Oil Nut Bay

For a change we (spouse and self) thought it might be nice to visit Oil Nut Bay when we go to the BVI in mid January. Does anyone know if Moorings allows that? Is the best way to approach via the channel past Saba or from the other direction. We will check with Moorings of course! But for now we are just planning.

Thanks
Peter

You might study the Oil Nut Bay webpage for links to a map or they will email one to you. The channel between Saba Rock and Bitter End is well marked with channel buoys … red on your right and green on your left heading out of Gorda Sound toward Oil Nut Bay. It gets a little weird at the entrance between Saba and Bitter End as the old mooring balls are scattered about, so you need to wind your way through the field. There is one strange green buoy close to shore at Bitter End, maybe that is if you wish to skirt the mooring field, but I didn't want to get that close to shore. Otherwise it is very straight forward. Note you will be going to the marina in Deep Bay, not to the main resort further up. This is also very much straight forward, but don't cut in front of that last red channel buoy before heading straight to the Oil Nut Marina. The marina is the 'light colored' structure to the right dead ahead. On the left are the marina private slips. The marina has public slips, however they do not want you to tie up to the outside of the dock, as we were told this is where the water taxi/ferry stops with guests. During the 'season', the main resort is exclusive to their guests only. You may be able to purchase a day pass, however they are advertised at $75 per person. The marina is brand new and very nice, and there are mooring balls also available. There are heated pools, restaurant, shop, and very nice restrooms at the marina. It was not busy when we stopped for lunch, arriving about 10:30 am. No one answered the radio, however when we approached, a nice fellow appeared to help us into a slip. The restaurant didn't open until 11:30 am, therefore we simply hung around for an hour. They did not charge us for temporary use of the slip. It was a nice stop, but not sure about staying overnight. You are somewhat 'trapped' at the marina, as you can't go to the main resort, nor is there a road back to the Virgin Gorda mainland.

I had just contacted them by email. They replied quickly with a chart of the approach plus additional info.

I was about to say that I was unable to actually post the link, but if you go to the Oil Nut Bay webpage, click on 'Marina' and then scroll down and click on 'Water Depth', you will find a navigation map.

Thanks all. That map is very useful together with the comments. If Moorings allows we will get a ball there, I think. Then depart for Anegada by the northern channel.

Do you think ONB would be bad in a North swell? I have no experience with North swells, but to me it looks like the reefs would offer protection.

Peter

I saw several Mooring boats there in early December. At least one had a hired Captain. Not sure if it was fully crewed. Not sure if rules would change.

Going in by Saba, the channel is well marked all the way in.
I had come from the east(From St Bart's) so I came in thru the reef cut and it to was well marked.
Haven't been there for North Swells but I believe it would not be an issue.

We went on a MarineMax boat in November. They didn't allow us to enter from the North Sound and had us approach from the north instead. The channel was marked, but really shallow in spots. Wouldn't attempt it on a monohull.

I too contacted them via email and they responded quickly. The $95/pp charge is fir facilities other than the marina village (small pool, lounge chairs & Nova restaurant all in marina village).

Can anyone shed light on what access/ amenities you get for the extra $95/pp?

My wife and I were there in late October and stayed in the Marina and paid for the resort access. While it was an extravagance, we did thoroughly enjoy it. We had full access to their pool and beach club which included a swim up pool bar and restaurant. They drive you to and from the Marina or you can walk (15-20 minutes hilly). The beach had snorkel gear and water toys. We saw lots of turtles while snorkeling. It is a very private and chic setting. The day we went, we had the entire place to ourselves - literally the two of us and the bartender. We also had access to walk the entire property. It is a great place to hike. We may go back in March with kids, but will most likely just stay at the Marina or on a ball.

Thanks for the info - sounds lovely!!

Hi everyone! My name is Alexander Dobbs and I am the Assistant Marina Manager at Oil Nut Bay. I would love to answer any additional questions you have about the Marina here or you can feel free to email me directly at marina@oilnutbay.com. In general, we have transient dock slips as well as 11 mooring balls available. Overnight dock space can be reserved in advance, mooring balls are all first come, first serve. I have attached our marina rate sheet here to give you an idea of cost.

Mooring and dock guests have access to all of our Marina Village facilities which include: the restaurant/bar 'Nova', a swimming pool, beach, a clothing boutique, market, coffee shop, game room and showers. The village is located right in the marina, steps from the docks or a short dinghy ride from the moorings in Deep Bay. You can view everything Marina Village here: https://www.oilnutbay.com/marinavillage

If you are interested in seeing the broader Oil Nut Bay resort, Beach Club passes are available for purchase. The Beach Club can be seen here https://www.oilnutbay.com/thebeachclub and Resort Passes are $95/person for guests staying on the dock overnight and $125/person for all other guests. The Beach Club pass grants you access to the Beach Club beach, bar, restaurant, pools and watersports equipment.

Finally, I have attached a map noting the best approaches to the marina. If your boat has a draft of 6 feet or under, I recommend taking the marked channel past Saba Rock and the Bitter End Yacht Club into Eustatia Sound. If you have a draft deeper than 6 feet, we advise reaching us by coming between Eustatia Island and Prickly Pear Island. I have attached a Deep Draft Approach Map here for you as well.

Sorry we didn't answer the radio for a previous poster! We are usually always monitoring Channel 16 on the VHF radio, but we usually can only get boats once you have line of sight with our marina. AKA we can't usually get you from the North Sound. Hopefully this answers some of your questions but feel free to respond with more!

Hi Griffery. You should not have any problem managing to get a mooring ball up here. We have 11 and we have yet to fill all 11 even once this season! (Including over Christmas and NYE).

And no, not at all! Mooring and dock guests all have complimentary access to our Marina Village. Along with the pool, game room and Nova restaurant, we have showers available for boaters.

$30 for a mooring ball and then shower all you want!

Oil nut bay is a wonderful spot. No stress getting there. The channel is well marked.

In July we're on a Moorings 46.3 mono that draws 5'9", so it sounds like going through the marked channel would be a bit dicey. It appears from the chart snippet that there aren't any issues coming around Prickly Pear. Are there any markers coming in from that direction?

Depending on tide and weather, July might not be so Dicey.

There are no markers. It’s harder to see the proper opening coming from outside verses exiting the sound. The area is considered off limits. I would enter through the North sound and the marked channel.
G

As I said, try to time the passage at high tide. It will get you another foot. Also proceeding slow with a bow watch should help.

Thanks for the input. I'll set what Moorings tells us in chart briefing. If they say it's off limits then I'll certainly listen to them. If not, I'll proceed cautiously and certainly have a bow watch.

Please clarify : "There are no markers". Passing by Saba, the Channel is well marked. Also there is a well marked cut going through the reef on the Eastern area, as shown on the map posted by "Virgin Gorda Resident".

There are no channel markers between Prickly Pear Island and Eustatia Island.

My wife and I (and all our crew) give ONB a big thumbs up! The channel approaching from Saba is extremely well marked. The moorings are well maintained and everyone at ONB was very welcoming. We moved over from Leverick Bay about mid-morning. While paying our $30 mooring fee at the marina office, Alexander gave me a brief orientation to the marina, informed me there was a free water taxi to Biras Creek, and arranged for a cab to meet us at BC for a trip to The Baths and Spanish Town. That evening we had a great Valentine's Day dinner at Nova. It was one of the highlights of our latest trip to the BVI!

ONB is a great stop for a relaxing day around the marina, restaurant, bar, and pool. Even with the trip to The Baths and a stop in Spanish Town we had time to relax once we were back at ONB before our 7:30 dinner reservation.

Again, Alexander was very, very helpful. He went out of his way to help us make arrangements for a nice day on Virgin Gorda. It was nice being treated so well when we were only "mooring ball guests".

When we're in the BVI on Ocean Song, ONB will now be a required stop.

The deep draft entrance is not marked. It’s also not easy to see depending on wind and waves. Look at the chart in the original post and you will see where he marked the deep entrance. I recommended they use the N sound entrance because it’s well marked and will carry 5’9” draft boats. Regardless of the markings I believe Eustatia sound is off limits to all or most charter companies.

Anybody know if Moorings still has redlined areas up here?

At its shallowest (during low tide) the channel between Saba Rock and BEYC is 7.5 feet deep. We recommend yachts with a draft of 6 feet or less coming through that way as it allows for a little bit of wiggle room. You will be perfectly fine with a draft of 5'9". We just had a 130' motor yacht come through the channel with a draft of 6.5 feet last week.

As for coming around Prickly Pear, unfortunately that channel does not have any markers. The reef is quite visible on a sunny day and makes for an easy transit, on a cloudy day or if it's your first time, it can be a little challenging. If your boat requires you to arrive that way due to its draft and you would like a bit of assistance, you can call us on our marina cell phone 7 days a week from 9am - 5pm at +1-284-340-4806 and we can send out a pilot boat to help guide you.

Hi Louis. We are working closely with the moorings and are actually rolling out a rewards program with them here shortly. Moorings definitely allows all of their catamarans up here and the majority of their monohulls as well.

Hi Ocean Song. Thanks for the kind words! Just to clarify, our complimentary water taxi goes to Gun Creek regularly (the last road in the North Sound) not Biras Creek (which is still closed at this time.) It also makes stop at Leverick Bay by request, so you have to call in if you would like to be picked up from there. I have attached the schedule here for anyone interested in using it.

Hello Alexander, are the hiking trails available to marina guests or is a Beach Club pass required?

Hi Beerman. If you are willing to walk to them, you can hike them! I have attached a map here for you.

Thanks, the photo on your website of Pajaros Point looks cool. Curious about Carib Trail...do you know why this trail has a "difficult" rating?

Cannot wait to visit in May! We will be on the dock at Leverick and take the water taxi over for the day!! Can we still enjoy the marina facilities that way?

Pajaros Point is an absolutely great hike. It is beautiful and not too difficult at all. As for the Carib Trail, I've actually never done it myself! I'll knock it out this week and get back to you.

Yes absolutely!

We may consider this for one of our stops. How does one get from the docks/moorings to your beach? Dinghy over, hike, or do you have a shuttle/ferry from marina village over to the beach? I'm assuming you mean dock/mooring guests have access to the pools ONLY at the marina and access to the beach that is almost a mile east of your marina (bc I see no beach at the marina)?

Our crew is pretty excited about stopping there in July so if Moorings doesn't prohibit us we'll probably give it a shot. I would prefer the channel for sure. The other reason I was considering the Prickly Pear route was we might be heading to Oil Nut Bay from Anegada and that seems a bit more of a straight shot.

Hi Cajun Scuba. There is a small beach here at the Marina. The larger beach east of the marina is The Beach Club beach. While all beaches in the BVI are public to the high water mark, to use the beach chairs and watersports equipment this is where the Resort Pass comes into play. So if you would like to go there without purchasing a Resort Pass you will have to dinghy or hike. If you purchase a Resort Pass we will provide transportation via golf cart.

It is a bit more of a straight shot, but honestly will only probably save you about 15 minutes. If you are deciding between the two I would recommend the marked channel between Saba and BEYC.

Let me sing the praises of ONB....we ferried over to VG from Tortola for the specific purpose of hanging out at ONB all day and would do it again in a heartbeat. Their staff promptly responded to my request to set up a reservation for lunch and even told us which ferry would be best for arrival and departure.
The food was AMAZING. The bar was fantastic. The lounging area by the water (hammocks and huge sofas?? yes please!) was so relaxing.
Staying at ONB is now on our must-do list next time we are in the BVIs.

Hi Lonewolf. Thanks for the kind words! We're so glad you had a good time here and we hope to see you again in the future.

we're coming out in a couple of weeks, looking forward to visiting you Alexander

Awesome! Can't wait to greet you. I have attached a picture detailing our events Calendar for the month of March. Sunday Brunch is really fun at Nova if you're into that type of thing!

cool thank you; we're wine fans so you'll probably see us on the 25th.