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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: josabo1]
#205679
09/30/2019 11:49 AM
09/30/2019 11:49 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,666 Memphis, BVI, CT
RatmansWife
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,666
Memphis, BVI, CT
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Mosquitoes get worse after rain, and November is, statistically, the rainiest month. But this year could be dry, who knows. The government has been trying to eliminate breeding spots because of an increase is dengue fever. Mosquitoes will always be worse in wet, low-lying areas with a lot of vegetation. If there’s a good breeze, mosquitoes are not a problem. December can be windy, but again, who knows.
Sand fleas are another annoying insect. They are prevalent on beaches, especially at dusk.
We like one of the deet-heavy sprays; some people swear by the bracelets. Long sleeves and pants help.
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: josabo1]
#205711
09/30/2019 04:36 PM
09/30/2019 04:36 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
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Hello,
I'm a first-time traveller to the BVIs and going to go bareboating this December. In terms of mosquitos and bugs I have following questions: 1. Should I expect loads of mosquitos in December? We plan to anchor in bays mostly.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! We've been sailing the VI for many years. I don't know that we've ever seen a mosquito out on the boat either sailing or at anchor/mooring. However - we still come prepared and bring a can of spray with deet just in case. On land is a different story - mostly sand fleas at the outdoor restaurants.
Life's short - sail more!
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: josabo1]
#205736
09/30/2019 07:23 PM
09/30/2019 07:23 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307 Lodi, California
shiloh8912
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307
Lodi, California
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We sailed a few years back in May and had 0 issues, and I'm a mosquito magnet. On land we had dinner one night at Pussers on Marina Cay and the mosquito's/sand fleas were absolutely horrendous. It became a running joke in the restaurant there were 3 cans of Off and everyone was passing them table to table. We all got a good laugh out of it and ended up meeting some nice people from Iowa!
"We lost our corkscrew and were compelled to live on food and water for several days. ~W.C. Fields"
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: josabo1]
#205747
09/30/2019 09:57 PM
09/30/2019 09:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 673 Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
caribbeangirl13
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 673
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
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My son is a magnet for mosquitoes and we will see absolutely no mosquitoes on the boat but he will wake up with mosquito bites all over him! We joke that we bring him along so that we don't get bit! Things that have worked for him are the Picaridin lotion (you get it through Amazon) and the Off Wipes. With the lotion you only have to apply it every 8 hours but it is pretty potent stuff. Lots of precautionary statements on the label. The worst place we have experienced for noseeums/sand fleas is Trellis Bay on shore. They are brutal and way more aggressive than mosquitoes.
Sue s/v Ripple Leopard 40
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: josabo1]
#205837
10/02/2019 08:28 AM
10/02/2019 08:28 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 795 Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 795
Kannapolis, NC
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We have always used a high concentration of Deet (80%) while on Anegada. The melting of plastic and what it may be doing to our skin a huge concern. For Picaridin, do I look for the same percentage? Or what percentage of Picaridin are you finding to be sufficient? Since we will be sailing soon I assume we should be looking at wipes instead of spray?
Go Irish!!
Bill
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: josabo1]
#205838
10/02/2019 08:42 AM
10/02/2019 08:42 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 229 West Chester, PA
ligot
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 229
West Chester, PA
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One lesson we learned was "just because there is an open mooring ball near the dinghy dock, doesn't mean you should take it". At the Pirate's Bight we jumped on a close ball thinking we had a nice score. No wind equals random orientation on the ball and bugs. Random swinging put us closer than I wanted to be to the randomly swinging boat behind us. Better to stay a little further out, enjoy the breeze, avoid the bugs and have some fun trying to find your boat in the dark. Dave
S/V Tortuga Lagoon 46
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: vytis104]
#205871
10/02/2019 02:48 PM
10/02/2019 02:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,557 Toronto, Ontario
gordaguy2
Traveler
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Traveler
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,557
Toronto, Ontario
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Good idea if you are at a villa as well - we always use the outdoor shower to clean off our shoes and our legs (or jump in the pool) after a day at the beach.
GordaGuy2
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: ndfaninnc]
#205904
10/02/2019 09:20 PM
10/02/2019 09:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 673 Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
caribbeangirl13
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 673
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
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We have always used a high concentration of Deet (80%) while on Anegada. The melting of plastic and what it may be doing to our skin a huge concern. For Picaridin, do I look for the same percentage? Or what percentage of Picaridin are you finding to be sufficient? Since we will be sailing soon I assume we should be looking at wipes instead of spray? We get the lotion (not spray or wipes and easy to travel with) through Amazon. In fact I just got my bottles today for our trip in November. The brand we get is Sawyer and it is a 20% combination of Picaridin, Methylpropl and Piperidine Carboxylate. I'm sure none of those are good for you either but it does stop the bugs. At least we are using reef safe sunscreen and we do try to wash off the bug spray before going into the ocean, although on the boat the wash water eventually ends up in the ocean anyway.
Sue s/v Ripple Leopard 40
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: ndfaninnc]
#205915
10/03/2019 08:03 AM
10/03/2019 08:03 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 16 Minnesota
MarkMN
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 16
Minnesota
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We use the 20% Picaridin from Sawyer and it has been on par with the heavy DEET formulas we used in the past.
Mark
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Re: Mosquitos and bugs
[Re: caribbeangirl13]
#205917
10/03/2019 08:30 AM
10/03/2019 08:30 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 795 Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 795
Kannapolis, NC
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We have always used a high concentration of Deet (80%) while on Anegada. The melting of plastic and what it may be doing to our skin a huge concern. For Picaridin, do I look for the same percentage? Or what percentage of Picaridin are you finding to be sufficient? Since we will be sailing soon I assume we should be looking at wipes instead of spray? We get the lotion (not spray or wipes and easy to travel with) through Amazon. In fact I just got my bottles today for our trip in November. The brand we get is Sawyer and it is a 20% combination of Picaridin, Methylpropl and Piperidine Carboxylate. I'm sure none of those are good for you either but it does stop the bugs. At least we are using reef safe sunscreen and we do try to wash off the bug spray before going into the ocean, although on the boat the wash water eventually ends up in the ocean anyway. Perfect. Thank you. I will order mine today. It looks like we will miss you by a week. Have a great time!
Go Irish!!
Bill
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