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How's the sailing on the south side of the islands #93284
04/07/2016 01:28 AM
04/07/2016 01:28 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Seattle, WA
mattt Offline OP
Traveler
mattt  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Seattle, WA
Never sailed south of the channel. Done the north side a few times, and it was a bit on the rough side, but manageable, almost every time.

How is it on the other side of the islands, to the south?

BVI Sponsors
Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: mattt] #93285
04/07/2016 08:21 AM
04/07/2016 08:21 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
S
StormJib Offline
Traveler
StormJib  Offline
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S
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
Statistically the greatest wind and waves in the Virgin Islands can be found coming from the ESE.

Sea conditions will always depend on the forecast and the weather many miles away from previous days. In most cases large waves have travelled from storms and winds hundreds if not thousands of miles away. Across the Caribbean the trades and winds generally have an easterly flow. While large waves can come from any direction any time of the year. Anything in the "south" side would be completely unprotected from any wind or wave from the East. The other issue is once outside to the South the line of sight navigation can be very confusing. Unless you truly know how to navigate(following a GPS and computer screen is not navigation) I would not venture in that direction.

The sailing draw of the BVI is the protection offered in Sir Francis Drake Channel and the ability to navigate purely by line of sight.

Here is what you could expect this week sailing offshore to the south of the BVI.

436 AM AST THU APR 7 2016

.SYNOPSIS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS...
HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE WELL NORTH OF THE LOCAL ISLANDS WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT FARTHER NORTHEAST INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL ATLANTIC PUSHING A WEAK FRONT WITH IT. LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO
THE WESTERN ATLANTIC ON FRIDAY KEEPING THE GRADIENTS DRIVING THE TRADE WINDS OVER US WEAK SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

$$



SEAS ARE PROVIDED AS A RANGE OF THE AVERAGE HEIGHT OF THE HIGHEST 1/3 OF THE SEAS...ALONG WITH THE OCCASIONAL HEIGHT OF THE AVERAGE HIGHEST
10 PERCENT OF THE SEAS.



AMZ722-072130-
ANEGADA PASSAGE SOUTHWARD TO 17N-
436 AM AST THU APR 7 2016


TODAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 6 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

TONIGHT
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 6 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

FRIDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 6 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 10 SECONDS. NORTH SWELL 4 TO
5 FEET IN THE AFTERNOON. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

FRIDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 8 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 11 SECONDS. NORTH SWELL 4 TO
5 FEET. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

SATURDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 8 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 10 SECONDS. NORTH SWELL 4 TO
5 FEET. SCATTERED SHOWERS.

SUNDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 8 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 10 SECONDS. NORTH SWELL 4 TO
5 FEET. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

MONDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 6 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 8 SECONDS. SCATTERED SHOWERS.

$$

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: mattt] #93286
04/07/2016 08:58 AM
04/07/2016 08:58 AM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 180
F
FLJim Offline
Traveler
FLJim  Offline
Traveler
F
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 180
Definitely rougher out there, but it's a great way to push the envelope and experience open water sailing. If it's too rough for you, head downwind and come back into SFD channel at an appropriate passage.

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: FLJim] #93287
04/07/2016 09:39 AM
04/07/2016 09:39 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 252
J
jboothe Offline
Traveler
jboothe  Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 252
I have sailed the south side fishing the south drop. The day we fished there it was definitely more sporty than the channel but certainly wasn't bad. The forecast was about what StormJib showed. Waves were 4-6 with a few bigger ones mixed in. Just keep in mind that it is more the dominant period that makes it rough. 4-6 with a 10 second period is nothing like 4-6 with with less distance between the waves.

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: jboothe] #93288
04/07/2016 10:03 AM
04/07/2016 10:03 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst Offline
Traveler
Orange_Burst  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Quote
jboothe said:
I have sailed the south side fishing the south drop. The day we fished there it was definitely more sporty than the channel but certainly wasn't bad. The forecast was about what StormJib showed. Waves were 4-6 with a few bigger ones mixed in. Just keep in mind that it is more the dominant period that makes it rough. 4-6 with a 10 second period is nothing like 4-6 with with less distance between the waves.


But did you catch any fish?


Colleen

[Linked Image]


Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: Orange_Burst] #93289
04/07/2016 10:13 AM
04/07/2016 10:13 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
Traveler
RickG  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We've done the south side many times. Swell + chop is not fun, so we check the weather first and turn back if things are too frisky. But we've had days, including in January, where it was very calm and a relaxed sail. The sail from Coral Bay, St. John to North Sound, Virgin Gorda last January was particularly nice. We head out to the south drop and fish on the way and have gotten bonita, mackerel and barracuda.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: Orange_Burst] #93290
04/07/2016 10:18 AM
04/07/2016 10:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 252
J
jboothe Offline
Traveler
jboothe  Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 252
Quote
Orange_Burst said:
Quote
jboothe said:
I have sailed the south side fishing the south drop. The day we fished there it was definitely more sporty than the channel but certainly wasn't bad. The forecast was about what StormJib showed. Waves were 4-6 with a few bigger ones mixed in. Just keep in mind that it is more the dominant period that makes it rough. 4-6 with a 10 second period is nothing like 4-6 with with less distance between the waves.


But did you catch any fish?


Unfortunately not that day. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sad.gif" alt="" />

But later in the week when we were leaving Anegada, we went North for a while and caught two really nice 8-10lb yellow fin tuna. Those were absolutely FANTASTIC grill later that day at Diamond Cay!

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: mattt] #93291
04/07/2016 12:07 PM
04/07/2016 12:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 98
rstevens Offline
Traveler
rstevens  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 98
Been sailing the BVI for more than 30 years. Every time I am there I usually try to get on the south side at least once for a short time. My wife knows what to expect and always limits the venture to just once per trip. I enjoy the challenge and looking at the expressions of the crew, especially newbies, as I explain the difference between sailing in protected and unprotected waters while the waves are several feet over their head while sitting in the cockpit.

As mentioned, you must know what you are doing and realize you are on a lee shore.

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: rstevens] #93292
04/07/2016 12:19 PM
04/07/2016 12:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 282
Oklahoma
Sugaree Offline
Traveler
Sugaree  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 282
Oklahoma
Quote
rstevens said:
while the waves are several feet over their head while sitting in the cockpit.


<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />No thank you!

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: Sugaree] #93293
04/07/2016 01:00 PM
04/07/2016 01:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018
annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
hallucination Offline
Traveler
hallucination  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018
annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
I have found it to be not that different than the run to Anegada. can be much more fun/much worse (depending on your idea of fun)

When its crowded in the channel, its a great place to get your bare boating in smile

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: hallucination] #93294
04/08/2016 03:25 AM
04/08/2016 03:25 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Seattle, WA
mattt Offline OP
Traveler
mattt  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Seattle, WA
Thanks everyone! Sounds not unlike the Mediterranean in some ways.

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: hallucination] #93295
04/09/2016 05:45 PM
04/09/2016 05:45 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Twanger Offline
Traveler
Twanger  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Sailing west while south of the islands would be much nicer than sailing east!

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: Twanger] #93296
04/09/2016 08:55 PM
04/09/2016 08:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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sail2wind  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
This is what we do when we fish. We head out between Ginger and Round Rock and fish to Norman zig zaging over the shelf.

Re: How's the sailing on the south side of the islands [Re: sail2wind] #93297
04/09/2016 10:20 PM
04/09/2016 10:20 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
S
snmhanson Offline
Traveler
snmhanson  Offline
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S
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
We poked out between Peter and Salt on our last trip and came back in on the West side of Norman. Winds were 15-25 and the swell on the outside was 6-8' with the occasional 10 footer rolling through compared to 3-6' on the inside. It does get a little bigger once you get out past the South islands, but it seemed like the wind and swell were a bit cleaner too. In any case, I figured we could just tuck back into the lee of Peter if conditions were too much for our guests, but they were all troopers. The period was probably 10-12 seconds so it wasn't too bad. It was a fun change of perspective cruising into The Bight from the "wrong" direction with the sun settling into the horizon.


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