorda - here's another day we did that as well...

http://svnoregrets.blogspot.com/2013/10/saturday-our-10th-day.html

I'm glad we're traveling with you guys in August! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> Me too!

Our first two trips we did this - see everything.. and some trips since when we've had newbies, we've done a bit more than I'd probably like, but everyone still has fun. I much prefer trips where we have friends/family that have been before since there's no rush.

I still think a favorite of mine was just Stephanie and I and we stayed 3 nights on a ball at Leverick (moved during the day one or two of those days), 3-4 nights at Norman and I think 1 at Marina Cay and 1 at Cooper. The 3-4 nights at Norman were split between our start and end..

Made for a very relaxing time with us just enjoying the water, diving and snorkeling.

Yeah... DIF will hit you... Just flew back last night and sitting in office wishing I hadn't left!!!
If your family/crew enjoys sailing and is quick dropping hook/picking up balls you can do:

1)RoadHarbor to White Bay to Sandy Cay to CGB or Diamond Cay then
2)Monkey Point (breakfast) to Anegada intime to rent Jeep to see sunset
3)take Jeep back to the Cow Wreck or Loblolly (which ever you didn't do previous day till around 1 and return jeep and set off to Leverick Bay
4) Hit the Baths then maybe Cooper, Peter, Trellis, Scrub, or Norman..
5) Back to JVD for Overnight or go to St. John etc...

you get my point... we had a brand new 45.4 mono and you can avg around 7kn and if you cook/prep lunch transit let kids nap etc you can really get around! None of this seems possible but if you find yourself awake at 5:30 every morning oddly and asleep around 10-11pm you have all kinda time! We also were typically arriving into anchorages around 6pm as opposed to the std 4-4:30.

There is really no right or wrong way... and we never planned more than 1 day out (except to be in Leverick on a Friday night) the girls tried but quickly gave up lol... This is why I love sailing the BVIs... always have wind... and every anchorage is an option whenever/wherever!

Like Andy says, there's no right or wrong way.. my thoughts though - if you want to rush around, might as well get a power cat..

You should end your trip feeling nice and relaxed, not tired because you ran around like crazy as most of us probably do all week long for work...etc.

Really depends on the crew! I am more relaxed on a sailboat nicely healed over with a Carib than I am anywhere else.. even if it was just me to be honest!

I recommend counter-clockwise from Road Town given the prevailing winds. Having read "Two on the Isle" by Robb White and seen the movie ("Our Virgin Island")with Sidney Poitier based on the same book, I always try to hit Marina Cay with newbies since the history has so much meaning for those who have done so (although it is far different island than what the White's experienced in the pre-WWII era!) Otherwise, you have the right idea.

Thank you everyone for all the great comments and suggestions. As I mentioned before, I would like to visit X Y & Z however I'm aware that 10 days are not enough. I just want to have an idea of where should we go first, second, etc but I know that when we get there we will go with the flow, no rush, island time <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> Thank you Mardi_gras for the motion sickness patch idea. I just got the prescription.Thanks Matrix for sharing the link to the blog. Its awesome, just shared it with my husband, dear Lord cant wait to get there. We will be leaving from BVIYC on July 5. To your question SunnyKm, I know we hired a skipper but no clue on who will be as the charter company will contract him, but if you send me the name of the one you had in your past trips I will ask the company. My only request for the charter company is that skipper should be able to deal with 3 veryyyy energetic kids.
Thanks again for all the great input

Lizandra

Just to add regarding seasickness... We've had many family/friends join us who get seasick and the patch worked wonders for them. Your Dr. will probably suggest this, but put it on to try it before you go - we had 1 friend who had his vision impacted - just for reading, but he was working on his MBA and actually had to do some reading aboard - luckily my brother-in-law had cheaters and they did the trick..

And we've often had an itinerary.. pretty much do for our upcoming trip as well - mainly because we are planning on a visit to St. John and dinner plans on Virgin Gorda, so you sort of have to do some planning... But what I try to do when making plans is to have at most 1 day stop. Such as leaving Norman and stopping at the Indians and then spending the night at Cooper..etc. You can often plan that night stop to be in a spot for activities as well.. JVD for example, stay at Diamond cay and visit the bubbling pool.. Stay at Leverick and take the free ferry over to Saba rock..etc..

10 days is a decent trip, allowing you to do and see a lot even at a slow pace.

I agree with matrix, slow it down a bit. Actually, after a few days I don't care where I am as long as I'm enjoying it - the island fever is very strong. If you don't hit everything the first time that just means you get to come back again!

I agree with the posters above...you might be looking at trying to get too much into a ten day trip. Keep the itinerary loose and open in order to enjoy your time. You might find a place you want to spend more than one day in.
You also might want to avoid the USVI trip, it can be a quick in/out at customs OR it could take half a day. A reminder, you will need to check out of BVI, check in to USVI, and then reverse the process upon returning to BVI. Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Also... if you are taking ferry over to Tortola from St Thomas... that is where you will get sick! Probably not on your cat!

I agree with the rest... you might book two nights at one or two spots to "slow down and smell the roses."

Two days in Anegada is good for this, if you like that kind of environment. We do.