TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Finding out about northern swells?

Hi - we're getting ready to head down to Tortola in a week or two. We have two weeks of charters scheduled so we're getting excited. One question I had was about the northern swells that can sometimes roll through - is there a website or some other way of finding out if one is headed our way when we're there? I understand they develop off the eastern seaboard of the US and roll on down, but I wasn't sure if there was any way of knowing when they would reach the BVIs?

Thanks!

Maybe during your charter briefing. You can also Wind guru. Their flat for wave and wave direction is usually shoot on.
Have fun, be safe

I follow magic seaweed http://magicseaweed.com/Cane-Garden-Bay-Surf-Report/480/ and sailflow http://sailflow.com/spot/17214 and both forecasted the last episode of swells a few weeks ago.

You can listen to the weather on the VHF, my husband listens to it each morning.

Weather reports are available in many of the harbors, they will print them out and post them. The ones I can think of right now are Myetts and Leverick Bay. Talking to the locals is also very helpful.

I like to look at the actual buoy data. Buoy 41043 is a good predictor for 8 hours out. Scroll down to wave summary and check swell direction, period and height.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41043

We used this in January to plan our move from the north to the south side as a big north swell came through.

Cheers, RickG

Check out windguru, it shows a week out. Thursday looks to be a bit of a northern swell.

https://www.windguru.cz/58

We use windguru a lot, but it's not always in agreement with on-the-spot conditions in the BVI/USVI.

We often do not have an internet connection, so checking these websites is not an option.

Bookmark this site on your phone. It will show both wave and Swell reports. If it does not state a Swell level then only wind driven waves are a issue.

http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=amz715

Thanks for all the replies!

Much appreciated!

The Buoy 41043 data is about the most accurate predictive info in real time - http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?s...;time_label=GMT

I know it is subjective but how big of a swell is a concern for the north side of Tortola? We have a 38PC and are 10 days from departure. Left our itinerary "loose" so we can deviate if needed.

I chartered one of those a couple of years ago, and quickly learned that I had to be more conservative than usual when selecting our overnight mooring spots in order to get a good nights' sleep.

Felix

What are suggestions for best places to overnight when there is a swell other than the North Sound and Norman? I know one should avoid White bay, Cooper and Peter. Other thoughts? Do's and Don'ts are appreciated.

It really depends on the Swell size and actual direction. Cooper can as a example be fine if the swell is moderate and from the N to NNW. It's worse if it's NNE. CGB can still be used if the swell is moderate and from NNE and you tuck into the eastern end.
Usually no issue are Trellis, Marina Key, Peter-Great Harbor,little Harbor and back island anchorages, JVD-Great harbor, little harbor and diamond key. The Bight and North Sound anywhere. Sopers is usually fine unless it's really a large swell.
Moderate or less swell and somewhat directional dependent would be CGB, Anegada, Cooper, Deadmans Bay.
I would consider moderate to be 4 feet or less. It also depends on if you are on a monohull or cat. Keep in mind that the North Swell is 95% a winter issue.
G

Thank you George for the helpful information.

I have had swell issues at marina cay. Swell anywhere is Much less of an issue on a cat though.

Another great interactive weather app...

Windyty

WOw that is really cool! I could look at that all day! quite the system just off the coast of Newfoundland. That's what must have dumped 30 cms of snow on us! Sorry New Brunswick I know you got slammed way worse!