Itineraries - how often do u make / stick to them

We've got our first bareboat BVI cruise scheduled so I've become rather obsessed with our itinerary.

For those that have cruised the BVI more than once - do you play it by ear or still keep a pretty strict itinerary?

I think I've sorted mine, but I understand that weather and other factors could cause some on the fly changes.

Planning an itinerary is part of the fun. Since this is your first trip be mindful that flexibility is the key once you get started. Weather and other situations may impact your ability to hit your points. Also don’t rush it once you get there. The important thing is to have fun not make every stop on your agenda. If you are having a particularly great time somewhere consider staying a second night.

Cruise ships have an itinerary. Mess it up and the ship leaves without you. Anything but relaxing IMO.

Since YOU are the skipper, heed the previous advice and follow your itinerary only loosely.

What you miss this time, you can catch next time.

Pick the places you want to visit, then let the conditions and the crew decide when you go. Nowhere in the BVI is more than 4 hours sail (or motor sail) from anywhere else.

We always have an itinerary and never stick to it.

There is no way to do everything. We take everyone's #1 "want" and make sure to get to all those places. Then, anything else is bonus.

Weather will dictate some travels.

The only thing I generally stick to is my cruising direction. In other words, if I'm sailing counter-clockwise around the islands, I'm not likely to reverse course, unless something unusual comes up.

Also, if you're making slip reservations in advance, you may want to stick to those, unless you can contact the marina and make the change. But for me, it's easier to pin those and then work around them.

Virtually everyone in these forums has their favorite destinations. You can peruse the other chats and see lots of them. Create a float plan that hits the highlights and be flexible about the rest.

When running crewed charters I would never let guests setup an itinerary, I would plan stops according to what you liked, beaches, bars, diving etc. The reason is that it can set you up for disappointment if you don't go all the places you want to. I would have guests spend 45 minutes at Baths and be ready to move, others would spend 6 hours. So you have to have time flexibility.

I used to think I could sail you around BVI for 3 weeks and not repeat a day. Perhaps there are certain events you might want to hit, but realize things have to give before or after.

Other factors are out of your control, weather, cruiseship crowds, boat issues.

The only itinerary to do is plan your next trip.

Are the baths anymore crowded on Saturday/Sunday than other days?

I'm going to keep it loose but make a dock reservation as Sea&skiPJ says; we were planning a 2 day stop at Leverick based on lots of great feedback midway, but don't want to fight a cruise ship crowd at the baths on Saturday a.m. on our way there.

Super responses everyone - very helpful! Thanks

We always make a very detailed itinerary designed to pack the most in to our time in the BVI. I'm talking about excel spreadsheets...the works! Lot of fun to be had spending hours/days planning and dreaming about being out there!

...But in all our years in the BVI we have NEVER stuck to it! Strong winds / light winds / swell / rain / large groups such as 'The Yacht Week' or MIT have all altered our course at some time or another. And it never bothers us in the slightest!

This year we loved Oil Nut Bay so much we went there 3 times and cut out some other stuff. Anegada was in better shape this year than a lot of other places so similarly we ended up staying an extra day.

We find the itinerary-making process also serves to refresh our memories of the ins and outs / pilotage / restrictions of various places and actually makes us far happier and better prepared to change our plans at a moments notice. Particularly if water/fuel/dinghy fuel are considerations.

Before our first trip to the BVI we made a list of places and activities we would like to hit, came up to 46 items. After 3 trips we still have 17 items on the list. We make up a list of intentions for each trip, but go with the flow during the trip. The only things we lock in are Friday BBQ at Leverick and two days on Anegada.

Whether you go or whether you stay all depends on the weather!

Sometimes those 30kt+ gusts from the east blow you where they want, not where you want. Sometime it makes sense to go from Jost to Anegada depending on the winds.

We make a list of things we would like to do and decide day to day. Water and fuel are the only limitations.

Cheers, RickG

Best advice I ever got from TTOL cruiser.......Don't have a plan, have intentions

We're also hitting the baths on a Saturday. Our plan is to stay at Leverick, rent a car, and drive down to the baths...better than fighting for moorings, IMO.

We made an itinerary when we first started our trips. Probably did it the first 3-4 trips at least. We did pretty much stick to it. Wouldn't have been a big deal if we hadn't been able to but conditions typically allowed for it. I think it is helpful to plan it out, especially for your first trip - go through the guide books, figure out the places you want to stop. Just don't feel you have to stick to it. Prioritize the places you really want to get to and the places that you'd like to but might not be as important.

Even when we've pretty much stuck to an itinerary, we have made adjustments here and there. Being flexible is key.

Sticking to an itinerary depends on many factors including weather and size of the boat.

A heavy boat can push through more weather than a light boat.

The Bathes are generally okay on Cruise Ship days if you get there EARLY or LATE.
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Make Itinerary: And Stick to it (IF not this trip, we will visit that stop on our NEXT trip). As you plan, do consider where you might go if weather /swells are different direction. Also if all mooring balls full (ie Cooper). As you travel, pick out stops for next trip. We generally try to do 30-50% new stops(or at least places we have not visited recently. The others are "old favorites" that we want to show to our "new crew".

ENJOY the trip

I have tried and failed. They just mess things up. Find a place, enjoy then asses, and move on.

First trip, we made a detailed itinerary and scoured the cruising guide. Did this months in advance. Five years later we did our “plans” the weekend before and didn’t even stick to them. 😂

I would definitely stick to my plan if the first stop wasn't always the Willy T. After that, not so much. I make my best effort to stick to it because I put so much time in the planning and I just am not one to think ahhh we'll get there on the next trip. I never know when the next trip will be so I don't want to miss out. Life in the moment not the future. Unless of course the weather is really bad but then that depends on how much I like my crew and the level of BS and frustration they put me through in planning the trip.

I usually make a #1 itinerary and try to stick to it. I also make a substitution list along the route as a back-up plan. The key as everyone says it stay flexible. The beauty of bareboating is its YOUR schedule. Only thing I am mindful when down there is the weather and time to get to the next spot. Best advice it can give you since its your first trip down is you will not see everything. The best part is I think you will be back many times to see more and more. I discover something new every time we go down and cruise. It is one of the most relaxing and best vacations we do.

Smooth Sailing!

Plans? We don't need no stinking plans...

Why I never go with anyone that does not have a plan.