Help Planning 8 Night Charter in July

Hi everyone! Been suffering from some major DIF but starting to plan our trip in July. Will be chartering S/V Orion (thanks Mark!) July 10th - 18th. We have a large crew of 10, with 6 adults and 4 kids (14, 13, 11, and 8). All of the adults have been down before and we have one very experienced captain who is, this year, handing over the tiller to me for the first time.

Things to note: Many wish to avoid a north-side of Tortola sail... either downwind from North Sound to JVD or in the other direction. I guess folks have had some bad experiences with this sail being "uncomfortable", so we're actively trying to avoid it. Also, since none of the kids have been down before, we have an unknown tolerance for the rolling.

Thus far, I have the following plan, but trying to figure out how to properly finish up and put us in a place to get back to TMM early on Tuesday the 18th. I'd also greatly welcome any suggested changes / adjustments. Hoping we'll see other TTOL'ers down there during our trip!

Monday, July 10
- Checkout. On the water by noon if possible. Return check-out captain by 2:30 PM if possible and head to Norman Island.
- STOP 1 - The Bight
- STOP 2 - Snorkel the CAVES (via dinghy?)
- Overnight in the Bight

Tuesday, July 11
- Depart the Bight early, head to JVD Great Harbour or White Bay if room avail for SDB
- STOP 1 - Soggy Dollar (my favorite place)
- STOP 2 - Mooring / Anchor at Great Harbour for overnight. Time ashore

Wednesday, July 12
- Day trip to Sandy Cay then OPTIONS: 1- Head to CGB for overnight. OPTION 2 - Little Harbour for overnight.
- STOP 1 - Sandy Cay
- STOP 2 - Either Little Harbour JVD or Cane Garden Bay, Tortola (saves 1 day)

Thursday, July 13 (assuming we went to CGB)
- Depart CGB for long sail to Peter Island. Possibly hit Soapers hole on the way through to top off fuel / water if needed.
- STOP 1 - RMS Rhone snorkel (if in the mood)
- STOP 2 - Little Harbour - Relaxing day

Friday, July 14 - We need to provision really soon.. Head to Trellis so that we can hit VG / Leverick next day?
- Depart Peter island to Monkey Point for snorkel and then on to Trellis or bay
- STOP 1 - Monkey PT
- STOP 2 - Trellis Bay (overnight)

Saturday, July 15
- Depart Trellis bay for Leverick Bay, VG. Stop at Savannah bay on the way for some beach time?
- STOP 1 - Savannah Bay for beach time (if in the mood)
- STOP 2 - Leverick Bay - Fuel and Water if needed. Provisioning

Sunday, July 16
- Depart Leverick Bay for Cooper Island / Manchioneel bay.

Monday, July 17th
- ???

Tuesday, July 18th
- Return to Road Harbour and drop off boat EARLY to catch ferry / flights in STT. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Appreciate your help!!!

I don't think that I would take the charter boat into Savanah. I'm not sure TMM would want you there anyway.
The entrance is shallow and tricky.

Why not spend an extra day at Leverick? Rent a car and drive to Savanah, the Baths, Copper Mine, stop at Hog Heaven. Take the Saba Rock ferry for dinner...

Then hit Cooper on the 17th.

M&M

First, you'll love Orion - we chartered her before and loved it! A few observations,
1. You might be able to drop your check out captain at Norman and he can take a ferry back to TMM (we've done this before)
2. Tues, you might consider getting up early and off your mooring ball; motor over to the Indians and grab a ball for some early morning snorkeling. Some folks might stay on the boat & get breakfast together while others choose to snorkel. It's great snorkeling.
3. I'd vote for a night in CGB - lots of activity and a great place for the kids to play
4. Monkey Point is a great snorkel stop and always one of our favorites. We usually get there before Noon to get a ball - there are only a few in there.
5. For your last night, TMM might require that you stay in the marina your last night in order for them to insure that you get in a taxi and to the 10:00 am ferry to STT. The check out procedure takes some time.

Looks like a great week on the water!

Thanks! I hadn't yet checked into the entry into Savannah, but it looks like you're right... pretty shallow. Ah well. The idea of staying in Leverick or north sound for a couple of days is a good one. The other option I was considering was staying at JVD for two nights. Maybe on day two heading over to Sandy Cay for the day trip and spending the evening in little harbour.

Great info here. Thanks! I had not considered that TMM may want us to spend the last night in the marina, so that's great info to have. I'll check with them. That may work best as I think some have earlier flights from STT than others.

Excited to take out S/V Orion, but know it will be tight with 10 of us. Anything else you can tell me about the boat?
Any idea how many the dinghy can accommodate? I suspect I'll be doing lots of dinghy ferrying. Thanks again!

Only change I'd make given your timing is to be at Leverick Friday night for the BBQ. If you do two nights, you could do Thu/Fri or Fri/Sat. Personally, we like the Thu/Fri and rent a car, go out to dinner Thu night on island (Coco maya usually) and then tour a bit Friday before being back for the BBQ.

Can't speak directly about Orion - but I will say if it is a typical dinghy setup 11-12' with 10hp engine, then you will either go VERY slowly with 10 or need to make two trips.

We will be there July 10 - 20, out of Voyage with 6 adults and two 6 year olds. Definitely plan on Friday night at Leverick. One of our favorites. Hope to see you. Don't have rest of trip planned, but will schedule all around Friday BBQ.

Agree with Matt - if you can do the jumbie party at Leverick, that would be great. Fun for kids & adults!
I personally think the dinghy holds 6 adults comfortably. Better to make 2 trips than risk losing someone overboard.
Orion is well equipped and an all around great boat. Galley is well stocked for any cooking you'll do on board. There's a great "bag" attached to the aft cockpit for storing snorkel gear. It's going to be a bit tight with 10 people - put kids or smaller adults in the forward cabins. Assume you're using the single berth and the salon convertible for the kids? We used the empty single berth for our suitcases. Pack in duffle bags that fold down flat for storage.
You'll appreciate the shoreside AC on Orion when you're in the marina at TMM :-)

I would not overnight in Trellis in July unless you have AC. Go to Marina Key instead.
G

+2 for Friday night Jumbies BBQ at Leverick Bay. We are arranging our whole July itinerary around that BBQ! Not to be missed, kids will have a blast!

+1 on recommendation to departing Norman early morning and getting a ball at Indians for a snorkel and breakfast. One advantage is that you are assured to get a mooring as it can get crowded in the afternoon 2nd advantage is all the fish are out early morning and conditions pristine! of course this will depend how the adults will be feeling after a night at Willie Ts! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> We did this last May for our last stop before heading for check in at Moorings. It was a great way to end the trip and reflect on the adventures we had during the week.

UncleLuff - when are you going in July? I don't know their last BBQ date, but I believe it still falls in July - closer to the end though, so if you are going the first half, you should be fine.

Regarding Norman and the Indians. If you go later and the Indians are full, you can usually grab a ball next door at Pelican (there's two) and get a nice snorkel in there and then pop back to Indians when free.

I would definitely plan 2 trips for dingy with 10 people. In July the A/C will be welcomed. Can't say enough good things about Leverick! Email/call ahead for slip reservation and also car rental (Actually likely to need 2 cars for 10 people). Tour VG by land... If Cruise ship present, go to Baths either very early or late (After 3?) Hog Heaven is great for Lunch (Try the ribs!).

We often stop at the Baths for lunch without going to shore.(walk thru the Baths on our land tour of VG).

Most of all, be flexible. Remember you will get a chance to see other things on your Next Trip....Next year.

might want to consider Diamond Cay area for overnight or stop after Sandy Cay...there's pretty decent snorkeling and lots of sea turtles as well as the bubbly pool hike.

You could probably fit this in and motor to Cane Garden bay for late afternoon arrival. We have this on our route..for a june trip with kids..

We will actually be stopping at Leverick June 23. Sorry should have specified are charter is actually in June but we are flying back July 4th. Slip has been reserved!

Wofat ... We're excited to have your crew aboard S/V Orion in July. You might find the Float Plan tool on BVI Mariner useful in planning your trip. It allows you to choose anchorages/marinas and input Notes for each day of your trip ... from this it builds a Float Plan including Calendar and Map views. You can see a Sample Float Plan here . Thanks! - Mark

I've uploaded our float plan on the bvi mariner site - looks really good! Nice to see it laid out in one place. It's great to be able to make short notes about each stop too!