TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Moorings/Anchorages in early January

Greetings all. My wife and I are headed back for a charter out of Charlotte Amalie for a 7 day sail starting January 1. We are considering what is, for us, a pretty aggressive itenerary to include 2 nights at Anegada. If we did this, one potential daily plan would look like: St. Thomas to Leinster Bay on St. John; night 2 at North Sound; nights 3 and 4 at Anegada; night 5 at Jost; night 6 at Caneel; return to St. Thomas on day 7. We've sailed the BVI numerous times, but haven't been in January for years. And we have always moved around at a more leisurely pace. As such, I'd very much appreciate insight on two questions: 1). Does this itinerary sound feasible? 2). Given that we will be covering considerable passages most days, will we have difficulty in securing good anchorages/moorings later in the afternoon?

It's a personal choice how you enjoy spending your time. I am assuming that you have a large charter boat so you travel faster than a small boat.

It will be a long day to north sound. Perhaps lots of motor sailing too. There are lots of moorings in north south plus anchoring opportunities. Anegada is not far from north sound. You should not have a problem arriving early enough for a mooring ball. The wonky dog is a great spot for dinner. Anegada to jvd is a nice sail. Easily doable with a lunch stop along the way. Lots of moorings in various places should be available,especially little harbour.

So, other than to long day to north sound, it sounds doable. However, why not shorten that day a little and with an early start the next day get into north sound in the following morning.

Well, consider this--- I was part of a crew, on a Frers 44, that left North Sound, Virgin Gorda ( at first light) for a check in by Noon at Red Hook Charlotte Amalie USVI.

It was before the < clear in at Cruz> but never the less, we still had time for a last swim at Christmas Cove. We were not late for check -in.

It is your vacation, do it the way you want. Yes, Leinster to North Sound is a long day, but you won't find North Sound a shut-out for either mooring or Anchorage. Anegada will be no problem. I'll leave the ear worm in your head that you'd EASILY be able to make check -in St Thomas from Jost on Day 7, which cleverly gives you room in your itinerary for " adjustment".

Thanks Warren460 and Breeze. Grateful for your input. We are sailing a Beneteau 45 out of CYOA. I like the idea of Jost to Charlotte Amalie on last day to open an extra night earlier in the charter.

It is good to have plans that include " wiggle room". <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Plan on being flexible. Winds and weather in January could change all pre thought arrangements. Don't forget you need to allow time to check in and out of USVI/BVI. Open minds, and plan B (C and D) are the best ways to enjoy the islands.

Any trip starting in the USVI with hopes of Anegada during December/January should take in the potential for North Swell and or the "Christmas Winds". If Anegada is important to anyone I would make all the distance possible North and upwind on the first day the weather makes that possible your your crew and boat. Even if that means a first full day first light departure for North Sound or even direct to Anegada. The rest of the trip should be a down hill, down wind sleigh ride. Each crew and each boat is different. Anegada is long way uphill when the breeze and sea are up. I have done North Sound to Red Hook and back more than once in the same day.

Good point, Salica. From Leinster, clear in to the BVI is either Jost or Sopers. Yes, you can " clear out" at the same time, but clearing in at Cruz is also a necessary stop.

Clearing out at the same time can work, but once you clear out you have a limited number of hours until you leave. I don't recall if the limit is 24 or 48 hours.

Perhaps things have changed more than I realize.

it used to work that you cleared in, stated how long you would be in the BVI, paid your fees based on x # days x# people, passports got stamped and your exit date was the exact date you specified, no need to revist to " clear out".

Regardless of changes to procedure, Jost is still a good choice for " last night" because it isn't all that tough to get the boat back to St Thomas for check in.

If the skipper is confident in the boat, the crew aboard, and the conditions of the day. You could always sail directly to and clear customs on Virgin Gorda. That would be just a normal day sail in most other charter locations around the world. You should make yourself fully aware of the procedures for arriving after closing time and clearing in the next morning.

Gun Creek, North Sound, Virgin Gorda: Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

We've been out sailing during those weeks the last four years. In 2015 and 2014 on our Beneteau 40 we had 25kt winds and gust over 35kts with a north swell.

In 2014 we attempted sailing from Norman to North Sound and had to change our plans - sailing upwind fully reefed was not going to happen. We did have a nice downwind sail to Jost Van Dyke instead, making better than 9 kts. The second week we had almost no wind or swell and motored from Coral Bay to North Sound on the south side. Weather matters.

In 2015 we were ready for weather and Plan B was to stick to sheltered anchorages and limit upwind sailing. We had two weeks of a hard blow and did not make North Sound or Anegada. Could we have? With a lot of uncomfortable motoring we could have made North Sound. Anegada and onward to Jost would have been a reach and would have been fun.

Leinster Bay is usually a good anchorage during Christmas winds and a north swell. If you get one of the inner moorings you'll be better protected. But, the outer moorings have AT&T coverage, if that is important to you.

Spending the night in the Caneel Bay anchorage is not something I want to do again in a monohull. Ferries wake you from 5AM to 1AM and its exposed to the north swell. I would recommend spending the night at Christmas Cove, Water Island or Brewers Bay the night before you return the boat.

We'll be out again for two weeks in January. As hard as it can blow, the positive side is that there are fewer boats out and its cooler than the summer low season.

Cheers, RickG

+1

Spending the night in the Caneel Bay anchorage is not something I want to do again in a monohull.