Leverick/BEYC moorings in a swell

5 days away and starting to watch the long term forecasts. Looks like a strong chance for northern swells a week from Monday. Long period between the waves. How are the moorings at Leverick/BEYC if the swell is up? The last time we were there we had a rocky night on the dock in Leverick with the swell and some big wind.

The reef surrounding Eustacia sound does a good job of protecting North Sound from ground swells. I have never felt any surge there.

The mooring field at Leverick is exposed to enough fetch that it can get choppy when the wind is up.

Apart from the chop from the fetch, the whole north sound is pretty much the only really protected anchorage in a full north swell. I've been at Leverick before with all my fenders out and wondering if I was going to need a new paint job - but that was just the fetch.
The other safe-harbour anchorage that I've escaped to is Diamond Cay off Jost.

Thanks. Planning a couple of nights in North Sound so if those are the days with swells it could work out perfect.

We love BEYC - even have a favorite ball. Perfect for tucking in when swell and winds are up.

And for those who like to anchor, just off the Leverick mooring field is 15-20 feet of sand with very good holding! And you can spend the money you saved on the moorings at the bar!!

Excellent holding! Got caught in an unexpected storm a couple years ago in May. We got half way to Anegada and the storm closed in on us from the north and west. Turned around and headed back to North Sound. We had one chance to grab a ball at Leverick. The gust pushed us off and then visibility was maybe 10 feet. Motored north of mooring field and dropped the hook. Chain stopped at 60 feet. 3 to 1 scope held in 40 knot sustained winds for near two hours. I stayed at the helm with the engine running in neutral the entire time with the wind finally slowing after over 2 hours.

Which one?

Haha Jamie - I will keep that a secret 🙂

I have read that the mooring balls in the Biras Creek mooring field are all newly rigged and ready for use. I don't think there is another spot in the BVI that is as reliably flat water in bad weather.

That is correct Breeze - they are all ready to go. We did not see anyone on them the several times we were up at BEYC Jan or early Feb - did a tour of Biras by dinghy - still lots of keep out sign on the dock and shore.

Are the moorings at Biras Creek available for public use? Is it FCFS?

Yes - Biras are FCFS and available to the public. They will come around and collect.