TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Dingy ride from Great Harbour to White Bay

Any thoughts or experience using the dingy to travel from Great Harbour to White Bay on JVD? We would like to overnight at Great Harbour but would like to spend the day at the beach at White Bay. Several years ago we got to Great Harbour mid afternoon, mooring balls were all taken and slim pickings for anchorage sites. Thought we were anchored safely - we weren't. Found ourselves dragging by late night and needless to say, it was a terrible overnight and we were lucky to get through it safely. Never want that to happen again, so we want to get to Great Harbour and tie up early in the day but spend the day at White Bay, Any thoughts or advice?

Easiest way is to take a cab from GH to White Bay. $5 per person. We found cabs waiting by the dock in GH.

We come 3 times a year. We always grab a mooring ball at Great Harbor and dingy over to White Bay. We have had any where from. 4 to 8 people in the dingy. Pull to dingy up on the beach (usually next to 4 or 6 others) it's only a 10 minute ride. Granted on occasion the crew up front might get a tad wet but hey, we're wearing swimsuits. I can't see taking a cab when we never had issues.

8 people in a dinghy is asking for trouble. That is the max I would do on a calm day heading to a quiet dock. Bringing an overloaded dinghy through the surf is asking for trouble.

In calm conditions. Take the dinghy. Else take the cab.

It's a hike, but it's doable if you enjoy a nice long - and steep - walk. Hiked it a couple times.

I like the hike idea.

Hike it!! great excercise rewarded with a view...no cost....20 mins start to finish and you get to visit Ivan's too if you want! Don't forget water.

Or take dighy in calm conditions, and maybe offer up the walk idea to your crew, maybe lightening the dinghy load a little....i enjoy the stretching part of the walk most....

I wouldn't do the dinghy with more than four people.

I would not make generalities like that. It depends on size of dinghy and outboard, wind, waves, swells, and number of passengers.

Calm conditions it it is no problem. I have done to many times to count. In unsettled conditions or with people that do not want to get splashed then take a cab or a hike. Get the electronics in a dry bag. Do not ask me how I know about the dry bag. :-)

My concern over this is getting run over by a fast boat or the ferry. It has happened more than once with tragic results. You are close to invisible out there with a boat, bow in the air, going 20 knots. Take the cab..

Another thing which would be a concern to some but probably not all: if you do dinghy over and spend the afternoon at the Soggy Dollar, you will probably have a dinghy full of tipsy sailors on the way back. There is always a risk of some drunken soul going overboard because they are not holding on.

I've done the trip by taxi and by dinghy. Just to echo what others wrote: you will get soaked in the dinghy (both ways) and the taxi (I've never hiked it) provides a couple spectacular views of both GH and WB on route. Wave and wind conditions should be your final determining factors of making the trip by dinghy.

FYI I've noticed that during my last 2-3 times that the mooring balls in GH are pretty much taken by 1PM or so (my trips have all been during the late January - mid February timeline).

D

Ok thanks everyone. There are six of us, and sounds like we'll make a thoughtful game-time decision based on conditions and sailor/captain preferences. We're coming down this weekend, and you've reinforced my thought that we'll need to get to Great Harbour very early in the day if we want any chance of snagging a mooring ball or finding a safe anchorage.
Thank-you!

It is not called "Pull and be Damned Point" for no reason!

Did it once in the dingy and won't do it again. Just too risky after a long day of painkillers and in the dark. You also may not know what the conditions will be like when you head back to the boat.

My position now is why risk it, just relax and take the cab.

Did it last year. Made sure there was one designated dingy driver and made sure we got back well before dark. From what I remember, rocks and reef extend out beyond the point so definitely wouldn't do it in the dark.

In the day light would do it again without concern.

I guess I just don't drink as much as most people. We have dinged over for years, arriving by noon, only have a couple drinks, head back with plenty of daylight left to fire up the grill and enjoy the evening on the boat. Yes if you want to drink crazy or head back after dark take a cab. We don't go down during Christmas Winds, and have never had any danger using our dingy

Is the hike just along the road or is there a path that is shorter?

Road up and over, then down to Ivan's

Hike the road or take a cab. Best options.

when I say designated dingy driver.... more like no more than 2 #2s, every hour... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

How much $$ is the taxi ride from Great Harbour?

$5pp each way when I was there March 2017

$5 each way on Tuesday..the safe way to go..