TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Oil Nut Bay

I've just been reading the 'Caribbean Comeback Itinerary' recently posted by The Moorings/Sunsail. Link below:

https://hsinfo.caribbeancomeback.com/itinerary

I was intrigued to read this quote: "Around the corner from Leverick Bay, Oil Nut Bay re-opens December 16th. Oil Nut Bay is a great place to tie up for the night, dine ashore and enjoy the facilities."

I didn't know that ONB was open to visiting yachts, I had thought it was all private...does anyone know if this is correct?

...if it is correct, does anyone know if there is likely to be enough depth to take a 50ft monohull up there? We've never previously ventured between Saba and BEYC in anything other than the tender.

Any insights/experiences/opinions/wild-guesswork or other would be greatly appreciated!

Not a place to tie up except for a tender. In the past the yachts tied up at YCCS and the owners were dropped at Oil Nut. We were definitely not welcome beyond the dock at Oil Nut last time we stopped there. Of course we were very welcome at YCCS, my daughter even had 2 birthday parties there. Oil Nut managed to get all the water in front of the resort declared a turtle sanctuary and off limits for anchoring. Of course that beach wasn't ever there, it was mangroves and the beach is from Barbuda.

I would be very cautious bringing a 50' monohull into Eustacia Sound. The western entrance channel by Saba Rock has several coral heads as you pass north of BEYC that are at 6-7 ft depth. The ocean entrance channel near ONB also has some coral heads that are at 7-8 feet and possibly shallower (note that some of the approach markers are missing). If you safely make it into Eustacia Sound, then you could anchor in Long Bay and dinghy to the ONB reception dock.

We have eaten at the ONB Beach Club about a dozen times. The food and service is excellent as you might expect. The facilities are beautiful. You need to call for a lunch/dinnqer reservation and obtaining one will depend on how many owners and guests they have on-island or if the are running a private function (same as with Peter Island resort). The pool and resort facilities are reserved for guest use, though I recall you could pay a healthy day use fee.

ONB plan was to eventually make the Beach Club restaurant private for owners and guests, and open the marina restaurant for the public. The marina took damage and looks to be a ways off from opening.

I had no idea Oil Nut Bay was declared a turtle sanctuary. We have carefully entered with a cat and anchored in the lagoon area right off the beach. Went ashore and there wasn’t anyone on the beach, at the pool or restaurant or anywhere else so they were eager to offer us drinks and food. This was about 4 yrs ago. Things may have changed.

Thanks all for your advice.

That largely tallies with what we had thought. Hence being slightly dubious about the comments from Sunsail/Moorings!

I think we will just take the tender up and have a squint in that case.

This is from the oil nut bay website.

Dockage Rates are as follows

Monthly: $15 per foot per month
Nightly: $3 per foot per night
Nightly Catamaran: $5 per foot per night
Utility Rates are as follows

Water: $.20 per gallon
Ice: $5.00 per bag
Garbage: $5.00 per bag
Piers 1 and 4

Oil Nut Bay has opened its doors to business on Pier 1 and 4 of the Marina in Deep Bay. Pier 1 has fixed slips of 30, 40 or 80 feet in length with a 100 foot long “T Head”. The docks have 30, 50 and 100 Amp power and are available for short or long term vessels. Twenty-four more slips will be complete in early 2017 as Pier 2 progresses, for boats up to 70 feet in length.

Pier 2 is 95% complete and Marina guests will enjoy the same amenities.

It was probably 4 years ago that they roped off the bay just past the reception dock.

It looks like they have just answered my question on their Facebook page!

Lunch and a water-taxi from GC it is then!

"The Oil Nut Bay Restaurant is now available to outside guests by reservation. Join us for lunch and you will be granted access to our exclusive Beach Club.

The stunning setting, impeccable service and exceptional dining are what make Oil Nut Bay’s Beach Club Restaurant world-class. The main building, adorned with three swimming pools and swim up bar, is just steps away from the pristine white sands of Oil Nut Bay beach. Work up an appetite out on the azure waters with our complimentary watersports equipment or lighthearted beach games before relaxing and indulging in internationally and seasonally inspired cuisine.

Tantalizing and satisfying to the most sophisticated palates, the range of dining choices offers exquisite Caribbean cuisine for lunch, evening, and poolside service. Kids will enjoy the Al Forno oven pizza while adults savor Al fresco light fare.

Contact us to make a reservation for lunch and dinner. Once your reservation is made we will coordinate a water taxi pick-up from Gun Creek."

At the price they are charging to dock a cat the water taxi sounds like a good idea. Any word on the state of their docks post irma?
G

Just spoke by email with them (extremely friendly and very quick response).

We were told that with a reservation we are welcome to arrive by dinghy to the main arrival dock (very close to the beach club) rather than the marina (long hike).

So for lunch...dinghy sounds ideal. For dinner, probably better to use their water-taxi to minimise the additional navigational challenges posed by darkness and a few gallons of painkillers!

Is this still David Johnson's enterprise? If so I would take a pass

Looks like the monthly rate at $15/foot/month is less than half the rate on Tortola. Wonder if that is a typo.

The monthly rate does look low. Cost to dock a 50 foot cat for a month 750 dollars. Cost to dock a 50 foot cat for 3 days 750 dollars!
G

Can anyone point me to a google maps pin where Gun Creek is located?

18'29'25"N, 64'22'55"W