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Blackacre · 05-12-2018, 14:33

Curious if anyone has any experience spending New Year's Eve in Jost Van Dyke, BVI's. I hear its crazy busy and lot of mayhem. I am thinking of getting there early to grab a mooring. Not sure I feel comfortable anchoring there with so many boats expected. Thoughts, experiences, advice are welcome... Thanks.

contrail · 05-12-2018, 16:01

Definite Mayhem, but you can always take the special ferry back and forth to Soper's Hole on Tortola. Have fun and avoid the bother!

john61ct · 05-12-2018, 18:02

I did, for both Milleniums.

Rented a villa so no transport required but walking.

Plenty of fun, long as you don't mind lots of youngsters and silly behaviour.

Edit: booked and paid for 8-10 months ahead

Blackacre · 06-12-2018, 14:38

I am concerned about someone else fouling our anchor in the crowd. Any advice on ways to mitigate that? My hope was to get there early to pick up a mooring and hang all the fender just in case. If not, it may be a better to anchor further away from others.

jmschmidt · 07-12-2018, 11:09

We were there for the Moorings regatta in October, many boats no problem with mooring.

contrail · 07-12-2018, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmschmidt

We were there for the Moorings regatta in October, many boats no problem with mooring.

I assume by that you mean the Interline Regatta. Lots of boats for that one, but a fraction of what is normally expected for New Year's Eve. The problem is that the bottom has never been that good for anchoring, and when moorings were installed, a few years ago, they were put in the good spots. There are anchoring spots, but not as many as would appear, and most are far out. Add to that the potential for Christmas Winds and winter northern swells, and the conditions can be quite different from October. Additionally, some years it's necessary to get a spot a day or more in advance. Then, at the last moment, more boats arrive, desperate to anchor SOMEWHERE, and well fueled with alcohol and determination.

My own policy is not to put my boat at risk in that particular mayhem. But, obviously in would not be crowded unless many, many people disagreed with me!

Who knows what this year will be like, but it is not unusual for the overflow to crowd the other anchorages in JVD, as well.

RickG · 07-12-2018, 11:55

Take a mooring or anchor at Diamond Cay/East End and taxi back and forth. Day after at White Bay is fun too.

Cheers, RickG

Blackacre · 07-12-2018, 12:06

Thanks for all the advice. Very helpful...

zboss · 10-12-2018, 19:14

Most of the moorings fill up days ahead of time. Better to show up early. We don’t bother going out till well after 12... usually the 2 am to morning party is much more fun after the amateurs are passed out.

Blackacre · 14-01-2019, 15:46

Veni, vidi, vici = "I came; I saw; I conquered"

Definitely something to experience but I can't imagine doing it again. We arrived 4 days early and still had to anchor which apparently is a skill few have mastered. We moved to a mooring the following day but it didn't matter much because lots of boats arrived last minute and anchored next to us. Several dragged, lots of damage. It was something to see. My crew and I had a great time but it is not for the faint of hearts.

Hoosierdoc · 17-01-2019, 13:02

one of the students on our school trip the next week went there via boat for the festivities. He ended up with abrasions, bruises, and a broken phone.

Seemed like an intense time