TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Going to the baths via boat,

How many knots of wind would there be to red flag the entry to the baths from the water? We are planning on going next Friday and looking at the weather, it will be in the mid teens. I realize there are several factors, but how about a ballpark estimate? We are looking at alternative plans, ie Spanish town vs Leverick bay and renting a car! Thanks for your suggestions!

The wind isn't the actual factor in deciding whether the flags go up or not, it is the size and type of swell coming ashore. Winds in the mid-teens are normal for the BVI. I just checked WindGuru for waves and they are showing about 1.2meters from the NE, which would mean relatively mild conditions and a non-threatening direction so you should be good to go. Of course a lot can happen in a week and those mooring balls fill up quickly as well, so a backup plan might be in order.

Friday!! Go to leverick Thursday night, get a slip, rent a car and enjoy the baths Friday morning, then visit other spots on the island. Then have dinner at the BBQ and enjoy the jumbies. Depart Saturday morning.

This is a highlight of our trips now. Done it with many new groups and everyone loved it.

It is an absolute zoo trying to pick up a ball over there right now. You'll be fighting for a ball most of the morning. Get there very, very early or follow Maytrix advice -

If you go by car, bring your National Parks permit and you won't have to pay again.

Today we went to the Baths by car. After doing it this way we will never do by boat again. (Only did that once and there's a reason!)

All balls were taken when we got there at 10 and we were just lucky there was no boutique cruise ship there.

We had a nice breakfast at Top of the Baths and then walked down the trail and spent a few hours tooling around.

While there we enjoyed watching people swim to shore from the dinghy lines. It's roped off so you can't dinghy ashore anymore. We also watched someone just hang onto the dinghy and be drug back to their boat. We suppose they were tired from the swim to the dinghy.

Our plan for all trips here forward is Leverick Marina, rent a car, Chez Bamboo for dinner (it really is amazing), Baths next morning and provision at Rosie's on the way back to the boat. It really did work out well.

Now, we are off to the Leverick Buffet and Jumbies!

Agree- this is one of our new favorite things! Rented a car a couple of year ago with Mr & Mrs sail2wind when we got "stuck" at Leverick for a couple of days due to weather - it's now become an annual must. With a car, you can also stop off at other pretty beaches, visit Hog Heaven for the amazing view, etc...etc....etc....

Keep in mind renting a car with a large crew might be difficult. We tried over New Years and there were no cars available to hold our crew of 8.

I called a cab and Chutney was nice guy and cut us a "deal". Normal price is $14/person but he moved it to $10. Each way. $160 round trip was a little steep in our opinion. It would have been worse if we'd had him take us to Coco Maya later that night as originally planned. The crew was tired though so we didn't make that trip.

Stay at leverick and have Nick arrange a rental for you. We have a Safari bus that holds 12 and you have it for 24 hours for about $75.00

Just returned from VG. You cannot dinghy into beach at Baths or Devils Bay as it is roped off...finally a safe decision enforced. The winds were very stiff with high swells last 2 weeks but had calmed quite a bit by this past thursday. In fact, even Devils Bay was calm.

Did the Safari truck this year when we went to The Baths on December 29 and it was an amazing adventure. Well worth it and much cheaper than a cab!

Best way to the baths will 100% be on a glass bottom boat hosted by Gumption. we find the a mooring close enough and then splash, we will guide you onto the beach, walk into the cave to devil's bay where we will snorkel the ridge of the baths. But all depending on amount of person or if it's a half day charter or something. Picking up Leverick Bay is not ever problem.

Is gumption doing any february necker trips?

The charter fleet has grown far more than the number of balls at The Baths. Some years ago arriving and finding a ball to moor on was a reasonable and predictable event. Today there are far more who want to visit by boat on much larger boats who attempt to show up and enjoy The Baths. The results can be a disorganized ametuer mess or cluster ****. 10's of boats get away with everyday others end up frustrated, irate, and dissapointed. A land visit is simply more predictable than a visit by sea. Today there are too many boats, vying for too little space, coupled with too many people. Those that know coach trying a visit by land...... many skip the crowds in the baths... If you enjoy jocking for "good parking spots" on the busiest shopping days of the year? You may just love visiting The Baths by Sea. I wonder weather it is time to limit the moorings at The Baths to commercial vessels only?