TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Anegada Approach and Provisioning Qs

We are headed back to the BVI this summer, first week in July, after many years away and bareboating elsewhere. We are on a Moorings 42.3 monohull. I’ll probably have a few questions over the next month, but my first is whether Walker’s Anegada approach info on his website including GPS coordinates is still reasonably accurate. Also any good options for provisioning premade or nearly premade meals? I seem to recall this used to be an option with Moorings but no longer see it. It is just my wife and I. Thanks.

Sean

I'm not familiar with Walker's data, but the channel is well marked and the markers would be my primary navigational aid on the approach unless they were obviously out of place.

The cafe at the MOorings base has some prepared meals, and there are also ready meals by Brandywine (at French Deli?) that we have enjoyed in the past.

Nobody does the split provisioning any more. If you search provisioning you will come up with many options. Personally if it’s just the two of you order water, drinks and other heavy stuff from the Moorings. You can get everything else you will need from the store onsite at the moorings behind the pool. If you want any special wines or alcohol Tico’s and Caribbean cellars are a 5 minute walk. The French market right across the street has additional options. Riteway is a 10 minute walk but no real need to go there.

Instead of Walkers you can just use the boat GPS or better yet bring your own phone or IPAD with Navionics or something similar on it. The channel is well marked now and we stay a couple degrees West of the first marker (heading from North channel of North sound) before entering the channel. i last used Walkers coordinates about 7 years ago and they were fine. I typically head out of North Sound at 0 degrees True.

https://bvipirate.com/AnegadaApproach.gif

I don't know if there are as many markers as Walker indicates....for some reason i am thinking there were only 4 sets vs 5 but i am sure someone can correct me.

Every trip I download Walker's waypoints and load them into the boat's chartplotter since they've always proved accurate and helpful. The hardest part is figuring out on the chartplotter how to clean out waypoints from previous charters and to load the waypoints. I usually put all of the various file formats on aa microSD (bring an SD adapter just in case) card for loading as well as a printed copy just in case.

"The hardest part is figuring out on the chartplotter how to clean out waypoints from previous charters and to load the waypoints"

Truth...i can never figure that out for some reason so just bring my own gear....

Yes, still accurate. And my approach chart is downloadable from this link.

The chart was showing the markers that used to lead into Neptune's. I just revised the chart and removed them.

I print out Walker's sailing directions and bring them along...hey, what can I say? I'm old fashioned! The chart plotter is alright but I watch enough tv when I'm home. I've piloted up there several times but I like the refresher and also hand it to any first timer or kid so they can help pilot the vessel as well...steering. a compass course and scanning the empty horizon!

Thank you! Like someone else said I've printed your directions for the Anegada approach and referenced them for as long as I can remember. Maybe not a requirement anymore due to technology but I guess i'm old fashioned as well.

And thank you everyone else as well, and George for the provisioning suggestions.

Sean

Walker was the reason the channel markers were placed.

Consider bringing your own entrees for 2 people , Vac Packed and in a soft sided cooler like (Polar Bear 24 can --- I believe 50% off for Father's Day sale). This way you have proportions for 2 (vs 6-8). Make menu and then provisioning list and you should be able to provision quickly from nearby market/Riteway)

We have done the channel multiple times in a monohull drawing 6.5 feet. It looks like you are rated at 5.5 feet.

Cheers, RickG

For the owners out there (with Raymarine electronics at least), it only took me 15 years to figure out that I can create a new user profile "Owner", and switch to it from the "Skipper" default profile, set up the display the way I like it, and as long as I remember to switch back to "Skipper" before leaving there is a good chance that my settings remain unmolested. I assume that includes waypoints and routes, but I don't use these in ordinary navigation in the BVI.

I personally am not at all happy to see waypoints and routes entered on my boat because of the concern that someone may have been making inappropriate use (which is pretty much any) of the "follow route" autopilot feature. I delete them with prejudice.

I'm not a boat owner but I quickly learned the first step was to delete any waypoints already in the chart plotter. I also found it helpful to identify the chart plotter that is on the boat before heading down and loading a pdf manual on the laptop (phone, tablet) that I always bring with me. Internet access has improved so much over the years I probably could just access the manual online.

The cafe has various pre packaged meals at $14 each (serves 1) . The Moorings store has chicken curry .. serves 2 plus for $27 or so.

With GPS on chartplotters and iPads …. Anegada is not the challenge it may have been.

Just put the one waypoint at the start of the entrance and all is good. Visual after that
Don’t cut corners

Cheers
Bob

Wow...I didnt make the connection Duckfat. I would have never tried to navigate up there many years ago without your guidance and charts. I sent you an email to thank you years ago but want to thank you again for helping me on my journey literally and figuratively...

Thank you my friend...

Waypoints/directions are still accurate. Used them last week. Approach buoys are easy enough to navigate- 2 at the entrance to channel and then a red and a green to turn on before final approach buoys. maybe a new pair on final approach but very clearly set. Voyage 59 Cat with 5.5 draft. No issues on ball in middle of Mooring field. Strong reco for Lobster Trap dinner Was delicious.

I haven't actually looked at Walker's approach instructions in years, but they should still be good. The basics are to head due N out of North Sound, the current will set you slightly to the west. The trick is to not end up too far E as you approach the entry. If you've done the approach before you'll remember and be fine. Approach the waypoint/entry to the channel from the S or SW and follow the channel in. You would really only need to worry about following the approach if the channel markers were all blown away by a storm or something like that. In normal times and typical passage conditions, it's pretty straightforward.

It's not a difficult navigational challenge at this point. If you're on a Moorings boat, there should be a guide book on board and that's got all the info you need to safely get into the anchorage at Setting Point.

I'll second the recommendation for Lobster Trap. Never a let down.

But don't cut the corner, as tempting as it will be!😊