More on “The cycle” / “off cycle”

Noticed the comment in the boatyball thread: “ The best solution we have found is to go off cycle...i.e. Anegada over a weekend by example”.

This begs the question: what’s the cycle (or alternatively, what constitutes off-cycle)? I’m assuming something like most charters go out on saturday/sunday, so cooper / leverick / anegada fill up more on the following days, perhaps in that order. But how pronounced is the difference in the same week? How much are airfares a proxy for crowds on or off-cycle? How much of the year is it apparent (ie does it go away or just not make as much difference in the off-season)?

Appreciate the insights.

Interested in this as well.

I'm also curious if going clockwise makes a difference. It seems like most people go counter-clockwise and I assume that it's primarily because it's easier to go upwind in Drake than above Tortola. I also assume that it would be harder to get to Anegada from say Jost, than from Gorda but I'm not certain about that. I know it depends on the winds on the day but could you lay Anegada on one tack from Jost potentially?

Jost to Anegada is directly upwind in the most common wind conditions (ENE). There would have to be a lot of south to the wind, and then you'd be partly blanketed by Tortola. I personally wouldn't dream of it in a sailing cat.

Thanks. Kinda what I figured. I think the wind swings a bit more East in June when I'd be going and I'd be in a monohull so I think I can point a bit higher than a cat but still probably not a fun sail (for a relaxing charter vacay).

Some sort of hybrid might help get off-cycle though - maybe? Like going to Jost first and then coming back around to Cooper and continuing counter clockwise but shifted a day later than "normal".

I'm probably just going to follow the herd and hopefully there won't be as much of a herd in June but I do like considering alternatives.

Before our last trip I tracked BB availability for fun across all anchorages at around 830am CDT. Ill post the screen shot. Lets see what you garner from it before I share what I saw and did as a result.

First week was the end of the christmas/nye madness. Second week was the huge swell and 45kt winds. So a bit of variability in anchorage usage based on weather.

Yellow is where we were thinking of going (depending on weather....etc..no agenda...blah blah) Orange was a day I was really hung over and never got to it that day.

I tried it once from Cane Garden Bay in a decent pointing monohull. Thought it would be a fun sail with the forecast 15 to 18 knots of wind. I was having a great time right up until the mutiny started!

Here are some of my tips for avoiding the show...welcome edits deletes or adds

1) Start Friday or Monday with the boat so you are one day ahead/behind the crowd. Stay somewhere down there they night before so you can get out early.
2) Know the cruise ship schedule and avoid
3) Anegada during the weekend
4) JVD not on the weekend
5) Everyone new wants to see the Baths and I feel like I know every rock by now...stay in Leverick go down to the Baths in the afternoon and Coco Maya for dinner that night
6) Use the webcams the week before to see what the harborsa look like and during the trip (CGB, Cooper etc.)
7) Use Boaty Ball as a proxy to see how full a harbor will be
8) Avoid Cooper as many other anchorages have same view and less hassle and better service

Wow...this is really cool.

1) Avoid Cooper
2) CGB is always open
3) How much Saba/Marina Cay demand is becasue they are relatively new on the reopen?

Good stuff. Any tips on best site to monitor cruise activity?

Interested in what your conclusions were. Thanks!

I used the BVI Cruise Schedule link at the top of these forums. Is there anywhere else I should look?

I use the same...

Thanks for bubbling this back up. I forgot about it.

Something like 90% of charters start/finish on Saturday. Huge premium in airfare on the weekends, in particular down Friday/Saturday and return Saturday/Sunday. I always monitor my target flight airfares in one way configuration. You would be surprised how much fluctuation there is in each "leg" vs little to no variation on round trip overall price. Anyway, Tuesdays are almost always the cheapest going down to EIS and Wed/Thurs is usually cheapest leaving.

In watching the BB numbers, I realized I could save big on flights and hassle getting BB by starting and finishing mid week. I realize this adds 1 or two days of vacation time which may not work for everyone; but Ill be honest, its definitely a pro hack.

Not once did I get up at 7 to get a ball. I just slept until I woke up (830 ish most days and 100% of the time there were a few left for me to grab one.

Tuesday Arrive, Off dock Wednesday to BB SABA, FCFS at Bitter End, BB@ Leverick, BB@Anegada, BB@Great Harbor, FCFS Norman, to Base. Quick trip I know. So, Id guess I saved 30% on flights and had way less stress while on the trip. I will never do Sat to Sat again.

Thanks.