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Protected harbors in north swell? #214717
01/19/2020 02:44 PM
01/19/2020 02:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 45
Ohio
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Sedona Offline OP
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Sedona  Offline OP
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Ohio
We’re taking our first BVI charter next month and although we have hired a captain, I’m trying to learn as much as possible about itinerary options ahead of time... and looking forward to an eventual return trip when we bareboat.

I know north swell can be an issue this time of year. How do you deal with it? Are there particular mooring spots that are more protected from it? Is there a certain size of swell that makes it advisable to stay in harbor rather than head out to the next planned stop?

Sorry for the total newbie questions. I’m used to operating our boat on Lake Erie — obviously a totally different experience!

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Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: Sedona] #214726
01/19/2020 02:59 PM
01/19/2020 02:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,423
Miramichi NB Canada
Sandsailsun Offline
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Sandsailsun  Offline
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Miramichi NB Canada
I am sitting here in Easter Canada looking out the window as we get dumped on again and the thermometer drops again tonight to -20 . Dreaming about BVI and reading about the swell conditions in the next few days. It will be bumpy out there for sure .

Our teaching captain on our ASA sailing school 10 years or so ago taught us to look at the monohulls in an anchorage to see what their masts are doing...if much movement, not a good idea to get a ball by them. We hovered at the mouth of CGB while I tried to decide and then was told I took too long so we headed out ...Lesson learned - he was a strict teacher and especially hard on me .
Cats don’t move as much of course but still can be uncomfortable .

Very important to watch weather and pay attention to forecasts ...and then sometimes the swell comes quickly and overnight...had a few rolly unexpected nights at Cane awakening to locals surfing on the breakers .

We have hidden at great Harbour Peter Island, the bight Norman isn’t bad , Trellis in close to shore . Road Town would be pretty protected also . We have been pretty comfortable in North Sound VG too but bouncy at the dock. Reef Song used to live on a ball at the back of the mooring field in better times Pre Irma .

I am sure those with experience will chime in .

....and this forum is an awesome place to learn ..all questions welcomed


Kim

Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: Sandsailsun] #214729
01/19/2020 03:10 PM
01/19/2020 03:10 PM
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Posts: 45
Ohio
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Sedona Offline OP
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Ohio
Thank you for that detailed response— and may the weather up north improve soon!

Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: Sedona] #214731
01/19/2020 03:20 PM
01/19/2020 03:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
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Ontario, Canada
It depends on the swell direction,

Generally anything on the south side of Tortola would be good.

Cooper and Marina cay get rolly.

White bay at jost and sometimes Guana not so good either. The swell can bend around a corner as well as reflect off a shore. It has the properties of a wave.




Last edited by warren460; 01/19/2020 03:20 PM.

Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

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Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: warren460] #214740
01/19/2020 03:34 PM
01/19/2020 03:34 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
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JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
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Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by warren460
It depends on the swell direction,
White bay at jost and sometimes Guana not so good either. The swell can bend around a corner as well as reflect off a shore. It has the properties of a wave.


Yep. Boat aground in white bay this morning.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: Sedona] #214753
01/19/2020 04:45 PM
01/19/2020 04:45 PM
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Posts: 45
Ohio
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Sedona Offline OP
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Ohio
I’ve definitely learned from reading this forum to avoid White Bay and Cane Garden Bay during north swell. Today’s webcam of CGB confirms that. Surprising to see some charters in CGB today. Thanks all for your responses so far.

Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: Sedona] #214764
01/19/2020 05:12 PM
01/19/2020 05:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Mebane, NC
mriley4955 Offline
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Mebane, NC
For the OP, take a look at Cane Garden Bay today....https://www.resortcams.com/embed.php?cam=cane-garden-bay

I think with only a few boats in the harbor I would put a second anchor off the stern to keep my bow pointed into the wind. but maybe most charter mono's don't have a secondary anchor.


I spent all my money on "Boats", "Broads", and "Booze"; the rest I wasted!


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Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: Sedona] #214775
01/19/2020 05:57 PM
01/19/2020 05:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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Every charter boat I have taken out had two anchors. The issue in CGB is not the wind it’s the swell. They come from two different directions. A anchor keeping you into the wind would put the boat broadside to the swell.

Last edited by GeorgeC1; 01/19/2020 05:59 PM.
Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: GeorgeC1] #214789
01/19/2020 07:53 PM
01/19/2020 07:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Mebane, NC
mriley4955 Offline
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Mebane, NC
Originally Posted by GeorgeC1
Every charter boat I have taken out had two anchors. The issue in CGB is not the wind it’s the swell. They come from two different directions. A anchor keeping you into the wind would put the boat broadside to the swell.

That's not what I was watching on the video all day. The boats were stern to the swell most of the time and occasionally broad-side which is why I said they were getting Thrashed!


I spent all my money on "Boats", "Broads", and "Booze"; the rest I wasted!


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Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: GeorgeC1] #214791
01/19/2020 07:55 PM
01/19/2020 07:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 45
Ohio
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Sedona Offline OP
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Sedona  Offline OP
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Ohio
Agree. One of the scariest times I’ve had on my boat was in a mooring field at shallow depth when a summer storm came through. I would not have wanted a stern anchor in that situation. It was 20 minutes of tension, for sure, and looking at the CGB webcam, certainly wasn’t as bad or as sustained as what they’re getting.

Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: Sedona] #214794
01/19/2020 08:09 PM
01/19/2020 08:09 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Mebane, NC
mriley4955 Offline
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mriley4955  Offline
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Mebane, NC
Seriously? you guys would rather ride that swell stern to and broad side? No thanks


I spent all my money on "Boats", "Broads", and "Booze"; the rest I wasted!


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Re: Protected harbors in north swell? [Re: mriley4955] #214798
01/19/2020 08:42 PM
01/19/2020 08:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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GA/NC
Originally Posted by mriley4955
Originally Posted by GeorgeC1
Every charter boat I have taken out had two anchors. The issue in CGB is not the wind it’s the swell. They come from two different directions. A anchor keeping you into the wind would put the boat broadside to the swell.

That's not what I was watching on the video all day. The boats were stern to the swell most of the time and occasionally broad-side which is why I said they were getting Thrashed!


The swell comes out of the North, the prevailing winds and wind today are out of the East. In anchorages like CGB the wind swirls around quite a bit with the high terrain. If you wanted to put out a stern anchor you would want the boat into the swell not the wind.


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