Protected harbors in north swell?

We’re taking our first BVI charter next month and although we have hired a captain, I’m trying to learn as much as possible about itinerary options ahead of time... and looking forward to an eventual return trip when we bareboat.

I know north swell can be an issue this time of year. How do you deal with it? Are there particular mooring spots that are more protected from it? Is there a certain size of swell that makes it advisable to stay in harbor rather than head out to the next planned stop?

Sorry for the total newbie questions. I’m used to operating our boat on Lake Erie — obviously a totally different experience!

I am sitting here in Easter Canada looking out the window as we get dumped on again and the thermometer drops again tonight to -20 . Dreaming about BVI and reading about the swell conditions in the next few days. It will be bumpy out there for sure .

Our teaching captain on our ASA sailing school 10 years or so ago taught us to look at the monohulls in an anchorage to see what their masts are doing...if much movement, not a good idea to get a ball by them. We hovered at the mouth of CGB while I tried to decide and then was told I took too long so we headed out ...Lesson learned - he was a strict teacher and especially hard on me .
Cats don’t move as much of course but still can be uncomfortable .

Very important to watch weather and pay attention to forecasts ...and then sometimes the swell comes quickly and overnight...had a few rolly unexpected nights at Cane awakening to locals surfing on the breakers .

We have hidden at great Harbour Peter Island, the bight Norman isn’t bad , Trellis in close to shore . Road Town would be pretty protected also . We have been pretty comfortable in North Sound VG too but bouncy at the dock. Reef Song used to live on a ball at the back of the mooring field in better times Pre Irma .

I am sure those with experience will chime in .

....and this forum is an awesome place to learn ..all questions welcomed

Thank you for that detailed response— and may the weather up north improve soon!

It depends on the swell direction,

Generally anything on the south side of Tortola would be good.

Cooper and Marina cay get rolly.

White bay at jost and sometimes Guana not so good either. The swell can bend around a corner as well as reflect off a shore. It has the properties of a wave.

Yep. Boat aground in white bay this morning.

I’ve definitely learned from reading this forum to avoid White Bay and Cane Garden Bay during north swell. Today’s webcam of CGB confirms that. Surprising to see some charters in CGB today. Thanks all for your responses so far.

For the OP, take a look at Cane Garden Bay today....https://www.resortcams.com/embed.php?cam=cane-garden-bay

I think with only a few boats in the harbor I would put a second anchor off the stern to keep my bow pointed into the wind. but maybe most charter mono's don't have a secondary anchor.

Every charter boat I have taken out had two anchors. The issue in CGB is not the wind it’s the swell. They come from two different directions. A anchor keeping you into the wind would put the boat broadside to the swell.

That's not what I was watching on the video all day. The boats were stern to the swell most of the time and occasionally broad-side which is why I said they were getting Thrashed!

Agree. One of the scariest times I’ve had on my boat was in a mooring field at shallow depth when a summer storm came through. I would not have wanted a stern anchor in that situation. It was 20 minutes of tension, for sure, and looking at the CGB webcam, certainly wasn’t as bad or as sustained as what they’re getting.

Seriously? you guys would rather ride that swell stern to and broad side? No thanks

The swell comes out of the North, the prevailing winds and wind today are out of the East. In anchorages like CGB the wind swirls around quite a bit with the high terrain. If you wanted to put out a stern anchor you would want the boat into the swell not the wind.