TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Long Bay, Virgin Gorda

Anyone have experience staying in the Long Bay anchorage? Wind Guru is forecasting a north swell for the next couple days. Wonders how that affects that anchorage. Thanks.

Anchoring off Long Bay in any significant north swell is going to be dangerous. Even under normal conditions, it isn't a real overnight anchorage, and it's only comfortable in dead calm. Windguru shows a 12 second period from the north today; anchoring in less than 30 feet would probably put you in the breaking waves.
@Mal is just around the corner, he can tell you what the break is like in a north swell...

Thank you Zanshin! We'll give it a miss this time.

The swell is picking up..3 to 5 foot perfect waves breaking on the reef at Bomba's with a nice offshore breeze...and its building..

Great anchorage but not with any swell...you'll have to check it out next time. I did see a monster hammerhead when diving on the anchor. I think suitable for overnight in settled conditions. We were backwinded. A few photos from out last visit below...

The swell has jumped a couple of feet in size in just the last couple of hours here in Apple Bay..some really beautiful surfing waves right now..but a rocky night in north facing anchorages!

Thanks Matt and Mal. We skipped it this time and went up to North Sound. Very nice here tonight after yesterday's squalls and rolling around all night at Marina Cay.

The OP is asking about the anchorage at Long Bay, VG, not Tortola. But, sadly, the same applies to the Virgin Gorda anchorage. The northern exposure makes this anchorage dangerous if there is any northerly swell.

Absolutely, ask the Wandering Hillbilly!

Nice photos Matt!

Dan

Thanks Dan! @yachtreprise I think we are all referring to the VG Long Bay anchorage..what am I missing. Manpot looped in so he can share live reports of the incoming swell, but as you say the same applies even though he is on north shore of Tortola...cheers!

I have to admit that I mentioned Long Bay on Tortola in my post.

I've anchored at Long Bay off Virgin Gorda several times, but think that would get some swell as well, as @YachtReprise stated. And the anchorage is relatively shallow there; I only had a couple of feet below the keel and surely would have bottomed out in any significant swell.

I flee to the North Sound at any sign of a north swell, although tucking in at Long Bay (Diamon Day) at Little Jost is also a protected location in those conditions.

The swell dropped a couple of feet overnight..back to about 2 to 3 right now meaning most north facing anchorages should be OK.I'm heading over to CGB in a while so I'll report from there..

Matt, Your wonderful pictures brought back marvelous memories of VG and Long Bay. We used to do 9 days on STJ and 9 days on VG. We were land bound, but snorkeled out to the point many times.
I'm 85 now. My last trip snorkeling was to GC a year ago April. I would go by myself against my daughter's wishes. This last April I listened to them.
I lurk here on the forum for treasures like your pictures.
Happy Holidays to all.