We have chartered a 40' with Sunsail Nov 11-17. Our first time to the BVI's and have read all of the guidebooks and would like some advice about the best places/islands to see. What about Anagada...is it worth it? A quick 6-7 day sailpaln from those who have been there before would be helpful. It will just be the two of us and we are really looking forward to this trip. Thanks
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Full day for Anegada
The only day that I plan for in the BVI is a full day at Anegada if you get permission from the Charter Co. By the time you get there and do the "things" that you do on Anegada, you should spend the night. You should plan to arrive during the late morning (close to noon) as well as leave the next day in the late morning (while the sun is high). Be sure to get a BBQ lobster dinner ashore as well as snorkeling at Loblolly Bay when you get there. It's worth the trip! We returned to Marina Cay/Trellis Bay after leaving Anegada. Nice to relax on a mooring at MC after the trip from Anegada. We have found that a visit to the Baths should be done via taxi from Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor ($1/ft fee, overnight, last April) and a nice dinner at the end of the day at "The Rock" restaurant (fancy, fine-dining). Take a cab from the marina to the Baths. The cabbie will also make the dinner arrangements for you.
The only day that I plan for in the BVI is a full day at Anegada if you get permission from the Charter Co. By the time you get there and do the "things" that you do on Anegada, you should spend the night. You should plan to arrive during the late morning (close to noon) as well as leave the next day in the late morning (while the sun is high). Be sure to get a BBQ lobster dinner ashore as well as snorkeling at Loblolly Bay when you get there. It's worth the trip! We returned to Marina Cay/Trellis Bay after leaving Anegada. Nice to relax on a mooring at MC after the trip from Anegada. We have found that a visit to the Baths should be done via taxi from Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor ($1/ft fee, overnight, last April) and a nice dinner at the end of the day at "The Rock" restaurant (fancy, fine-dining). Take a cab from the marina to the Baths. The cabbie will also make the dinner arrangements for you.
Check the archives, but my 2 cents....
I think the real deal here is to deciede what you guys want to do and plan around that. If you are into bar hopping, then every major harbor has a number of places to see and be seen. If you are into peace and solitude, stay away from the major harbors as the bars can be pretty noisy and stay open late. So without any real idea of what you folks want to do while you are down there, here are a lot of the standard places to stop at: These are very well traveled stopping points Manchioneel bay on cooper island, great burgers and larger pain killers. Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke, good lunch spot and a must visit place. The Bight, Pirates was a lot of fun as is the Willy T. Cane Garden Bay, go to Da wedding, it is at the far end of the bay, but well worth the visit, say hi to Puiee for us. Bitter End Yacht Club in gorda sound, great anchorage, the BEYC is ok The Baths, gotta do that one, get there early as the moorings fill up pretty quickly If you are going to the USVI, St. John is a great place to visit and a favorite beach day is trunk bay, there are other secluded beaches, but for some reason we keep coming back to this one. Leinster bay is a good overnight anchorage and a peaceful place to visit. Coral harbor is not the most beautiful of places, but the Skinny Legs restaurant is a fun lunch stop as are the small number of shops around it. Lameshur bay is a great overnight, the day/night we were there we were the only ones there and it was incredibly peaceful and quiet. If you go into St. John out of the BVI's you will need to clear customs, while you are in St. John, go shopping at Mongoose Junction, a very funky place to spend a few hours looking around, great little out door restaurant there also. Hope this helps, remember that you will be on vacation, so the 3 hour sail from cane garden bay to gorda sound may get scrubbed due to an over indulgence the night before and you will either spend another day in cane garden bay recouping, or a quick sail over to cooper island my be the ticket. Either way, keep it open ended and loose, if you are too fixated on a schedule, you will not have as good a time as you would otherwise. Keep in mind that you don't have to see it all the first time around, the BVI's aren't going anywhere soon and they will welcome you back with open arms. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
I think the real deal here is to deciede what you guys want to do and plan around that. If you are into bar hopping, then every major harbor has a number of places to see and be seen. If you are into peace and solitude, stay away from the major harbors as the bars can be pretty noisy and stay open late. So without any real idea of what you folks want to do while you are down there, here are a lot of the standard places to stop at: These are very well traveled stopping points Manchioneel bay on cooper island, great burgers and larger pain killers. Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke, good lunch spot and a must visit place. The Bight, Pirates was a lot of fun as is the Willy T. Cane Garden Bay, go to Da wedding, it is at the far end of the bay, but well worth the visit, say hi to Puiee for us. Bitter End Yacht Club in gorda sound, great anchorage, the BEYC is ok The Baths, gotta do that one, get there early as the moorings fill up pretty quickly If you are going to the USVI, St. John is a great place to visit and a favorite beach day is trunk bay, there are other secluded beaches, but for some reason we keep coming back to this one. Leinster bay is a good overnight anchorage and a peaceful place to visit. Coral harbor is not the most beautiful of places, but the Skinny Legs restaurant is a fun lunch stop as are the small number of shops around it. Lameshur bay is a great overnight, the day/night we were there we were the only ones there and it was incredibly peaceful and quiet. If you go into St. John out of the BVI's you will need to clear customs, while you are in St. John, go shopping at Mongoose Junction, a very funky place to spend a few hours looking around, great little out door restaurant there also. Hope this helps, remember that you will be on vacation, so the 3 hour sail from cane garden bay to gorda sound may get scrubbed due to an over indulgence the night before and you will either spend another day in cane garden bay recouping, or a quick sail over to cooper island my be the ticket. Either way, keep it open ended and loose, if you are too fixated on a schedule, you will not have as good a time as you would otherwise. Keep in mind that you don't have to see it all the first time around, the BVI's aren't going anywhere soon and they will welcome you back with open arms. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
Just Read Yesterday...
...that the USVI has enacted a law that ALL people on a boat MUST be wearing a PFD of some sort. The details of the law have not been determined or "fine-tuned" yet. E.G. - when a boat is moored or dockside - Are the PFD's still required? What about Charter Boats? What about mega yachts? Ferries to the BVI? Check out the laws before you go to the USVI (St. Croix, St. John's, St. Thomas) first.
...that the USVI has enacted a law that ALL people on a boat MUST be wearing a PFD of some sort. The details of the law have not been determined or "fine-tuned" yet. E.G. - when a boat is moored or dockside - Are the PFD's still required? What about Charter Boats? What about mega yachts? Ferries to the BVI? Check out the laws before you go to the USVI (St. Croix, St. John's, St. Thomas) first.
Couple of tips
We've sailed the BVI seven times now. With only a week, I'd say pass on Anegada and visit it when you come back again (you will). It's a great stop, but so are all the other places in the islands. We always do 10 day charters so there is more opportunity to visit anchorages. One place that was new for us this past trip was Foxy's Taboo at Diamond Cay. Highly recommended as it's in a pristine very beautiful location. If you want more details or anything, please contace me via the owners' directory. We love to talk about sailing the BVI. It's as good as sailing gets. Gary Kunkel Visalia CA
We've sailed the BVI seven times now. With only a week, I'd say pass on Anegada and visit it when you come back again (you will). It's a great stop, but so are all the other places in the islands. We always do 10 day charters so there is more opportunity to visit anchorages. One place that was new for us this past trip was Foxy's Taboo at Diamond Cay. Highly recommended as it's in a pristine very beautiful location. If you want more details or anything, please contace me via the owners' directory. We love to talk about sailing the BVI. It's as good as sailing gets. Gary Kunkel Visalia CA
Anegada
I have been to BVI lots of times, My favorite place is Anegada, I was there (BVI) last year for 2 weeks chartering from Sunsail, most of the boat's have GPS so its a no brainer getting there, You have to watch getting into the channel. Anegada is a wonderful place to go to.... Next time I will stay 4 days or more. Enjoy your trip... Katie
I have been to BVI lots of times, My favorite place is Anegada, I was there (BVI) last year for 2 weeks chartering from Sunsail, most of the boat's have GPS so its a no brainer getting there, You have to watch getting into the channel. Anegada is a wonderful place to go to.... Next time I will stay 4 days or more. Enjoy your trip... Katie
The Baths are overrated
Been to the BVIs four times, they just aren't worth it compared to other great snorkeling areas and it gets crowded. If you do go, go by land, but why waste a day in your short trip? Bruce's list was great. We like Cooper Island Yacht Club, west side of the island. Leverick Bay in North Sound is much quieter than the Bitter End and has a great pool and a good restaurant. Norman Island is fun, but the underwater activity in the caves is also overrated - go a bit south of the caves to the dinghy hookup and dive or snorkel on the big underwater hump there, much nicer fish. Don't bother with the US VIs, they're nowhere near as nice as the BVIs. We like Cane Garden Bay and Jost, too. Have a great trip, you will be back.
Been to the BVIs four times, they just aren't worth it compared to other great snorkeling areas and it gets crowded. If you do go, go by land, but why waste a day in your short trip? Bruce's list was great. We like Cooper Island Yacht Club, west side of the island. Leverick Bay in North Sound is much quieter than the Bitter End and has a great pool and a good restaurant. Norman Island is fun, but the underwater activity in the caves is also overrated - go a bit south of the caves to the dinghy hookup and dive or snorkel on the big underwater hump there, much nicer fish. Don't bother with the US VIs, they're nowhere near as nice as the BVIs. We like Cane Garden Bay and Jost, too. Have a great trip, you will be back.
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