Mooring availability July

Looking for some information on how full the mooring fields are at this time (or in July)? Specifically, Norman, Cooper, JVD.

You should not have a problem with the possible exception of Cooper. You may want to try Boatyball there. On JVD keep in mind there are always balls available in Little Harbor if the other anchorages are full.

I’ve been going for the last 4 years during July or August... due to some places closed some mooring fields last year were more crowed than previous years... If you are visiting CI get there early and also Anegada, specially If you go early in the week.

Wonky Dog added a bunch of balls at Anegada. So I don't expect a problem there.

Warren,

I laid that Boatyball bait right out there for you and no bites....

How is the depth where WD added mooring balls? Mono's seem to be limited on where to pick up a ball. Our last time there (been to long) we were stuck for a minute swinging into the last ball, 2nd or 3rd from last row and 2nd row from outside. I think it had more to do with skirting along the outside row and cutting in at the last row, was able to wiggle out of the shallow sand, once on the ball maybe a foot underneath. Exiting was straight out through the middle of mooring field with no problems.

Didn't realize there were any more monohulls in the BVI :-)

Monohulls are limited for depth. I believe that the Wonky Dog balls are in deeper water.

There are still a few monohulls manned by sailors in the BVI, We just returned after two weeks of sailing a Jeanneau 36i. Just Erica and I.
. .

Yep, one hull, two people, coastal navigaton, main, jib, paper charts , compass, and rum. 17th BVI sailing vacation since 1983.

This was May, and we did not have a problem picking up a mooring. We did , however, according to plan, we pick up slips at Nanny Cay, and Leverick Bay . Just spoiled ourselves a bit and topped off with water.

This year we passed on Anegada, as we drew 6.5 feet, and left that wonderful island to the more shallow draft vessels, and catamarans.

As to moorings and slips..., Peter Island, Leverick, Marina Cay, Cane Garden Bay, Diamond Cay ( Jost); Nanny Cay, Norman , Cooper and last night Peter,and the Willy T....no problem with moorings or docking.

Note : Daimond Cay, Foxys' Taboo, Jost, they had just installed several Boaty Balls, and we lucked out with snagging the last FCFS mooring off the B - LIne
Several of the old FCFS moorings were now boaty balls so that is something to think about if planning on Diamond Cay.

But, we generally leave early, and are under sail. As to motoring, we use the engine mainly to charge up the batteries, pick up a mooring, or dock at a slip. Total engine hours 20, fuel used 8 gallons in two weeks.

Agree, the catamarans are definitely outnumbering monohulls and cats have 8 to 12 people on board, with A.C, WIFI, Moving Maps, GPS, autopilots. Ice makers, and lots of room to partly and soak up the rays.
Plus fast passages with big engines, to roar under power from island to island.

Fair winds, following seas, and have a grand and marvelous BVI sailing vacation. May it be the best ever.





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How many gallons of fuel again? How many of you? What kind of boat? Moving maps...witchcraft...sextant only surely?

Zzzzzzzzz

Capt Denny,
You shouldn’t have to pass up Anegada it will easily handle 6.5’ as long as you don’t venture inside the mooring ball field.

From what I learned is that the mooring balls further back in the field is where there is less depth and don't skirt along the outside of the field to come in from behind. After freeing our keel from a shallow sandy spot we were fine in the middle of the field. I would think to get to the new Wonky Dog balls ....... you will have to navigate across a shallower area to get to the deeper set moorings? How is anchoring south of the pier? I have heard people mention Palmetto Point but not much talk of the inner anchorage.

Pomato Point.

Enough depth for anyone.

Have anchored there many times in an Oyster 72, Oyster 66 and a Hallberg Rassy 53.

Great holding, lots of space and plenty of depth. Also a great restaurant right on the beach 'Sid's Restaurant' - best lobster on the island.

And of course...no mooring fee!

Anchored there twice this year, great both times. We were on a 48ft monohull. Not sure why Denny thinks that Anegada is not possible on a 36ft mono...he might want to have another squint at the parchment...

Christo... yep....8 gallons of fuel, 21 hours on the engine, Jeanneau 36i. sloop, just Erica and I. most to charge the batteries at 1500 RPMs. Not the fuel burn that we would experience at cruise R.P.M/s

I noted our engine hours each day in our log, first thing in the morning, when I checked oil, coolant, belts, and engine compartment for any leaks. Engine hour meter was in the engine compartment.

Zero moving maps, no auto pilot coupled to a GPS, no Air Conditioning, No Wifi, , We used coastal navigation, paper charts, nav tools, compass, knot meter, and sails.

We also had to get ice, two bags per day, There was a refer, but it was not really doing much . Battery charging was easy, and actually was showing over
charging so we would flick on the refer to drain some of that extra charge.

We love sailing, that means under sail and not motoring . Except for runs between Marina Cay and Monkey Point for snorkeling. And passing eastward thru Thatch Cut, and also Colquhoun Pass, North Sound.
Depending on the distance of the passage, we swap helm and crew position every hour, or 30 minutes . Depending on the length of the passage. Both us are alert, and on watch, with a bit more relax time for
the crew position....who handled additional traffic, sail trim, main, traveler and jib sheets. Plus checking the bilge, etc.

There was no sextant, although Erica knows celestial navigation, but used Coastal Piloting and Navigation, eyeball nav, depth sounder, paper chart, and cruising guide worked out well. Just our way.

Boom2 and Sail45

Thank you for the encouragement on Anegada.....

May , pre Irma and Marie, ANEGADA , same type of vessel, jeanneau 36i, we spent a couple of days moored there. Loved Anegada, lobster dinners, snorkeling, pristine beaches, beach bars,
and fun people. Good times.

Our depth sounder in the mooring field read zero.


Before we flew down to the BVI, this May, we kept checking on the soundings at Anegada by Walker, and the depths were 5 to 8 feet.
I made the choice of not taking a chance of grounding . We needed to take good care of Conch Charters Vessel.

End game, This latest BVI sailing vacation, May 15 to 29, we had an absolutely wonderful, fantastic, two weeks,
with many islands and anchorages, old vafes, as well as new places visited as well.

Should there be another visit, perhaps we will return to Anegada at that time.

Our plans for the rest of this year will be stay cations to our deserts and mountains,

For next year, nd a half, for major vacations, Back to Costa Rica, and a return flying visit, to our beloved home island of Kauai , and also take an extended road trip
thru our west and south west, as well as up the pacific coast. The BVI, well, we will have to see if I am still upright two years from now. We love it there.


Thank you all for your tips and advice.

Denny and Erica

Oh come on!!! Back me up here forum! It's not just me surely???!!!!!

Well Christo you DID ask! haha :-)

I have had no issues with depth at Anegada. Picked up moorings in a bene 523 and jeanneau 509.

Stay away from the shallow west end.

Agree with Christo.

You can always anchor at the point.

Yes! True! I think he may get a commission from my dentist.

Grind...grind...grind.

Now Christo,
to be fair CAPT Denny was taking in the advice from what an expert said : Quote....

Before we flew down to the BVI, this May, we kept checking on the soundings at Anegada by Walker, and the depths were 5 to 8 feet.
I made the choice of not taking a chance of grounding.

So considering what he read and thought was true he missed out on Anegada this trip.
To sum it up he did make the right choice based on incorrect information.

Capt Denny. We were along side you at Cane Garden Bay on a MarineMax 443 (we sucked down about 250 gallons of fuel in 10 days). I think it was May 22nd. Recognized your flags. Attached is a picture of your boat.

;-)

...ok! You really missed my point!

That makes more sense, I guess my explanation about rows and outside and inside could be confusing, we entered the the mooring field and skirted along the west side (outside edge) and circled in from behind not realizing that was the shallower area of anchorage.
Has anyone anchored on the south side of the ferry dock (right turn rather than left when entering? Have not heard if its a comfortable spot like the Point.
No matter how you get there mono, cat, pc, ferry, plane etc it is an amazing place and can't wait to get back....

Yikes. Kinda harsh, eh?

It would be nice if we could be a bit nicer to one another. Everyone's got a different style and different priorities.

Are you canadian, eh?

Back to the original question..we are down here at CRC landbased right now. In the CGB last night and watching the boats on the water it still looks quite busy. I spoke to a friend who works for a charter company and she said they are pretty much fully booked through July. All that said..there were a few balls available on CGB last night and, of course, plenty of anchorage. Onshote it was really busy..hard to park etc.

On a private boat like you were on Pomento boat is a nice option if the forecast is for settled weather. It’s not a option for charter boats as I believe most if not all companies require you to use the main anchorage.
G

How is this area as an anchorage? Don't really hear it mentioned or reviewed often

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I have never seen boats anchored there and imagine not being as sheltered to winds is one issue

To Christos point I just dont read them anymore...too hard to parse through the extraneous stuff to potentially find a possible pearl of wisdom

There will be a floating dock there next season when Mitch open his bar right on that beach, 5ft to 6ft depth

Often larger boats anchor there.

What's the standard rate for mooring in Jost, Anegada, Cooper etc? I noticed on the above mentioned "boatyball" it was $40. Is that just the boatyball price or is that standard for the area? We're headed down in a few weeks for our third trip and this is a large jump in price since we last sailed in 2013.

That's just the boatyball price. Standard rate for a FCFS mooring is $30

Thanks!!! Good to know.