TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Clockwise itinerary and some questions

Wanted to start by thanking everyone for the great information on this board and plan to contribute as well when I can. I have a couple of questions regarding my planned itinerary. This will be my 6th charter in the BVI and typically we go in a counterclockwise direction. We are going to try a clockwise direction this time so we can try the FMP at Trellis as we have never been. I have a few questions below which I will list separately.

1) Will probably head to Norman from Roadtown Day #1 and the next two days will probably stay at White Bay and CGB while we spend some time at Sandy Spit/Cay, Bubbly Pool and the like. The next day is my question. Is it reasonable to head to Anegada from the NW side of Tortola or is that just too long of a grind for the day with a fairly new crew considering we may be hitting some swells?

2)Have never used the cut between Mosquito Island and VG but have seen many boats go through here and was wondering if there is a trick or is it pretty safe with a Cat with a 4.5 foot draft?

3)I have read much on this site regarding renting cars and at Leverick for the Baths, etc. but have always loved going in from the beach. Considering renting a car because of the views at the Hog and going to Savannah Beach. Wanted to know if you can row a dinghy in closer to the beach as long as you don't use the prop or if that is prohibited?

4)Would a trip in from Anegada the day of FMP in Trellis be too late to get a Mooring Ball in the bay in early March?

5)Stupid question but will a Navionics app on your smartphone work with your GPS function activated in the BVI if you don't have service in the BVI?

Thanks in advance for the advice and Happy Sailing!

Brett

1) We've only been once from north sound. I'm sure many will chime in on this.

2) Check with your charter company, they may red line it. We go through on cats.

3) How do you know you won't love going by car better if you've never tried it? There's nothing that great about going in by boat - its how you visit every other site. Try something different - I bet you'll want to do it again. I'm not sure about bringing the dinghy in closer, but if you need to bring it close to shore, that's just another sign that you are better off visiting by car.

4) If you left first thing in the morning, might be ok. Always hard to say though - we've only been to the FMP once in October so a little hard for me to say.

5) Yes, it will work without service as long as the maps are downloaded.

As far as the direction is concerned, there is a 3rd option. Don't make a full circle. We have often never crossed the north side of Tortola.

Brett,

Your questions are so similar to questions I have had in the past so I will give you my input...

1. We have done Jost (White Bay) to Anegada. It is a bumpy ride and from our experience (we go late December/early January) typically right into the swells and wind. Typically you need to motor unless you want to get there at dusk or you have a super fast boat that heads well into the wind which I'm assuming you don't with a 4.5ft draft. This past year we left from North Sound and had a beautiful sail both to Anegada and from Anegada to Jost.

2. I think the cut is redlined by many charter companies so I would double check yours. My brother did the cut this year on a Cat that drew 4 ft and almost gave himself a heart attack when the depth sounder registered less than a ft under his keel. He made it but in my opinion, not worth the stress.

3. For the first time this year we rented a car from Leverick and drove to The Baths. I highly recommend this option! Stay the night on the dock at Leverick and leisurely leave in the morning for The Baths rather than getting up at the crack in hopes of getting a ball. We did see a dinghy row in to pick up an elderly man from the beach but wouldn't recommend it unless it is for an elderly person or someone in need.

4. Might not get a ball in Trellis if you are coming from Anegada unless you leave super early. There is always the back up of Scrub or Marina Cay though.

5. My iPad Navionics worked without wifi and without 3G. I think it is on a satellite. I was stoked since the boat only had a GPS in the main cabin.

Have a blast! So jealous!

It's a long slog to Anegada from Tortola, been there, done that. Better off going to Anegada from North Sound or even Trellis, both much easier sails.
Renting a car from Speedy's is super easy from Leverick, they spot the car there for you and you stop by their office on the way to The Baths.
I would not suggest Moskito Cut if you have done it and know it, easy way to end your charter right then and now.
Many charter Companies do redline that passage.

Thanks all for the replies. I do like the sail from North Sound to Anegada a lot. I have also thought about the 3rd option of just cutting back to Cooper from JVD instead and heading to North Sound from there the next day.

The cut is redlined by most charter companies so I have always avoided it. I'm pretty sure the draft is 4.5 but maybe 5.5. We tend to make anywhere from 7-10 kts with this boat. It's not that big of a deal but it is irritating to watch other boats go through while you take the long way. lol

I also thought about heading across the North Side of Tortola and hitting Monkey Point and the Dogs to break it up and ending in North Sound before heading to Anegada but that sounds like a long day as well. May have to play it by ear depending on sea conditions that day.

I really don't want to spend two nights in Trellis but sounds like we would have to get up early to insure a mooring ball and that is probably not a definite. I believe there is a ferry from Marina Cay we could use as a back-up too but seems like it would be nice to have the boat in Trellis for the night.

We did this once, on our very first trip. No one told us to shut off the motor and row, it just seemed like an obvious precaution. I'm always shocked when folks drive with their prop spinning through an area with swimmers in the water.

The water was flat at the time. Bringing the dinghy through any surf could be hazardous to you and others nearby.

There are relatively new lines at Devil's Bay, and I believe at the Baths, which look like they're intended to at least discourage dinghy landings. I don't know if it's literally prohibited.

Dan <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Have never sailed to Anegada from Jost, but we have sailed Tortola's north shore from Jost to Scrub in the summer and it was a grind for some of the crew, but I enjoyed it! There are mooring balls at Guana or go to Marina Cay or Trellis and head to Anegada the next morning from there?

Taking a car to the Baths was a nice way to visit, but if you dingy in tie up close to the main roped off entry point so your weak swimmers can hold onto the rope all the way to the beach. Have them wear their pfd's and put on fins if needed. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Rent a car at Leverick - we did it last year and we're doing it again this year.

I think Cooper/NS/Anegada is a good idea - on the advice of a couple of buddies on here, we had a fantastic sail from Cooper to North Sound last year, on a tack outside the Dogs until we lined up with Necker and then just tacked into the NS -- one of the best sails all week - the sail to Anegada from NS was the next best.

It's tough to go down for a week, attend Friday night at leverick, then goto anegada and fly home on the weekend. It does not work. We need jumbies on Thursday night.

Yep, we've never made the Friday night Leverick BBQ due to scheduling. The Friday we'll spend at Leverick this year is in early November. One day...

Cheers, RickG

I'm trying to hit FMP at Trellis on Tues in June and hit the Leverick Friday night bbq too. It's causing me to go CW as well and I'm running into some of the same questions. Glad to see this Q&A.

We have done the swim into the Baths twice now and are renting a car when we go in March. You can only get the dinghy in so far and then you're on your own to swim. I'm a fairly active 50 yr old but once I get near the shore I end up getting washed into shore by the waves and the ensuing bathing suit full of sand just isn't that comfortable. I'm looking forward to the car rental. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

With respect to the Mosquito Island cut question, I believe that is where the tragic boating accident happened last Saturday, killing 2. It was at night and involved a power boat. I wouldn't do it myself unless I first went with someone local.

I don't believe the accident had anything to do with Mosquito cut - it had more to do with the rocks that stick out from the point that all boats have to go by regardless of whether or not you are going through the cut.

The accident happened at Mountain Point. The light on the point is a lot farther back than the rocks that extend out and the boat operator misjudged it in the dark.

Have thought about this a little more and wondered about motoring to Monkey Point for a quick stop from CGB early in the morning and then sailing to Anegada from between Guana and Great Camanoe. Seems like this could be a reasonable approach with an easterly wind but likely more difficult with winds from the NE. Would there still be Mooring balls available at Anegada as we would probably not arrive until 1 or 2 with this plan. Anyone tried this approach to Anegada on a clockwise course?

Not sure about that. You'd have to start at the crack of dawn, make the stop at Monkey Pt brief and motor most of the time to get to the entrance with reasonable light, say 1 or 2pm. Even if there weren't any mooring balls left you can still anchor to the East of the field, good holding. It is doable but it will depend on prevailing conditions, crew and a little bit of speed. Maybe have an alternate of going to the North Sound if things don't go perfectly and steal a day from the plan just in case? If you've been to Anegada before you could plan to get in a little later but if it's your first time I think you'd be pushing it a little! Kinda depends on how you roll...

If this is your first time to Anegada? That is not a good plan...

The tragic accident was at Mountain Point, just by Long bay

We did this last trip from Lee Bay to Anegada on a clockwise trip. Sailing time 3.5 hrs with 15-20 kt winds. Great sail.

Thanks again for the comments, very helpful! We have been to Anegada before several times so not worried about the entrance channel. Rita, it's good to hear that this was a great sail for you. We typically have sailed from North Sound for Anegada but it seems you could stay on a close reach with the right wind and make good time to Anegada from Lee Bay. I think this would be our main upwind day and we would just know it is going to be a long day (one out of eight ain't bad...lol). Every other day should be relatively easy by comparison from a sailing standpoint.

Would mainly use Monkey point as a quick break but we can always go for Trellis/Marina as a back up or North Sound. Trying to give myself a chance to get a ball in Trellis on the full moon party night as we have never attended and don't want to be sailing back from Anegada to Trellis as we would probably be too late.

Is there a ferry that runs late to Marina Cay that we could use as a backup for the full moon party if we have to stay there for the night?

3 weeks away and cannot wait!

We always head down at end of April or early May.

We did JVD up to Marina Cay one year, with a lunch stop at the Monkey Pt. 15-20 E winds and seas right on the nose the whole way up the north side. Great sail!

We also did Anegada from Marina Cay straight out the Great Camanoe/Scrub cut. 15-20 NE winds--Pointed most of the way and ended up getting set about 5 miles west of Anegada. Dropped sails and Motored the last 5 straight into the wind.

Always had a direct shot from NS to Anegada.