BVI Poker Run-May 28th

Anyone traveling over Memorial Day weekend will want to prepare for some traffic on the water.

Oh man! I am glad you posted this, Nanchip! We are supposed to be at Leverick that evening so we can be on site for SNUBA the next morning. Can't move the SNUBA reservations, but now wondering if we should re-work the rest of the itinerary. I'm betting a decent number of those "230 boats racing" are going to head up to Anegada on Wednesday just like we were going to do. We thought we were in good shape because we planned around (avoiding) the cruise ship days, but this is a wrench in the works!

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but do the competitors complete that whole route in one day?? That seems insane to me, but I have absolutely no experience on power yachts. Trying to figure out how we can best avoid the crowd.

Yes it is a Sunday event . Many Puerto Ricans vacation on VG tho before and after . They race on incredible fast beautiful boats and finish at Leverick Sunday night . Its an awesome local event and loved by many . Started by our beloved Nick and Monica and an event Ward and I volunteered at for years . Will be there Sunday with bells on .

How hard will it be to find a mooring in the North Sound on Sunday? Our plan was to leave from our overnight anchorage (either Cooper or Marina Key) first thing Sunday morning, stop at The Baths (the kids have never been) and then head up to pick up a mooring at Leverick around lunchtime so we can be on site for our SNUBA excursion the next morning. Is that still reasonable, or should we try to get a mooring at BEYC and then take the boat over to Leverick in the morning?

Sounds like a fun event, we were just hoping to avoid large crowds of motorboats on this trip. Oops! Guess we'll just have to embrace it!

I just read 290 boats somewhere - eh gads! That is a lot of boats! Can Elaine pick you up from BEYC for your snuba?

I don't know! We're going to have to get in touch with her and see what she recommends. Any advice welcome!

Saturday and Sunday will both be pretty packed @ North sound. The poker run boats are prob going stay overnight Sat in prep for the following mornings start. We will be moving over to Oil Nut Bay (just around the tip). They have 30 FCFS balls and it’s a great resort w/ a cool little pool and restaurant, We’ve been there a few times in the past and always enjoyed it.
Might be a good option for you Crew4lemonade

You could take the BEYC shuttle (ferry) to Gun Creek and short taxi to Leverick. There MAY be a shuttle between Saba and Leverick - you could contact Saba for info. Contact the BEYC quarterdeck and see if you can reserve a ball or try for a Saba BB.

The poker run schedule for May 28th. Gonna be a shindig in the pond Saturday night!

Saba is the second to last stop so tons of “ go fast “ boats whizzing by. Its pretty cool but may be bumpy and chaotic for some . Just a heads up

Another option is Blunder Bay marina. They’re having a special whereas you can secure space at the marina for the same price as a mooring ball. Barry is the marina manager and extremely accommodating.

Has anyone here ever done the trip from PR to North Sound in one of these go-fast boats? Seems like it would be hard to find people to ride along if the upwind pounding from wave-to-wave is what I imagine. Though I suspect my past experience of a small boat on extreme lake chop was probably more violent than the ride those sleek boats provide.

I have been out on Lake Michigan in them and it isn’t fun at times.
And that is an inland “sea”. My cousin raced Cigarettes - can be down right deadly in larger waves at high speed.

I suspect I’m missing part of the story. I’ve seen some of these fast boats at the Willy T and CGB before and they generally looked like a pretty fit bunch, but there’s (almost) no way they just came from PR. My only guess is that many of these boats are from the USVI and just hop over.
Also, a question, I saw online that the term “Puerto Rican Navy” was a term of affection. If it’s pejorative I’ll strike it from my vocabulary.

Blunder bay Marina is nice but it’s a long fetch across the sound if the wind is East to ENE and blowing more than 10 knots. It will make for a noisy night on the dock.

I'm planning on being at Leverick on the 27th and was going to head across to Saba or BEYC on the 28th.
I am now thinking this might be a a good opportunity to grab a ball at Oil Nut as we already have reservations at Nova that night. I have not been in Eustatia Sound since before the hurricanes. Is the channel getting to Oil Nut marked well?

The channel is very well marked.

Approach Map attached!

Poker Run is a lot of fun, but can get pretty wild. If you are looking to avoid that, I would recommend grabbing a ball at BEYC. I wouldn't worry at all about being able to get a mooring ball over there. Most of the 'go-fast' boats that participate in the poker run come up for the day and if they spend the night they will be on the dock, not on a ball.

I would call Elaine directly and ask if she would be willing to pick up you from the dock at BEYC for Snuba. She may be willing.

Her number is +1-284-345-3941

Blunder, Barry and Tom are all absolutely awesome, and I do highly recommend the Marina, the pool and the food!!! However, if you are looking to avoid the crowds of Poker Run I would not recommend Blunder this Saturday or Sunday. It is definitely going to be a bit bumpy over there as it is just downwind from Leverick Bay and the action

Thanks for the tip! The Poker Run does sound fun, but we were hoping for a lower-key atmosphere for this trip. Our new plan is exactly what you suggested.....we're going to grab a ball at BEYC on Sunday and then Elaine can pick us up for SNUBA on Monday (we'll just compensate for the extra gas!). My husband is looking forward to seeing the new BEYC, as he has some nostalgic memories from the last time he was there (about 30 years ago)!
My inlaws are coming home today from their BVI charter and I know they had planned to try Blunder Bay this time around. Can't wait to hear how it went!

290 boats is b.s. Back when Nick Willis organized it, there were 120 boats at the most.

For all those debating on Bitter end, Blunder, or Saba:
I’m here right now.

Bitter end: Mooring balls are great for location, favorable renovation but bar service is, well not what one would expect, especially at the “Happy Hour boat” …Also Don’t Forget Mosquito spray!!!!

Saba Rock: not sure where the negative comments are coming from but we’ve enjoyed an afternoon of fun and wonderful service UPSTAIRS. Great for families, we Fed the tarpon @5pm, bar swings.. Thanks to Wayne; the bartender, definitely a fun time!
Blunder bay: heading there tomorrow… stay tuned.

Blunder Bay Marina- The best kept secret ..

107 came out of Norman.

220 hands were sold, so there were probably 80 boats.

Your bro Peter was the 1st place winner - $8,000