Quote:
Originally Posted by west coaster
Hi
last week of march and first week of april we're chartering a 40' bavaria from Horizon one way antigua - st martin and planning on stopping at Nevis and then statia and/or saba on the way.
I have read the doyle and pavlidis books and i understand saba anchorages generally not tenable in northerly swells.
i was wondering three things:
1. are nevis and statia anchorages ok in northerly swells?
2. does anyone have suggestions for particularly good anchorages that time of year? was planning on pinneys beach at nevis (which i understand to be entirely mooring balls now - can this be confirmed?) and wells bay/ladder bay at saba.
&
3. how common are northerly swells this time of year (march/april).
thanks muchly in advance.
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Hi, WC.
You're coming a long way to sail--hope you have great
weather and gentle swells!
The big northerly swells that cause the open roadstead anchorages to be uncomfortable are caused by big storms up north, off the
east coast of the U.S. Those storms are still happening in March, not so much in April, so it's going to be the luck of the draw. We're experiencing 2.5 meter northerly swells today, from a big storm that blew off the Virginia Capes earlier this week. Here's a good website to
monitor to see what's coming:
Windfinder.com
Pinney's Beach on Nevis is an open roadstead, and can be rolly. If it gets too uncomfortable, you can
head over to Majors Bay on St. Kitts, which is more protected. It has a nice beach, and the Reggae Beach Bar and restaurant is in the next bay east, a short
dinghy ride or walk away.
Ladder Bay in Saba is even more exposed and is almost always rolly when the Trades are blowing strong. Wouldn't want to be there in a northerly swell. It's really worth a stop if conditions allow. The snorkeling and
diving are great, and the island itself is beautiful. If you come to Nevis from Antigua, you can decide about Saba before you depart. It's only a bit closer than St. Maarten, so it's not like you have to sail there first in order to get to St. Maarten.
I assume you're chartering out of Jolly Harbour. Nevis is a nice downwind sail from there, maybe nine hours to Charlestown. Hope you have a great trip. Let me know if I can help with any more info.