I'm new to the board so please forgive my ignorance if this has been addressed before. I searched for similar posts but came up empty for the specifics.

I'm bareboat charting a power cat in August with my wife and another couple with the slight wrinkle of a 6 day charter. We're departing Hodges Creek Marina. I'm looking for suggestions on a basic casual itinerary–no adventure travel, just snorkel, beach, bars, etc. Our priorities are Norman, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke.

North Sound
Anegada
Marina Cay
JVD
CGB
Norman

I might skip Marina Cay if you truly have 6 days and 5 nights - the rest of the above looks good.

If you head up to North Sound, contact Nick at Leverick Bay and you can reserve a slip - same cost as a mooring ball -- includes ice and water fill up -- electricity is extra.

You can stop at the Dogs for a snorkel on your way to North Sound. You can snorkel at the Indians and the Caves around your Norman visit.

Hello Fair1976.

I'm a fellow stink potter and live just up I-44 from you, outside of Springfield, MO.

Here's what I would do...

After your briefings, head straight to Norman Island. It will take you maybe 1.5 hrs, which should leave you time to dinghy around to snorkel the Caves and get back in time for dinner at The Bight. Don't forget your camera. We have some of our favorite group sunset photos from there. Option: Willie T.

Next morning... after snorkeling the Indians (the earlier you get there, the less time you'll spend waiting on a ball), you can head to Marina Cay. It will take you 2-ish hrs and once there you'll find a really good mooring field. After a cheeseburger for lunch at Pusser's you can dinghy over to Trellis Bay. It's a neat place to check out. We've had dinner at Pusser's, but prefer to use this stop as one of our dinner's aboard.

Next morning... head to Leverick. A night in a slip at Leverick is always on our list and Nick, although I've never met him in person; only corresponded with him via email, is a rock star. A night on the dock there allows everyone to more easily come and go from the boat (sometimes a little space/time away from your boat mates is a good thing). Plus, you can grab additional provisions at the store there. It has always been very well stocked. Nick can hook you up with a taxi or rental car to drive to The Baths, which is way more fun than fighting for a mooring ball. Don't spend too much time there, so you can stop for a drink at Hog Heaven on your way back to Leverick for dinner upstairs. We have had some good meals there and some great meals too. Water is free with the slip, so top off if you think you'll need it.

In my opinion, I would skip Anegada this time. It's a long slog and not worth it for your first charter, especially since it's a little short. By the way, does MarineMax require approval for you to go to Anegada?

From Leverick to Jost Van Dyke will take you 3-4 hours or so, depending on whether you're a hammer down in a straight line captain&crew, or if you want to swing by Necker Island on your way out of North Sound and cruise to JVD.

JVD is a good place to spend two nights. We usually spend on night in Great Harbor where we dinghy around to White Bay and go to Soggy Dollar, then have what has always been a good dinner and good time at Corsiar's before finishing the night at Foxy's. The next day we pop over to Little Harbor, from where we can go to Sandy Spit, Foxy's Taboo and the other bar (forgot the name), and check out the Bubbly Pool before dinner at Sydney's.

Have Fun!

Why does everyone think Anegada is so far away? In the normal wind conditions, it is only a little over 2 hours from the North Sound. Sailing from Anegada to JVD takes about the same amount of time as from the North Sound.

I would blow off Marina Cay, go directly to the North Sound, and then to Anegada.

Anegada will be most likely the most memorable stop on your charter.

I'm with Walker....done both with many groups, and have to say that Anegada is worth the trip, EVEN on a short itinerary. Marina Cay is nice, but a pass on a short trip. Anegada is a different animal, and worth two days (I never thought that til a group had me do it)

Agree with Walker.......

Anegada is magical. Afternoon spent at Cow Wreck (beach bar & beautiful beach) and dinner at the Wonky Dog. It'll be memorable.
I'd also skip Marina Cay - not much there that held our interest.

I just reread and saw that you are on a power cat.

Anegada is a no-brainer! A little over an hour from the North Sound!

We have done several 5 day trips and always included Anegada. We follow the itinerary I outlined above less Marina Cay.

Anegada isn't "so far away", but it is a longer slog coming back to JVD than from North Sound; about an hour+ more. For me and mine, Anegada was fine. Dean Wheatley could not have been nicer or better to us. Went to Cow Wreck; check. We had a lot more fun at Big Bamboo where we spent some time at the bar with the fire juggling hippy dude. His act was great. Our lobster dinner ashore was dissapointing, but the steak dinner we prepared aboard the next night was great. We had fun on the trip back down to JVD, but it was a long rolly one.
All in all, we had fun and I think everyone is glad we did it, but I don't think anyone is chomping at the bit to go back.

Like I said... My 2 cents, I would blow off Anegada. There is always next time.

Regarding Marina Cay; we like it. The little house on the hill and it's story is very cool. Pusser's has been anywhere from good-great to us. It's a great place to chill and watch your little ones enjoy the ocean. Trellis Bay is always cool. We've dinghy'd over to Little Camanoe, which was fun. There's Scrub Island. It's a quick jaunt over to grab a ball at The Baths if that's how you choose to see them. And finally, in my opinion, for first timers it's a good mooring field.

Oh, and as I eluded to earlier, the carter company may not approve a trip to Anegada. Plus, some crew may not be comfortable with "being out of sight of land", which on a tall power cat I doubt would happen.

With Norman, JVD and North Sound as your priorities - I'd focus on those and the stops in between. Those 3 locations alone could easily consume all your time.

If possible, I'd probably try to plan things around any events going on - such as Leverick's Friday night BBQ. Then base your other stops around that.

24 nm to Great Harbor JVD from the North Sound.
28 nm to Great Harbor JVD from Anegada.

Not that big a difference. Certainly not an hour+ more on a power cat.

Fair1976:

We live in Jenks ... we can get together over drinks and discuss !!! :-D

I agree that Anegada should be in the mix. The problem with me in going to Anegada is that I want to spend more time there !!! Love that place.

It is most certainly doable with a power cat

There is one BIG difference. You can enjoy some stops along the way from North Sound to JVD. Anegada to JVD, there's nothing. But if not stops are being made anyway, then it doesn't really matter.

This is precisely why I posted this question. My opinions have varied as much as the ones I've read. At first, we were dead set on Anegada but started rethinking it...now I'm rethinking my rethinking.

Is the Baths a short stop or does anyone moor overnight in the area?

Allan-LivinLarge, we definitely need to meet up some time. I frequent George's in downtown Jenks.

The national park mooring balls at the Baths are for day stops only.

I wouldn't over think it. See how the weather is, see what the group feels like and make the decision while there.

Overthinking it was a big part of the fun planning our early BVI trips.

Fair1976, if you want to stay overnight you'll have to anchor the park moorings are Day only.
You can motor to the entrance of VI yacht Harbor where you'll find mooring balls and from there you can dinghy into the marina for drinks and dinner.

Anchor at spring bay if conditions are appropriate.

Overthinking it was a big part of the fun planning our early BVI trips. [/quote]

I like to overthink things and then toss it all out a port hole

Love Marina Cay stop but definitely skip on this 5 nighter. If weather is good don't miss Anegada. If Anegada looks bad then consider first two nights in North Sound. Leverick slip and rent a car for a day trip to Baths, Hog Heaven, etc. I've done about 30--one week to two week trips in BVI. If I had only 5 nights from Hodges I'd spend two nights in North Sound, two nights on Anegada, one on Jost and plan a longer trip soon.

I've chartered in the BVI twice before with friends, and I'm going down with family this time. I always heard Anagada is dicey to get into, with all the reefs. It's just 3 of us aboard, one with no experience (yet!). Is the channel well marked?

Thanks, Pat

On a typically equipped charter boat, (chart plotter), getting to Anagada is not difficult. Discuss at checkout. The channel is adequately marked.

Prefer Catamaran as less draft.

Hint: Don't follow a boat believing they know! They MAY... or May NOT know where they are going.

Thanks, Wes. We're on a monohull, and that's good advice about "following" - I'll discuss route when we arrive.

The mooring balls at the back don't have much depth, so be careful in a mono.

The information that Walker provides here is all you need to safely navigate to Anegada. I recommend printing it and taking it with you. Most charter companies will allow you to go to Anegada if you show this documentation to prove you've done your homework.