Sailing to Anegada

Considering most people sail counter clockwise and either arrive in the BVI on Saturday of Wednesday, What days of the week are less crowded in Anegada?

From my experience staying on Anegada it appears to me Tuesday and Wednesday are the busiest days.

Doesn't seem to be any slow days lately. In mid-January there were 50 boats on a Monday.

Friday Saturday Sunday are the quiet days

Friday won't be quiet in a couple weeks

Educate me. Why is that?

Probably the Dark and Stormy Regatta early March.

Hmmm, everything I’m reading is giving me concern about being able to get a ball no matter what day we visit Anageda. Can it really be that bad? Right now we’re planning a Sunday and Monday night.

Check the Dark and Stormy Regatta schedule and plan to be where they are not. Just got back last night. Anegada was very busy. Have never seen it as crowded and it seemed like they have added more balls since we were there last 3 years ago. Plan to arrive before 11am/noon or be prepared to anchor.

I do not believe that there is a better place to anchor in the BVI than Anegada.

KF Quinn
S/V EVENT HORIZON

We’re avoiding the dark and stormy-although our trip will overlap somewhat with the Spring Regatta. I agree, that Among the the many good anchorages, Anegada is certainly there. However, I don’t sleep as soundly on an anchor as I do on a ball, if adult beverages, to excess are invlovled, I prefer to be on a mooring ball. It’s a preference.

I have has mooring pennants break in the middle night - once in Anegada and once at Saba Rock. To each his own.

That would certainly change one’s perspective! And a good reminder that a snorkel over an anchor, and a good look at your lines should be a sufficient safeguard,

Someone mentioned that newer bareboat captains preferred a mooring ball over anchoring, and I admit that my preferences have evolved. However, the perception of security DOESN’T mean that the mooring ball has been appropriately maintained, worth remembering.

I like to check the mooring, pennant and the chain attachment to the ball. Usually they're fine but I have doubled up with an extra line a time or two, especially when a storm blows by

Sound advice, right there.

I have never had a anchor fail me. I have also had two mooring balls come free. One was expensive as it caused some damage. The ball failed at its attachment point to the bottom.
G

I noticed last week the majority of the moored boats with one line through the eye of the pennant. This allows the line to move back and forth and chafe and potentially fail. The correct hookup is to run a line from each forward cleat back to the same cleat so you have two connect points. Been discussed here many times but still see boats doing dangerous things.

Actually the line through the pennant is taught and chafe is at a minimum.

We always use two lines, one each side of the bow and back to itself. Per NCSailor.

Found it bizarre that the one-line method was advised in the Sunsail chart briefing...though this may have changed now. Utterly useless briefing from start to finish.

I've seen briefings that suggest putting the actual mooring pendant over the boat's cleat.