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Anchorages not moorings #254763
05/03/2021 04:56 PM
05/03/2021 04:56 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
L
Latadjust Offline OP
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Latadjust  Offline OP
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L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
Good day all, advice sought:

We're heading back to the BVI for our 5th trip. We've always used mooring balls for peace of mind and benefit of coral. This time, since we're going in early summer for the first time instead of winter, with calmer conditions anticipated, I'd like to anchor some of the nights - how about a top 5 list of anchorages with good holding, safe for coral, protected waters? I am perusing my old copy of the Scott cruising guide but many places have been crowded out by new moorings...we're going to go all over the place so location is not important

Cheers!🏝

ps: <50' monohull approximately 5 1/2' draft

Last edited by Latadjust; 05/03/2021 04:57 PM.
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Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #254770
05/03/2021 05:48 PM
05/03/2021 05:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
sleepychef Offline
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sleepychef  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
there is room to anchor with good holding in front of the Wonky Dog, 50' cats always anchor there,nice and protected.

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #254777
05/03/2021 06:43 PM
05/03/2021 06:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,344
Washington DC
B
bailau Online content
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bailau  Online Content
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Posts: 1,344
Washington DC
Sleepychef-

Is anegada still quietest on the weekend?...was working on itinerary and targeting fri to sun there in June

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: bailau] #254793
05/04/2021 08:27 AM
05/04/2021 08:27 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
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JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by bailau
Sleepychef-

Is anegada still quietest on the weekend?...was working on itinerary and targeting fri to sun there in June

it's quiet everywhere all the time now.

Cane Garden Bay's busiest night of the season was last night with 8 boats. About the same as a quiet night during a normal season.

Anegada last weekend was quiet for Anegada. 2 or 3 tables for dinner at both places we went.

FYI - the tuna poke appetizer and ribeye at Wonky Dog were great! As always....


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: bailau] #254795
05/04/2021 08:42 AM
05/04/2021 08:42 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc Offline
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ndfaninnc  Offline
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Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
Originally Posted by bailau
Sleepychef-

Is anegada still quietest on the weekend?...was working on itinerary and targeting fri to sun there in June


Sigh.....I am so jealous.


Go Irish!!

Bill

[Linked Image]
Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: ndfaninnc] #254805
05/04/2021 09:35 AM
05/04/2021 09:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,344
Washington DC
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bailau Online content
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bailau  Online Content
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Joined: Dec 2018
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Washington DC
Originally Posted by ndfaninnc
Originally Posted by bailau
Sleepychef-

Is anegada still quietest on the weekend?...was working on itinerary and targeting fri to sun there in June


Sigh.....I am so jealous.


Assuming we are all negative on Day 0 test then you may be jealous...absent that I am certain of quarantine mutiny my brother. with 8 people on boat for 14 days...

A little unnerving seeing yesterdays Covid test results...this is very stressful high stakes cat herding but very mindful of my little 1st world problems relatively speaking

still hoping to hang out with you and M on land based Anegada trip one day

Last edited by bailau; 05/04/2021 09:36 AM.
Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #254816
05/04/2021 11:48 AM
05/04/2021 11:48 AM
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 126
Chesapeake Bay, USA
N
Nibj Offline
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Nibj  Offline
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Posts: 126
Chesapeake Bay, USA
I am interested in this question also since I hope we will be in the BVI later in May and will charter a Moorings 38-2 monohull. One advantage of the Covid restrictions (I know, now loosened a bit) is that the map of quarantine anchorages suggests new places for us to visit! There is an interesting graphic on TMMs website concerning the "safe" overnight anchorages on the quarantine chart (see TMM graphic). Two places look really nice:

1) Long Bay on the northwest corner of Virgin Gorda. My maps are very vague about this anchorage (but see BareBoatsBVI comment). Does anyone have any helpful hints about getting in here and what to avoid (besides the obvious :-)?

2) Lee Bay on Great Camanoe: there is a bit more online about this one (again BareBoatsBVI) and the Navionics map does mark it as an anchorage. Again any comments/gotchas would be great.

Tha anchorage near Sandy Spit also looks really nice.

We anchor often at home (Chessie) but have not anchored overnight in the BVI so are nervous!

Last edited by Nibj; 05/04/2021 11:55 AM. Reason: Make the url clickable and typos
Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #254818
05/04/2021 11:55 AM
05/04/2021 11:55 AM
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,130
M
MIDiver Offline
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MIDiver  Offline
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Posts: 1,130
Manchioneel Bay off Little Jost is more exposed and can be rough depending on wind and water conditions. Note that you can not go to Sandy Spit when you are in quarantine. I do hear that BLine is delivering to boats in quarantine.

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #254820
05/04/2021 12:02 PM
05/04/2021 12:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 520
Bay Area
H
Husker Offline
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Husker  Offline
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H
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 520
Bay Area
Hi Nibj - Lots of good open anchoring all over BVI. Look for the sandy spots....easy to see in good light. My Navionics charts are accurate in terms of marked anchorages in my experience. Maybe you need a chart update. Lee Bay is marked as one. Its a little rocky there but we held well our last night. Room for several boats. Have never overnighted at Long Bay but read good things. Pick up a BVI guide book for more info. Have a great trip.

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Nibj] #254822
05/04/2021 12:11 PM
05/04/2021 12:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 735
Panama City Beach, Florida
xrayman67 Offline
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xrayman67  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 735
Panama City Beach, Florida
Originally Posted by Nibj
I am interested in this question also since I hope we will be in the BVI later in May and will charter a Moorings 38-2 monohull. One advantage of the Covid restrictions (I know, now loosened a bit) is that the map of quarantine anchorages suggests new places for us to visit! There is an interesting graphic on TMMs website concerning the "safe" overnight anchorages on the quarantine chart (see TMM graphic). Two places look really nice:

1) Long Bay on the northwest corner of Virgin Gorda. My maps are very vague about this anchorage (but see BareBoatsBVI comment). Does anyone have any helpful hints about getting in here and what to avoid (besides the obvious :-)?

2) Lee Bay on Great Camanoe: there is a bit more online about this one (again BareBoatsBVI) and the Navionics map does mark it as an anchorage. Again any comments/gotchas would be great.

Tha anchorage near Sandy Spit also looks really nice.

We anchor often at home (Chessie) but have not anchored overnight in the BVI so are nervous!

I like the graphic you shared from TMM!
We'll be down May 17-30 on a Sunsail 41.0 mono. What are your dates? We may see you.

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #254866
05/04/2021 10:17 PM
05/04/2021 10:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 126
Chesapeake Bay, USA
N
Nibj Offline
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Nibj  Offline
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Posts: 126
Chesapeake Bay, USA
We are arriving later on the 25th. Have a great trip.

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: xrayman67] #254962
05/06/2021 10:52 AM
05/06/2021 10:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 261
Tampa
G
Gypsyczar Offline
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Gypsyczar  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 261
Tampa
I love lee bay. Pull up closer to the east shore and you have plenty of sand to drop anchor Great sunset views



[Linked Image]
Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #254975
05/06/2021 12:41 PM
05/06/2021 12:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 381
dayhiker Offline
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dayhiker  Offline
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Posts: 381
I love anchoring at Key Bay, on the south side of Peter Island. The shells ashore are really nice.

I've spent a night or two at Benure's Bay on Norman

Little Harbour on the west end of Peter is nice. I did not anchor well when I was there. It looked like the private charters hit that between gigs. There were a bunch of them. It was almost like they were medmoored with a line around a tree ashore.

Last edited by dayhiker; 05/06/2021 12:42 PM.
Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #254993
05/06/2021 03:43 PM
05/06/2021 03:43 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 386
Virgin Gorda, BVI
V
VirginGordaResident Offline
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VirginGordaResident  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 386
Virgin Gorda, BVI
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by bailau
Sleepychef-

Is anegada still quietest on the weekend?...was working on itinerary and targeting fri to sun there in June

it's quiet everywhere all the time now.

Cane Garden Bay's busiest night of the season was last night with 8 boats. About the same as a quiet night during a normal season.

Anegada last weekend was quiet for Anegada. 2 or 3 tables for dinner at both places we went.

FYI - the tuna poke appetizer and ribeye at Wonky Dog were great! As always....


Second the tuna poke appetizer at Wonky.... Just wow

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #255143
05/08/2021 09:17 AM
05/08/2021 09:17 AM
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 51
Gainesville
B
Bo Scott Offline
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Bo Scott  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 51
Gainesville
Long Bay on Virgin Gorda is really easy to get to and you can come straight in, I will caution you that there is some coral there and you have to look for sandy bottom for your anchor to hold good. We saw some boats well into the cove and anchor, one cat was so far in they actually had a stern line attached to shore. The snorkling on the north side of this place is very nice. Have fun!

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Bo Scott] #255155
05/08/2021 12:08 PM
05/08/2021 12:08 PM
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,130
M
MIDiver Offline
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MIDiver  Offline
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M
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,130
Drat it sounds like our favorite spot has gotten too busy....

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #255188
05/08/2021 07:10 PM
05/08/2021 07:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 126
Chesapeake Bay, USA
N
Nibj Offline
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Nibj  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 126
Chesapeake Bay, USA
Sorry @MIDiver - we will keep it secret and not play our music too loud.

BTW when anchoring in the BVI is 5:1 length of anchor chain OK? I have read 7:1 but that seems very long...

This will be our first time anchoring in the BVI (other than day stops).

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #255191
05/08/2021 07:31 PM
05/08/2021 07:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
It really depends on the holding and weather forecast. 5 to 1 is fine for normal night. 7 to 1 if you might have high winds and/or rain squalls. At Anegada 3 to 1 is probably fine as the bottom is a Sandy muck that holds like glue!
G

Re: Anchorages not moorings [Re: Latadjust] #256610
05/26/2021 08:47 PM
05/26/2021 08:47 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
L
Latadjust Offline OP
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Latadjust  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
So, we anchored in Lee Bay on the west side of Great Camanoe. When you enter the bay, the depth goes from the mid 40s to 12 pretty quickly. This tends to make you want to set, which we did in a small sandy spot surrounded by rocks. I snorkled over the anchor and kept going. The ground levels off and very gradually goes to 10 and you get out of the rocks and into beautiful sand, then it continues to very gradually go to 8'. I mean, this is over about 150'. By now, you feel like you're a couple of boat lengths from the beach (which is pebbly, weirdly enough). We reset and backed off with plenty of scope in good holding, all sand. The breeze funnels through a natural cut in the island but the water is flat and the anchorage is quiet. We spent 2 nights there while waiting for our day 4 test results. A skiff came by, the same one as we saw at Great Harbor, Peter Island, in the morning with ice and to pick up trash.

Last edited by Latadjust; 05/26/2021 08:48 PM. Reason: Typo

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