Itinerary for March - thoughts?

We're chartering a cat from TMM starting with a sleep aboard March 14th. After looking through the guidebook and studying our chart, we've come up with the following itinerary. I know itineraries should not be set in stone, but we need a starting point. It'll be my husband and I, plus our two kids (ages 19 & 22) and two other young adults ages 23 and 26.
3/14 - sleep aboard at TMM
3/15 - head to Norman Island and moor in the Bight; kids want to see the Willy T
3/16 - moor overnight at Cooper Island; snorkel around the RMS Rhone
3/17 - head out early Virgin Gorda and do the Baths early in the day; then on to Leverick for the night
3/18 - early start to Anegada and hopefully arrive with time to explore the island a bit
3/19 - leave Anegada early and hit a few snorkel spots along the way and make it to Tortola, Cane Garden Bay for the night
3/20 - head over the JVD and White Bay for an afternoon at the Soggy Dollar - moor in White Bay overnight
3/21 - head to Peter Island and Great Harbour for our last night
3/22 - back to TMM in the morning

I know Anegada is a hike, but kids really want to see it.
We're planning on 3 lunches out & 3 dinners out. Thoughts on reasonable (yeah, I know nothing is really reasonable) restaurants for a party of 6? (we're picking up the whole tab on this trip!)
Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks!
Julie

3/17 go to Leverick, rent a car and go to the Baths, much easier, you
get to tour the island
3/18 it's only about 2 hours, you will have plenty of time on Anegada
3/20 check your conditions at White Bay, it can be very uncomfortable, Great Harbor is always pretty calm.

As far as food, the pizza at Leverick is very good. Many places you can ask for the "bar menu" instead of the dinner menu. This way the you can get burgers and chicken wings. Anegada food is expensive, you have to order your entire meal by 4pm, and might be a good night to eat aboard.

As Evan said, rent a car from Leverick. Best way to see the baths plus you get to see much more of Virgin Gorda. The views alone are worth the rental.

But what would even be better is if you re-arranged the order of things to be at Leverick the night of the 20th. As I've said in other topics, two nights at Leverick is ideal. You could simply skip a night at Cooper or Peter to fit it in. We try to get in by 3 or 4 on a Thursday. Get a rental car and go out to dinner at Coco Maya (Think we'll try Chez Bamboo next time). Then Friday we often (when we have friends who haven't seen it)go to the Baths for breakfast and to see the baths. Then we can go see the Copper mine, Hog Heaven..etc. Then get back to Leverick in the afternoon/evening and hit the BBQ around 7pm. Depending on what time you get back to Leverick, you can also fit in a visit to Saba Rock for some drinks and the tarpon feeding.

If you went around clockwise, you could probably fit Leverick in at the end of the week and spend your last night at Norman. We've often left Leverick on a Saturday morning and been at Norman for the night.

Do not take your kids to the WillyT on a Sunday unless you want to further their adult education concerning mating rituals. Before 2pm for lunch might be fine. Dinner only if they are over 18.
George

Another alternative is spend one night in North Sound moored at Saba or Bitter End and the next night, preferably Friday, on the dock at Leverick.

My crew had an absolute blast goofing around in NS. Snorkel Eustatia, happy hour at Saba, prickly pear, and ultimately pretty good pizza and drinks at BE. There's a lot to do in that part of NS and then the following morning you have virtually all day to tour Virgin Gorda and the baths by car since it's such a quick motor over to Leverick

If you do the car, don't miss Hog Heaven. It is spectacular:

Your itenery sounds perfect. What boat are you chsrtering?
Anegada is a relatively, short and easy sail - one tack. The sail to CGB is much longer, but worth it. I would try for Monkey Point on Guana for lunch and snorkeling and then head off to CGB. I don't think,you will have time for multiple stops unless you are on a big cat or motor sailing, which ain't sailing in my book.
Have a great trip!

Agree with the above - Monkey Point is great - and I would plan to leave Anegada around 8am if you want to have a nice stop.

Norman Island - Take a mooring ball at Kelly's Cove (great swimming/snorkeling), dinghy to "Caves", the Willy T, and a great hike up the trail behind Pirates Restaurant to top of ridge with great views of both the Drake Channel and Caribbean Sea. Both Willy T and Pirates have good food, although Willy T might have better (and cheaper) options, and do carry-out. You could do chicken/burgers on the boat and have someone run to Willy T for side items (french fries). As mentioned, the Willy T is an "adult" bar and can be a lot of fun, however, expect anything. It would be prudent to have an adult with the kids. In addition, The Indians would be a top snorkel spot which is close by, but not a good dinghy option. Secondly, consider skipping The Baths by boat as suggested. Contact Nick at Leverick and reserve a slip with TTOL discount. If you don't feel comfortable driving a rental, contact "Tiger" who will take you over the mountain to the Baths (be sure to take your National Parks permit from your boat). Spend 1.5 hours walking the trail and swimming at Devil's Bay and continue the loop path back to the parking lot. On the return to Leverick stop at Hog Heaven for pictures plus a drink and BBQ. Once back at Leverick have the kids go straight to the swimming pool (shower first at edge of pool). Finally, at Anegada arrange to have open air pick-up truck rental waiting for you. Do a beach crawl starting at Flash of Beauty, and then Loblolly (lunch), followed by Anegada Beach Resort and Cow Wreck, finishing the loop back at the anchorage. Make your dinner reservations before you start out. I like Neptune's Treasure, although there are other personal favorites. Enjoy.

I think she said the "kids" are from the age of 19 - 26, they might like the Willy T <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for all the input! Continuing with the itinerary we have:
--> 3/15 we'll have an instructional captain with us and will drop him off on Norman Island; assuming we get off the dock at 1:00 pm, drop off the captain, will we have time to snorkel the Indians and Caves before mooring that night? Will decide between Kelly's Cove & Bight prob as we get there - and how crazy Willy T is (and yes, the youngest of the "kids" is 19)
-->3/17 love the idea of heading to Leverick and exploring the Baths via car/truck (more Leverick specific questions in another thread).
-->3/18 great to hear it's a fairly short trip from Leverick to Anegada. Any suggestions on who to call to have a rental truck waiting? When we were there over 10 yrs ago, we had lobster dinners where there was an honor bar/shack. Does anyone know which restaurant that is?*
-->3/19 Monkey Point on Guana Island is definitely a stop on our way to Cane Garden Bay. Is there a restaurant you'd suggest for lunch on Guana?
-->3/20 JVD; good to know it's rolly in White Bay; maybe we should pick up a mooring ball in Great Harbour and dinghy to Soggy Dollar for the afternoon? Is it dinghy-able? Then we could have dinner at Foxy's maybe.

Thanks for all your input & help!
Julie


*truth be told, a few of us were not allowed off the boat that night because of <ahem> too many cocktails on the way to Anegada. Nevertheless, the rest of the crew brought us our lobster dinners in big chafing dishes to the boat. We call it the best little island I've never been to. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, no restaurants on Guana unless you are staying at their spectacular resort.

No restaurant on Guana -- that would be a day to plan for snacks/sandwiches while you're on the mooring -- or just have some breakfast before you leave Anegada, a quick snack at Monkey Point, and save your appetite for Cheeseburgers in Paradise at Cane Garden Bay.

We're pretty sensitive to roll at night so our thoughts would be slightly different. No matter how many times we've anchored or moored in CGB and White Bay, we've never slept well. The latter is particularly bad because boats try to anchor in and among the mooring balls and can easily drag. So let me suggest an alternative: Spend the day in Cane Garden Bay and then scoot over to Little Harbor Jost Van Dyke where mooring balls are plentiful usually until 4 pm or so. Have a lobster at one of the three restaurants there and sleep well, protected from swells. Then take your dink (or else move the boat) to White Bay for the day and return to Little Harbor again in the late afternoon, or Great Harbour which has mooring balls and a fair amount of protection. But I wouldn't stay overnight at White Bay and am not thrilled with CGB if anyone is remotely sensitive to roll.

Anegada - Dean Wheatley at (284) 495-9677 will leave his little truck (with the benches in the bed) at either Neptune's Treasure or Anegada Reef Hotel. You might think it is a little pricey at about $85 (includes fuel), but compared to taxis that charge "per person" and can be inconvenient, it is the best deal. Leverick - Call Tiger at (284)541-8535 and use your negotiating skills, the fare is flexible. Just explain you are attempting to decide between him and renting a vehicle yourself. Willy T - Often turns into an alcohol induced dance party, with an occasional indiscreet .... well, you get idea. No violence (as a rule) and if anyone feels uncomfortable, it is easy enough to leave. You just never know who might show up and what their idea of "fun" might be. Nothing your young crew have not seen before, but a designated chaperone might be a good idea. Don't forget to ask the bartender for a few souvenir temporary tattoos for the ladies.

Dinking over from Little Harbor to White Bay? Not something I'd want to do -- Great Harbor, yes - Little Harbor, no.

I am about to ask the same questions- and we will be there the exact same week as you! I think we will be about a day or two behind you on locations though because I am hoping to go straight to VG on the 15th. My son's birthday is the 16th and I think he would love to celebrate there.

I'm a little worried about crowds and having to get to the moorings early since it is a spring break week. I'm trying to make a very loose itinerary and am even trying to leave a day open at the end in case we decide to stay somewhere two nights.

We will be on a Moorings 48ft cat - we have a party of 10 <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> with 6 kids ranging from 9-14.

I agree on dinking over from Little Harbour, not a good idea. We have had many wonderful nights in CGB. We always anchor on the left between the fuel dock and Quitos, usually very calm. White Bay can be hit or miss.
Noel, I don't think 19-26 year olds need a chaperon.

In VG, just get a slip at Leverick and you don't have to worry about what time you get there - just get there by 4 or so to get some help docking.

Other places, I wouldn't worry too much. We now just try to get in by 2-3 in most spots as there's plenty to do once in those spots too.

We'll be on a TMM 38' cat Luffing Out Loud so I'm hoping the rolling in Great Harbour on JVD won't be too bad.
Noel thanks for the phone numbers - exactly what I was looking for! And we've been to the Willy T before. (*may* have jumped off years ago - back when you got a tshirt). We'll be sticking together.
Momx3 - we're thinking the same thing about early arrivals since it's going to be high season.

Sounds like Anegada Reef Hotel. We like Neptunes and Potters. Potters has a lobster fettuccine that is very good. I think you get about as much lobster in that as you do a lobster dinner. Less money then the lobster dinner.

CottageGirl,

We have used nearly the exact itinerary several times and it has worked out very well.

My only suggestion coming from Roadtown would be to start at Cooper Island instead of Norman the first night as you are covering the same space twice and it typically takes multiple tacks to get back up to Cooper and a waste of time unless you want the extra sailing time. You can then catch Norman on the backside of the trip. We find this gives us an extra day to use somewhere else and often stay at Norman the last night, depending on your travel arrangements the last day, as it not that much farther than Great Harbour on Peter. We will start with the Rhone the first day and moor at Cooper that night.

One of the downsides is the Rhone can be rough and a difficult start if you have crew that are prone to seasickness.

Either way I think your itinerary will work out well!

A good indication if the Rhone is rocking, so will Cooper.

Thanks cruzdoc!!

Depending on your drinking habits, Norman the last night can make for rough travel the following day. Willy T's has a hypnotic effect, ya know.

I try to sandwich Norman somewhere in the middle of my trip. My 2 cents.

Great itinerary CG! SO many options and things to see/do. I'm sure the family will have a great time. We will be down at the same time on ReefSong. The distinguished gentleman from TN that posted above me sounds as if he speaks from experience! Apparently Willy T's beckons to him... -Eric

Guilty as charged. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

That's a massive understatement. His eye starts twitching the moment we pull into the harbor and after we grab a ball he's like a kid in a candy store and just can't get enough. Gotta, gotta gotta get there right now. I've never seen him like this anywhere else. Willie T's has magical mystical effects on people.

We have a 10 day itinerary to fill, leaving March 13, yes Friday the 13th from Nanny Cay. Just two of us on a monohull, we are returning for about our 12th or 13th trip. Looking to hit the usual hot spots, Norman, Jost, Bitter End, Leverick and Anegada, but hoping to add a few quiet nights along the St. John's shore.

If you are not going to spend a day on the beaches of Anegada with lunch and drinking somewhere? Why are you going all the way out there? To me Anegada is a daytime event first.

I respectfully disagree. Last trip we wenter to anegada for the day. There by 10am and left by 3:30. Spent a great day at abc. Great bushwakers

First time at ABC earlier this month. I could see wasting an entire day there. Hmmm Cow wreck for lunch and then go comatose at ABC. Worse things could happen. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I suspect we do agree.. My point is why sail out to Anegada and miss the things to do there during the day. The Day seems to wrap up near 4... Sure you can eat dinner on Anegada but there are many other fine beach bar restaurants across the BVI. What is different are the beaches, open space, Cow Wreck... I would have no issues with in and out in the same day. I would not go again arriving at 4 to leave first thing in the morning. We do arrive at 4 eat on the boat, do cow wreck the next day and leave when everyone is ready to leave.

As far as reasonably priced meals go. You might want to try
Island Pot on Virgin Gorda. Nothing fancy. BBQ ribs and
chicken with interesting sides esp Johnny Cakes. Fed a
group of 12 for $12-15 each. We do take out but there
are picnic tables available. May be open Thur-Sunday?
14 days till you leave! Jealous here.

Mike

Julie, good to read all this feedback..... we'll be leaving BVI Yacht Charters Joma Marina (Road Town) midday on the 15th as well. We haven't yet finalized our itinerary but suspect that we'll head to Cooper Island for the first night provided that works ok for the Captain we're borrowing for the afternoon. My husband and I will be on a Beneteau 38 monohull "HoneyMoon Suite" - cheesy!!! - wonder if we can cover up the transom for the week!) with our 11 year old daughter and her friend. We're sailing for 10 days so hope we can get in most of the sights without rushing too much!

We are planning on spending the 15th on Cooper as well and have 6 kids with us - 2 boys (8 & 9) and 4 girls (11,12,14,14)- maybe we will see you there! We aren't spending the night there though, just the afternoon.