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Sailing Charter: Critique my itinerary and fill some gaps
#310806
12/25/2023 06:12 PM
12/25/2023 06:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 290 Massachusetts USA
tmsxmsails
OP
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OP
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Posts: 290
Massachusetts USA
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Hi all,
I'm chartering from the Moorings in Tortola in June - two couples, no kids. It's been 20+ years since I've chartered in the BVI (more recently from St. Martin) so looking for a sanity check/comments on my proposed itinerary and maybe some suggested stops.
8 Day charter - Sleep aboard Saturday night, charter runs Sunday to Sunday. Here's the tentative plan.
Day 1: Head over to Norman Island and have lunch at the Willy T then to Cooper Island for the night. I would reserve a ball at Cooper through Boaty Ball but not sure what to do at Norman. Can I just anchor or do I have to get a ball? I'm not going to stay the night there so I don't want to pay for a ball if I don't have to.
Day 2: Baths early before the crowds then around to Gorda Sound and go to ... Leverick Bay? I've only ever been to The Bitter End YC so open for other overnight suggestions there. I was thinking we might taxi back to Coco Maya for dinner but it sounds like Leverick is good for dinner too. Thoughts? The Baths sounds much more formal than when we were there before in terms of the direction you have to walk through them (I think). I plan on getting a ball and taking the dink to the mooring line and swimming in. Should I go to the "main" beach or (is it?) Devil's Bay? It sounded like it was more in the flow to start from Devil's Bay, go through the rocks then climb up to the bar at the top of the hill and then back down the path to Devil's Bay. Is that correct or does it not matter?
Day 3: Anegada. We did Loblolly last time but it sounds like Cow Wreck might be a good spot too. For dinner I'm thinking Anegada Beach Hotel but this is heavily influenced by a memory from that trip in '99. For dinner on that trip we put our requests in early, they went and caught it, and then we had this magical family style dinner on the beach with tiki torches and tables all pushed together. They brought your entree and then bowls of random assorted sides and everyone just passed things around and it was kind of a party/shared meal kind of thing. Do they still do that? Open to other suggestions of course.
I don't know whether we might want to stay two days at Anegada or not so the day count from here out is somewhat fuzzy.
Day 4: Somewhere on the north side of Tortola but I'm not sure where. I'm much less familiar with Trellis Bay, Marina Cay, Scrub and that area around there so I'm looking for suggestions. I THINK we anchored off Marina Cay last time but I'm fuzzy. Need help with this part. I don't want to get a slip. I want to be on a ball or anchored.
Day 5: Cane Garden Bay?? Might skip this if we decide to spend more time at another stop. Might be fun to go to the rum distillery? and then just chill on the beach somewhere? Open for suggestions here.
Day 6: JVD. I want to stop at Sandy Cay, Sandy Spit for a bit before heading to Great Harbor. A little confused about getting to the Bubbly Pool (and if it's worth it). Should I get a taxi or should I anchor somewhere around the East side so we can walk there?
Figured we would take the dink around to White Bay (or taxi if its rough) and do Soggy Dollar et all for lunch and then back to Foxy's for dinner, drinks, and debauchery that night. Now that I write all that out, it might be too much for one day?
Day 7: Peter Island. Sounds like there isn't a whole lot here so would be a good day to wind down before heading home the next day. Suggested anchorages there?
Day 8: Back to base
Thanks for any insight, comments, suggestions, etc.
Oh also, one of our crew is not much of a snorkeler but interested in a SUP. I'm conflicted about whether to add one to the charter (to manage for the duration) or just try and get one in a few places along the way. I read another thread where people said they didn't use the one they rented and it got in the way while on deck/sailing. Help sway me
Thanks!
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Re: Sailing Charter: Critique my itinerary and fill some gaps
[Re: Zanshin]
#310826
12/26/2023 10:23 AM
12/26/2023 10:23 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 290 Massachusetts USA
tmsxmsails
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Posts: 290
Massachusetts USA
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Day 4 - Rather than the north side of Tortola or Guana Island, sail to Jost and spend a night off Little Jost. The anchorage is quite protected. Ashore you've got my favorite beach bar (the B' Line) and for dinner there's the option of Foxy's Taboo. If you are early enough, you can walk to the bubbly Pool. Day 5 - Sail across to Cane Garden Bay and stop at Sandy Cay / Sandy Spit on the way for a beach day.
Thanks! Good info here and helps validate my thoughts of the north side of Tortola area - just doesn't seem to have the same kind of buzz as other areas so was having trouble justifying a stop.
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Re: Sailing Charter: Critique my itinerary and fill some gaps
[Re: bailau]
#310827
12/26/2023 10:36 AM
12/26/2023 10:36 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 290 Massachusetts USA
tmsxmsails
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 290
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Some thoughts IMHO...Do you have the Scotts guide to cruising the BVI? I just ordered the 2024 one from Amazon but the 2023 is far cheaper and probably just as accurate I have it in my cart and I thought about waiting until I'd gone through it before asking questions here but I also value the one-to-one interactions in the forum - and I'm excited to plan the trip so I couldn't wait! I might try to go to Cooper first and spend the first day there as it gives time to get settled and shorter run to Leverick. If you do go to Bight Norman Island first stop by the Indians and the caves for your snorkelers and then go in. There are plenty of FCFS Balls there
I concur with Zanshin about Leverick for Day 2 and then we usually take the land taxi down to Baths in the afternoon and then Coco Maya for dinner that same night. Yep, that was my plan. I was just going to stop at Norman for lunch and do Cooper for the first night. Sounds like that might be too ambitions depending on when we can leave the dock in Road Town. Hmm. I def want to go to The Baths from the water. I really like the "adventure" of swimming in from the boat (via the dink). ...the sail from Anegada to JVD one time is far and away my favorite experience. Interesting. I recall that long downwind sail as being the least interesting part. I agree with Zanshin. You can see Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit on way in or even do a flyby to Monkey Point, Guana Island to check the snorkeling on way to JVD or as he suggests come out of Little Jost and see them on the way to Cane Garden Bay. I like that zigzag of Little Jost/CGB/Great Harbour he recommends Agree, that sounds good
Last edited by tmsxmsails; 12/26/2023 10:56 AM.
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Re: Sailing Charter: Critique my itinerary and fill some gaps
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#310828
12/26/2023 10:54 AM
12/26/2023 10:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 290 Massachusetts USA
tmsxmsails
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To add to the above comments your day 1 is a bit ambitious. You probably have less than a 50-50 shot at winning the boatyball lottery for Cooper in June on a Saturday. It would be a Sunday but really? Even if I get up early and try for the ball at 7:00 am? I was thinking that in June it would be easier - wow. If you do win I would head over to Peter at Deadman’s bay for a lunch stop then up to Cooper if off the dock by 11. If you get off the dock late I would just go straight to Cooper. If you don’t get a reserved ball at Cooper I would consider just going to the Bight. You can hit the Indians as you approach if a ball is available. From there grab a ball and dinghy to the caves. Try the Boatyball lottery again and if you win head up at your leisure. If you lose head up early to get a FCFS ball. It’s a great place to hang out for an entire day. This is all helpful. You are probably right that it might be too much to try and do Norman/Willy T AND Cooper - depending on when we can get away from the dock - and I DON'T want this to be a regimented, "got to leave now to stay on schedule" kind of trip. Hmm, I definitely want to do Willy T and I don't think I want to do it on the last night so I think it has to be the first day. I could skip Cooper but it sounds like it's a great place. Okay, something to ponder. Question: Can I get a ball and pay something like a day rate or is it like if I pick up a ball - whether FCFS or whatever - am I paying the nightly fee? What if I just want to stop at Cooper for lunch and then continue on - am I still paying the full price for a ball? Do I just anchor outside the mooring field in that case? As far as the paddle board they take up no space and are no issue to have onboard. They are not rented locally at most places so if you want one just have the Moorings put it on. Thanks, this helps.
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Re: Sailing Charter: Critique my itinerary and fill some gaps
[Re: tmsxmsails]
#310830
12/26/2023 11:46 AM
12/26/2023 11:46 AM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,051 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
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Unlike boatyball FCFS balls are available for free day use if you don’t overnight. Cooper tends to be busy on the weekends with the boats heading out on charter starts. June has a bit of a mini hi season with kids getting out of school. A tip for getting a BB at Cooper is to walk up to the Moorings reception area and use the wifi there. It’s faster than the boat wifi. Have everything filled out and be logged in. Don’t go for the obvious very best ball. If you don’t get a ball log back in at 7:04 and see if anything pops up. Some have multiple crew members attempt to get a ball. If they get two one will show back up as available at 7:04 or 05 if not paid for.
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 12/26/2023 11:47 AM.
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Re: Sailing Charter: Critique my itinerary and fill some gaps
[Re: tmsxmsails]
#311070
01/01/2024 04:11 PM
01/01/2024 04:11 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 84 Orlando, FL
edsml
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Traveler
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Posts: 84
Orlando, FL
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I agree with Zanshin-- JvD + CGB. Too often I've had to miss CGB because my crew had heard of SD or Foxy's; personally, I'd rather visit CGB. But I guess I'm not enough of a bar person-- I just saw a post of someone spending four days on Jost!
I wouldn't write off Guana, a nice stop between Anegada and JvD if you leave early enough. I haven't been in a few years, but Monkey Point used to be spectacular before hurricane damage (full of elkhorn) and I'm hopeful it's coming back.
Taking another crew next week aboard "Aegnor", a Sun Loft 470 from DYC.
Last edited by edsml; 01/01/2024 04:14 PM. Reason: addition
Mr. Ed
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Re: Sailing Charter: Critique my itinerary and fill some gaps
[Re: tmsxmsails]
#311083
01/01/2024 06:41 PM
01/01/2024 06:41 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 833 Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin
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Posts: 833
Redmond, WA
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Sadly, something bad has befallen the elkhorn coral... on our last visit we saw many, many bleached colonies.
M4000 "Lio Kai"
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