TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Help with May Itiinerary

I would like some ideas or feedback. We are going for a 7 day trip we have 4 adults and two grandkids 10 & 8 on a Moorings 393 power cat. Sleep on board Wednesday May 20.
Thursday moor at Norman do the caves and dinner at the Pirates Bite
Friday snorkel the Dogs or The Baths? on the way to Leverick Bay to grab a mooring ball. Dinner? Looking for suggestion
Saturday snorkel or water toy around North Sound and moor at Saba Rock Lunch and dinner? Sand Box? Saba Rock?
Sunday 5/24 moor Marina Cay?? Dinner Pursers?? Looking for suggestion for over night mooring and dinner.
Monday snorkel Monkey Point on way to get a mooring ball at Cane Garden Bay. Dinner?
Tuesday Jost Van Dyke lunch at Foxy's moor at Little Harbor dinner at Harris's (been there before and like it)
Wednesday moor Cooper Island dinner ashore
Thursday return boat by 10 AM
Looking for suggestions or comments

With your grandkids onboard there is no question except to go to Levick on Friday for the BBQ and The Jumbies, which they will love. Stopping at the Dogs is always dependable on the weather, but if you make an early start, then The Baths is a great place to visit. Bear in mind that this is a busy weekend in BVI, especially North Sound with the Poker Run taking place on Sunday. Check out their website for details. Lots of fast boat throughout the islands, but they come and go very quickly!
Sand Box is an ideal stop for lunch as is Saba Rock, though others may chip in here.
There are always very mixed reviews of Pussers at Marina Cay. If conditions are good, Cooper has excellent food or Last Resort, Bellamy Cay in Trellis Bay could be another option. Always be flexible and keep your options open. You're on vacation and weather and sea conditions must be taken into account. Are you intending to have all meals ashore?

Yes we like to have dinner ashore and usually lunch and brekfast on board

Every year MIT MBA grads make there way to the bvi and charter a fleet of boats. Last year there were three hundred students on the trip. They were down around the end of May.

Wherever they go, the anchorages will be very crowded. Last year we stayed away from bitter end resort for that reason.

The ferries back and forth between Stt and bvi were full and it was possible to not even get on one. If your timing is the same as theirs, you need to go to the ferry real early even if you have a ticket for a particular trip.

I don't know the what the MIT groups dates are this year, but maybe somebody on the board does.

It would be wise to give them a wide berth and enjoy yourself.

Also, the 14th annual Leverick Bay Poker Run is on Sunday, May 25. Check out the website (web page) and consider if it is something your group would like to be in the midst of, or enjoy from a bit of a distance. It starts and ends at Leverick Bay, and makes stops along the south shore of Tortola, West End, Norman Island, and Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor. A really fun event for a good cause.

Just be very aware of the speed boats that descend on the area during the Poker Run -- The run itself is on Sunday, May 24 - the 25th is actually a Monday. You should be fine planning Marina Cay for Sunday but this is the morning all the boats will be arriving into North Sound - so just be aware of that as you're leaving. It can be a bit overwhelming if you're not ready for it <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Winterstale you say the boats arrive on Saturday? I would like to avoid all the confusion. How do you think this will work? Norman Thursday 21st. Cane Garden Friday 22nd, Jost Saturday 23rd, Marina Cay Sunday 24th, Monday and Tuesday 26th at North Sound, Wednesday 27th at Cooper than back to reality on the 28th. Also what do you think of Peter Island is it worth considering a stop?

The boats start to arrive throughout the weekend - the event itself is on Sunday. There's usually a boat contest that takes place too - last year it was at Scrub and I believe it was on Friday or Saturday. You should be okay with either plan -- I was just saying that if you stick to your original plan and you're leaving North Sound on Sunday, the speedboats will be arriving that day so it could be a busy day in the Channel - nothing to be too concerned about - just something to keep in mind. Your above itinerary could work too - the boats will all leave on Monday.

Peter Island is lovely - you can either anchor in Deadman's Bay or pick up a mooring ball in Great Harbour. It is a pricey place to eat and drink but the grounds are just beautiful. We will be making that our last stop this year as well. If I had to choose between Cooper and Peter...I'd probably go with Cooper. The snorkeling at Cistern would be the selling point <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Will do thanks for the insight. I thought that about Peter too. I'm always looking for suggestions from someone that has been there and done that.

I too would like to know if anyone is aware of the dates for the MIT MBA crew as we will be there May 28 - June 4. Cannot seem to find anything online on the search engines except for 2014 dates.

WayneC, I think your courses in either direction look good and I agree with others that at least thinking about your back up plans are a must so you are not reaching in the heat of the moment. Going to try and get my clockwise trip report out today as it is similar to your secondary option above.

My only suggestion would be to consider starting at Cooper the first day on your primary itinerary and ending at Norman to prevent back tracking and saving on fuel in a power cat, especially if you got out of Roadtown later in the day. You can easily hit the Baths and the Dogs from Cooper on your way to dinner at Leverick from Cooper. A little harder to get to both from Norman Day #2. I travel with an 11 and 14 year old and they don't like to spend all day on the water necessarily and want to get to places and do stuff which is the main reason I would suggest it.

It really is hard to go wrong in my mind with your itinerary choices as long as you prep the crew in advance of what to expect each day. My mistake in the past has been underestimating the time on the water and getting the inevitable "But you said it would only be an hour" comment.

Agree with what cruzdoc said - even with college kids on our recent trip, they seemed happiest when we got to our mooring earlier and they could swim off the boat, dinghy ashore, and play around for the day. If you're heading to cooper our recent experience ( 3rd week of March this year) was that all mooring balls were taken by 11:00 am or so.

We got to Cooper around noon last May and got a mooring easily. I think it really depends on the time of year.

Agree with Winterstale in that we have never had a problem getting a mooring ball at Cooper in May or June in general. In March we got the last one about 3:00 luckily but there are back up plans at Peter and Norman within 30-45 minutes if you don't want to anchor.

Found this link http://mitsloan.mit.edu/mfin/program-components/personalized-curriculum/academic-calendar/ Click on the MIT ACADEMIC CALENDAR link. Looks like grad date is 05 June, finals week is 18-22 May. My take/hope is that the invasion is post graduation as I'm down 21-28 May with a group of newbies, and I'd hate to have that be an experience for them. With that said, its easy enough to plan around them should you have the pleasure of encountering said flotilla.

Mville I'm down for the same week. May 21 to May 28 we are on a Moorings 393 power cat. How about you? I sure hope it's a quiet week and we don't have a lot of competition for mooring balls

I'll be on a Sunsail 444. After posting the reply, I realized I'm also down 01-09 June....damn. Still think it'll be cool. But as when sailing I go with the rule of tonnage over anything else! So if their tonnage is there, I'll adjust my course and avoid contact!

I stand corrected.... MIT group is 24-31 May according to my owner booking friend at Sunsail. Failed to ask for a boat count, but will let you know tomorrow. Still, NBD, easy enough to stay a day ahead or behind, just good to know they will be in the neighborhood. Will make for a wild night at Willy T's though!!!!

I'm told 25 boats for the MIT group.....plan accordingly.

Do you know if they usually travel together in a group

We will just miss them, sailing 5/30-6/8. Just hope they're not at the Bight on the 30th!

I've no clue if they travel together, sorry. Be a mell of a hess everywhere they go if they do, but can't see that happening as there's not enough room for all that except at The Bight or NGS. WayneC, I'll be the boat with a faded No Shoes Nation flag, and a 'Bama and/or Assburn (Auburn)flag, as the group I'm taking is mixed like that. Putter over if you see us. My plan is to do a clockwise run starting at Norman then Jost so I miss the poker run up north.

I'm not sure what to do I originally thought clockwise than I changed my mind to counter clockwise. I'm back to counterclockwise. Cooper first night Thursday May 21, than to Leverick on Friday the 22nd for the barbeque and tie up to a mooring ball. Saturday move over to Saba Rock and spend the night there doing lunch or dinner at the Sand Box and or Saba Rock. Sunday the 24th watch the boats leave for the Poker Run than after the confusion make my way to Marina Cay to stay overnight. Than Monday the 25th head for either Jost or CGB, not sure which. Tuesday head to either Jost or CGB to spend the night our last night enjoy Norman Island. I'm looking for suggestions I have trouble making up my mind. I just don't want to show up someplace and not have any mooring balls available. I'm not too sure about anchoring for the night. I'll have my Virgin Islands Cruising Guide handy just in case I do have to anchor. Does anyone know if the anchoring suggestions they give you are reliable? As far as the anchorages they suggest. I really just want to stay away from the crowds I'm the only experienced person on our trip. My daughter and son-in-law are newbies and my wife (The Admiral) is there just to look pretty and tell me what to do. Nothing etched in stone except for the direction we start out either East or West.

Wayne, We will be at Leverick the 22nd. Hope to see you there.

Hey Ontheboat what is the name of the boat your going to be on? Have you ever been to the Friday night BBQ before? I'm going to be on a Moorings 393 Powercat with my wife, daughter, son-in-law and 2 grandkids. I can't wait to get on the water.

Make a reservation for a table when you arrive at leverick. The show starts around 8pm. Dinner around 6:30 ish is what we usually do.

Thanks for the reservation tip.i didn't know that. I have no idea what goes on . All I know is everyone says it's worth going to so I thought we would give it a try

It's fun. Are you booking a slip? Ttol rate slightly more than a ball. Then it's easy on and off.

I didn't plan on a slip I was just going to pick up a mooring ball and dinghy in. . I thought the kids would enjoy the kayak and paddle board more that way.

That works too. Most seem to prefer a slip. I'm just as happy on a ball. I almost forgot. Bring a camera to dinner. If you have a decent low light rig, bring that one.

The beauty of being on the dock is that everyone can come and go as they please vs having to dinghy in. It's very convenient and hard to beat the price.

I am going to take your advice. The only thing and a little nervous about docking the boat. I already sent an email to Leverich Bay theysaid they will get back to me Tuesday with the details and confirming the slip. The person who Hanserd my email is off today and won't return until Tuesday

Don't worry - Leverick Bay has the best crew anywhere on the docks - they will help you in! Just make sure you radio on the approach so they know you're coming and will be ready to assist. And tipping them for helping is nice too <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

you are probably going to bow in, ask what side you should put out your fenders and go slow

I was wondering about tipping. Does $20.00 seem reasonable?

that would be very generous, the boys are great

We brought a Catalina 400 that we picked up in FL. into the N. Sound more on sail control than rudder. The dock crew worked their arses off getting us to the fuel dock.
Fueled & watered while we fixed the issue. Gave them a 20 and a job well done, continued to St. Vincent. These guys are great

Wayne,
We are on a Bavaria 42 named "Transitions" out of Horizon YC. Hope to see you at Leverick! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I wrote the name down and will be looking for you.

You won't be able to miss us. Trust me. Will probably be flying a large Texas flag. It will be me, my 19 yo "Hey Dad, I can drink in the BVI's" son, my 22 yo "yeah, so what, I can drink in the U.S." son, and my terrified wife.

Pretty sure "Transitions" is a 40...that said....we will look out for you. we are...ta da...hallucinations. be down most of June