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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: hallucination]
#82472
01/16/2016 03:01 PM
01/16/2016 03:01 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 201 TN
msdj69
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 201
TN
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That's interesting. I've always heard Great Harbour was a kind respit from swells --- and a good alternative to White Bay. I'd love to hear other opinions on that.
Also, I would add Cooper Island to the "Danger" list.
Mike
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: sail445]
#82475
01/16/2016 07:15 PM
01/16/2016 07:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55 NC
GoneSailing
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
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For what it is worth we have spent at least 20 nights in Great Harbor and I can't recall a problem with swells at all. Now pick up a ball near the ferry dock and you will do some rolling when the early one comes in.
Be Happy or Leave
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: warren460]
#82480
01/17/2016 07:42 AM
01/17/2016 07:42 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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Both White Bay and Great Harbor are exposed to the reflected swell coming off the line of cays north of St. Thomas but White Bay is more open and shallow than Great Harbor and what anchorage there is is narrow and close to the reef.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: StormJib]
#82484
01/17/2016 12:36 PM
01/17/2016 12:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 67 Knoxville, TN
Laserking
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 67
Knoxville, TN
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Stormjib,
How about Diamond Cay on a ball or anchored in a north swell? Usually try to spend one night anchored off Green Cay, but wouldn't want to try it in a swell. Any experience at DC?
Doc
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: hallucination]
#82488
01/17/2016 04:14 PM
01/17/2016 04:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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I hate the idea of trying to forecast the wind and swell for others 365 days a year. That said the picture below reveals how many degrees of swell protection Diamond Cay offers. In a real blow you may not find the same level of protection from the wind in a place surrounded by almost 360 degrees of coral. See ALL six images: Arial Views Marina and Anchorage at Diamond
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: GoneSailing]
#82491
01/18/2016 08:57 AM
01/18/2016 08:57 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040 Charlotte, NC
NCSailor
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
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GoneSailing said: For what it is worth we have spent at least 20 nights in Great Harbor and I can't recall a problem with swells at all. Now pick up a ball near the ferry dock and you will do some rolling when the early one comes in. My experience exactly. I would like to hear from someone who has actually had a problem in Great Harbour from a north swell.
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: Sunnykm]
#82493
01/19/2016 06:09 PM
01/19/2016 06:09 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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Sunnykm said: Storm
Thank you for the labeled photo. I don't understand north swells at all but seeing a photo really helps. The North Swell is from waves created by wind thousands of miles away. Particularly during the winter. The North Atlantic is a series of storms almost like a freight train. One swell creating storm after another. The last ten days and the next week are great examples. The intense winds from a North Atlantic storm creates massive waves 30, even 50 feet. Those waves travel south all the way to the Caribbean and arrive as swell. The swell created far, far away may be in a very different direction than the local wind. The swell comes along way , the wind and waves are local. All three can be in different directions at times. That is when the sea looks and feels like a washing machine. Yes, I know I left the more complex current out.
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: TackingAg]
#82499
01/20/2016 10:14 AM
01/20/2016 10:14 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969 NC, USA
capndar
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
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I'll never take a big boat into White Bay - too many variables and no time to react - swell comes up, someone else breaks loose and boom, you are both on the beach.
That said, my only issue with Little Harbor is that sometimes it is way too protected -the air can get quite still. I have rarely seen much of a ripple in Little Harbor.
Capndar Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing 3rd generation sailor
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: Sunnykm]
#82500
01/20/2016 10:15 AM
01/20/2016 10:15 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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Sunnykm said: Thanks SJ. I keep reading all the posts and hope in time I will understand it much better than I do now. The good news is I am not the captain! I just ask where I can help when on board. Accurately predicting the actual wind, weather, and waves may be close to rocket science. Understanding why is as simple as a picture. In the next seven days three major storms will thunder across the Atlantic with fierce counter clockwise winds. Each one will make massive waves that will show up as swell somewhere 1,000's of miles away. Here is the first storm covering the entire North Atlantic today. Here is the East Coast Blizzard(future VI Swell Producer) leaving the US on Saturday. It looks like the Blizzard will be strong and wide enough to make the wind move to the South in the BVI?:
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: Zanshin]
#82501
01/31/2016 01:56 PM
01/31/2016 01:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80 Seattle, WA
mattt
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Seattle, WA
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Zanshin said: Diamond Cay is a great anchorage and is protected in a north swell, it is my personal second favorite anchorage in a north swell, second only to the North Sound of Virgin Gorda. This is interesting. The cruising guide actually says "If the wind is from the southeast, the anchorage becomes very sloppy and during northerly ground swells the surge can become excessive."
Last edited by mattt; 01/31/2016 01:57 PM.
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Re: JVD Great Harbor vs. Little Harbor in N. Swell
[Re: mattt]
#82504
01/31/2016 05:34 PM
01/31/2016 05:34 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 507 Here and There in Michigan
HoosierDaddy
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 507
Here and There in Michigan
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In 9 sailing trips to the BVI's, I don't recall a rough night in Great Harbor until last month. January 19 & 20 th were pretty uncomfortable in Great Harbor due to wave action which I can only assume was caused by north swells reflecting off of southern islands. I wish I had been in Little Harbor those two nights.
Last edited by HoosierDaddy; 01/31/2016 05:35 PM.
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