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Two Weeks in March
#78512
12/16/2015 01:26 PM
12/16/2015 01:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 15 Lymington, UK
DorothyGale
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 15
Lymington, UK
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Another first post from a thankful reader of the forum…
My wife and I are heading to BVI to spend two weeks in early March on a Moorings 382 monohull. This will be our first trip to the BVI and are really looking forward to it. We are just starting our tentative routing, and would love to hear some advice and other options. One concern we do have is that this time appears to coincide with US spring breaks, and wonder if things will be exceptionally mad/crowded.
We had planned on the classic anti-clockwise routing, but wonder if, in crowded circumstances, it might be better to go clockwise? All of our sailing is in the UK Solent, so beating into a bit of wind against tide is not something that bothers us - if the result is a quiet anchorage (or a choice mooring in a very lively one). Seems to me that you will meet more people this way. I note a few forum members are there the same time, so would be nice to meet up.
Going anti-clockwise, we thought two nights on Norman, one each on Peter and Cooper, Savannah Bay, three in North Sound, two in Anegada, Marina Cay, two on JVD, Cane Garden Bay and last night at our favourite place from the first week in Drake’s Channel. Clockwise route would be the reverse, with a first night in either Peter Island or Soper’s Hole. These both work out to have us in Leverick Bay for the Jumbies on Friday night. We used to live in Trinidad, and know they are not to be missed.
Items on our must do list are: Indians, Caves, Rhone, Cistern Point, Baths, Gumption’s tour, Loblolly, Cow Wreck, Monkey Point, Sandy Spit. Places to eat/drink are: Pirates Bay, Willie T, most of North Sound, Wonky Dog, pub crawl of JVD, Quitos.
Wow – it looks like a lot when I write it all down – luckily we will be on Island time, so if we never leave the first mooring it will still be good. Any fine tuning suggestions?
With thanks,
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Re: Two Weeks in March
[Re: DorothyGale]
#78513
12/16/2015 03:30 PM
12/16/2015 03:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,199 Devon, UK
salica
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,199
Devon, UK
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Hello and welcome to the forum. If you're used to the Solent, you'll have no problems in BVI. We have been sailing the islands for 12 years or so and generally do go anti clockwise, but you will discover that you can sail from end of the chain to the other relatively quickly and easily, if you want to slog it out. We often do a figure of eight. Looking at your plans, I would prefer only one night at Norman to two, do not ignore Trellis Bay: often under rated and it is very sheltered in most adverse weather conditions. Savannah Bay is almost impossible to enter unless you have very clear conditions and watch the water and coral. Not advisable in reality. Be careful at Cooper in a mono. You need to be at the head of the mooring field and as far in as possible. The most uncomfortable night I have ever spent was at Cooper, literally rocking and rolling all night. If it looks likely to be choppy move over to Trellis or Marina Cay. You obviously enjoy snorkelling or diving. Try some of the Dogs and also Mountain Point. Be aware: despite the long journey from UK, BVI becomes addictive. We ended up buying a boat there. Feel free to PM me any specific questions.
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Re: Two Weeks in March
[Re: Winterstale]
#78516
12/16/2015 05:10 PM
12/16/2015 05:10 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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We'll be down the same time on our Beneteau 40 De Life and will follow the counter clockwise route once or twice, weather willing. We've been out in the past and have had strong winds and swell one week and almost no wind the following week. Sometimes you have to adapt your plan! We keep the cruising guide handy and check the weather before we head out.
The one anchorage that we've found we need to arrive early is Cooper Island. We do love the northernmost mooring right under the house with its webcam. It is somewhat protected there, but you will roll there if anywhere. We planned to stop there in November, but a big squall blew through as we approached and we just kept going to Trellis Bay.
If its blowing, Little Harbor at Peter Island is very calm and a nice swim/snorkel. Trellis Bay is calm as well, but there is not much room to anchor (we end up near the ferry wharf) and we won't swim there. We prefer to anchor at Marina Cay between the mooring field and the reef and use that as our jumping off point to North Sound via The Dogs - George Dog if its rough or Great Dog/The Chimney if its calmer.
Finding space to moor/anchor in North Sound is not a problem. We anchor along Prickly Pear Island and stay on the dock at Leverick Bay.
For Anegada we prefer to anchor off of Setting Point as the mooring field is shallow and any swell would have us pounding our keel. We used to be able to anchor between the mooring field and Setting Point, but its gotten shallow for our 6' 5" draft. In November there were a half dozen monohulls anchored east of the last red channel marker in 12'; many of them tried to anchor closer in and had to back off the sand.
Consider Diamond Cay on the east end of JVD for a wonderful anchorage with many turtles and access to Sandy Cay, Sandy Spit, B-Line, Foxy's Taboo and the Bubbly Pool. Little Harbor is another protected harbor with restaurant options.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: Two Weeks in March
[Re: DorothyGale]
#78518
12/17/2015 04:58 AM
12/17/2015 04:58 AM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 15 Lymington, UK
DorothyGale
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 15
Lymington, UK
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All,
Thanks for the very comprehensive and clear recommendations! I was a bit of two minds on Savannah Bay - most of the discussion on TTOL seems to be about driving over to it so think we will take Salica and Tradewind's counsel and add to a road trip around Virgin Gorda - and replace this with a night at Trellis Bay.
We will have shoreside A/C, Winterstale, so will look to contact Nick about a berth for our two nights planned at Leverick Bay. How soon is too soon to be speaking with him about that?
Salica's advice around Cooper Island mooring is well received also - will make it a weather dependent stop. Looks like it will busy in early March like I suspected, so early starts and early afternoon tie-ups. We had Diamond Cay marked as a likely overnight already, so glad to get confirmation from RickG on that.
We anchor regularly for lunch stops, and never (well, maybe not never) have any issues, but have not had the need/opportunity to anchor overnight. We do want to try some in the BVI clearly, to avoid some of the crowds. Where would you recommend as a best first overnight anchorage?
And thanks for the restaurant recommendations CottageGirl - we will be doing a mix of self-catering and eating out. We had just heard for the Sugar Mill and Bananakeet, so will give one of those a try, especially as I expect CGB will be one of our last stops.
Regards,
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Re: Two Weeks in March
[Re: DorothyGale]
#78522
12/17/2015 08:25 PM
12/17/2015 08:25 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530 Ya never know...
HillsideView
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
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Also keep in mind that March is usually "Spring Break" time at US universities. Not that the BVI is exactly a "Girls Gone Wild" venue (yet), but there have been an increasing number of spring breakers chartering boats in the last few years. Middle of March seems to be the peak.
My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
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