October vs November

We've been down Thanksgiving week twice before but are considering mid-October this year.

Should we expect some restaurants/bars/shops to still be on break from the off-season?

Any October weather we should be aware of? I know we're clipping the end of hurricane season. We have gotten a bit of rain in November before and a bit doesn't bother us, but we wouldn't want it to be raining every day.

Thinking about going with a power cat for the first time this year as our big sailor won't be with us. Technically my husband and I are qualified to charter a sailboat, but if it's just the two of us, we probably wouldn't do much (if any) sailing.

We are considering the smallest boats at both MarineMax and Moorings. Moorings is a bigger boat, but also considerably more money. Any reason not to go with the Marine Max 36ft for just two people?

Thanks all!

Hurricane season is June through November, with September the peak, so October is not really “clipping the end” of it. Some places will have re-opened, but not all. Every month has its fans, and I would expect those who prefer October do so because it is quiet.

By Mid October 15th nearly everything is open Interline regatta will be going on.

Big fan of October...last year actually had no wind and dead calm on trip to Anegada...we went out of Moorings at the beginning of Oct and we were slightly early as some things were closed. In talking to Ann at Cow Wreck 2 days ago they will open 2nd week of Oct for Interline and Cooper said they might be towards the end of Oct...

I would prefer to miss the Interline circus

Last year we were 1 of 3 boats at Anegada...nice because it is more quiet

I like the May and October cycle...

We have a MarineMax 36 chartered for Thanksgiving week this year. I've never been on one, but I'm sure looking forward to giving it a try!

The interline schedule can be downloaded from the Moorings website to avoid the madness!

We booked a Mooring's power cat for Oct. 18th. Mostly because of work schedules. I too considered MarineMax, seemed like the interior was a little nicer and really wanted a water maker since we'll have 8 people this time but their prices were significantly higher than Mooring's. I guess boat size makes a big difference between the two. Plus, MM seemed to quote by day's and not nights. I noticed on their quote, not only was it more expensive when I thought I was comparing apples to apples but when I discovered the difference in time, it was way more. There were pros and cons to each and it depends on what you really want. Mooring's seems to have more open space especially deck space while MM seems to have more seating. I would go with a bigger boat for more stability if the weather picks up. When I looked at the historical record of hurricanes in the BVI in Oct. there haven't been many. I've also been in late Aug/Sept during peak hurricane season and lucked out with great weather. I definitely think Oct. is less risk for hurricanes but I'm a little worried about more rain. I don't mind quick showers but days of rain on vacation is bad. I live in Pittsburgh so I guess I can deal with it. I didn't know anything about the Interline Regatta! Was hoping for quiet times and no crowds.

As long as you don’t overnight where the regatta is you will have no issues. It will be extremely quite everywhere else. You’re fine regardless as the dates are 8-17 Oct.
G

Regatta agenda...

https://www.moorings.com/sites/defa...2019-interline-regatta-itinerary-web.jpg

We're there from 10-10 (checkin) to 10-20 out of Horizons on Wavelength. We've found Oct to be nice and quiet, like we like it. However, we are scheduling our stops around the regatta's schedule. We like it when most things are closed We provision and cook on the boat more often than eating out.

Be sure to get trip insurance. We were scheduled to charter out of St. Martin in Oct 2017, which obviously didn't happen. Without insurance it would have been a very expensive non-vacation.

We've been somewhere in the Caribbean every Oct since 1990. Most of the time the weather is fine, with some showers. Once we had rain basically every day, all day. Three times we changed our trip because of hurricanes.

Thanks all! The trip is definitly coming together and just as I told you all we are tired waiting for friends and family to commit, another couple is starting to really come around to the idea. We are looking at flights now to determine dates. We will go whether they join or not, but if they come, we're definitely getting the bigger boat.

Does anyone know if there will be a new Cruising Guide book released this year? The "current" one is 2017-2018 and is definitely due for an update.

Dont know as I buy these frequently for my guests but found 1 month following this board is much better...:)

Added Diamond Cay and Flash of Beauty from this board and they didn't disappoint

Powercats are great...I am on the Moorings side but ended up moored with 4 other Marine Max power cats in East White Bay JVD whose female crew all decided to go topless for the evening so i know you can have fun there as well

I bet it would have been really great fun if a big swell had come up during the night or a serious squall, maybe they had foul weather PJ's aboard?