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Old 24-10-2016, 21:13   #1
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BVI 5 day itinerary

Finally pulling the trigger, our first solo run! We just chartered a Beneteau 41 starting the week after Thanksgiving for 5 nights in the BVI's. Looking for a relatively easy itinerary, anyone out there have any past itinerary's they would like to share? We are pretty open, just want it to be mellow and fun.
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Old 25-10-2016, 03:02   #2
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

Using the custom Google search feature will give you a ton of info.

Search for "BVI itinerary"
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Old 25-10-2016, 05:26   #3
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

My advice would be to not set any specific itinerary. Just plan a few places that you would maybe like to visit, and then go with the flow. Some suggested stops...

Cooper Island is a nice anchorage. Be sure to make reservations if you want to eat dinner there. You can call or radio when you get to the anchorage, or if you get there early go in for an afternoon beer and put your name on the list.

Personally I think the caves on Norman are over-rated, but a lot of people consider them a "must do." Your choice.

The Willie-T is something to do if you are into raucous nightlife, and enjoy a drink or eight. Not so much if you prefer a quiet, relaxing place.

There are a couple of options with Virgin Gorda. I consider The Baths to be a "must see." We have docked in Spanish Town, but now prefer Leverick Bay. You can spend a night at the docks and get a nice, long, hot shower. Rent a car and drive down to The Baths, rather than trying to find a mooring. Or take a taxi, but renting isn't too expensive and then you can explore at your own pace. Be sure to bring your park pass with you, and you won't have to pay the fee at The Baths. In North Sound, both Saba Rock and The Bitter End are also nice for dinner or mooring for a night.

With five nights, and especially the first time, I probably would not try to get up to Anegada. But put it on your list for a future charter.

Back to Tortola, Marina Cay is not bad, but I did not find it as appealing as some seem to. Trellis Bay can be very crowded, but there are some shops there with lovely artwork, as well as a basic grocery store where you can pick up a few things.

On around there's Cane Garden Bay and of course Jost Van Dyke. Foxy's and The Soggy Dollar are a couple of the long-time, well-known, traditional places to stop.

Sopers hole has a number of shops and restaurants, as well as places to load up on provisions if you need to.

If you are into snorkeling and/or SCUBA diving then there are a whole list of places that I have not touched on. My wife and I aren't too deeply interested in that, so maybe someone else can make some of those suggestions. We really just enjoy the sailing, and then quiet nights on the boat, or a stop at a good restaurant.

Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Good luck!
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Old 25-10-2016, 07:12   #4
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

Thanks guy's, great info! It sounds like it is pretty hard to get lost down there, and plenty to do. I appreciate the suggestions denverd0n, gives me a head start never being there before.
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Old 25-10-2016, 07:20   #5
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

These customized BVI maps may help.
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Old 25-10-2016, 08:18   #6
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

It's really pretty hard to go wrong. I would definitely plan to spend a night or two on Jost Van Dyke, it's a one-of-a-kind experience. With only 5 days, I think Virgin Gorda is probably a bit far, though we really enjoy Gorda Sound. If you decide you want a night away from the crowds, the corner on the south side of Peter Island makes a good anchorage that you'll probably have to yourself.

We have always enjoyed Marina Cay, but get there early to claim a good spot. Another quiet place is Lee Bay on the west side of Great Camanoe.

On our first trip to Norman Island, the Bight had a grand total of four boats, all at anchor. Now, you can walk from shore to shore on the moored boats. But its still fun!

Have a great time. And look forward to a longer visit in the future, when you can spend some time on St. John.
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Old 25-10-2016, 08:18   #7
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

Gotta hit these:
The Baths on south end of Virgin Gorda
Soggy Dollar
Bubbly Pool on Jost
I also like Deadman's Bay on Peter Island, pretty and relaxing (have to anchor)
But White Bay on Guana is my favorite. Gorgeous beach and nearly deserted. Need to get a ball early. Good snorkeling 300 yds away at Monkey Point.
Bitter End is cool, also enjoyed looking at the inland pond on Salt Island.
Have fun!
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Old 25-10-2016, 10:02   #8
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

Thanks guys, looks like I will be doing some studying!
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Old 25-10-2016, 10:55   #9
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

Don't pass up fallen Jeruselem, just across from the Baths. Wonderful little island great bouldering and snorkeling/scuba. Easy kayak from the baths, or there are some park day moorings which are free.
Enjoy!
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Old 25-10-2016, 15:15   #10
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

One more question. When you say get a ball early, how early is that?
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Old 25-10-2016, 15:39   #11
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

Deadman's Bay on Peter Island is one of my favorite overnight anchorages, especially the east end away from the resort. Haven't been there in a few years, so I hope it has not been spoiled...

-David
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Old 25-10-2016, 15:49   #12
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

"Early" at Guana Island is noon to 2, only a few balls there. Early in Trellis Bay on Full Moon party is the day before!
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Old 25-10-2016, 17:05   #13
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

5 days is going to fly past at light speed. What is likely to happen is that you will be returning to explore the many other anchorages that you missed. Once the BVI bug bites, you may be returning, and returning,

You have received marvelous suggestions, and also you may alter your planned itinerary due to wind conditions or just because you want to.

We will toss out some favorites, but all of the BVI are about the best cruising area, especially for a first international sailing vacation.

Will repeat many of the suggestions maybe add some additional ideas.

This will be mix and match with some snorkeling tossed in.

1. Read and learn as much as you can in the Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands. Be totally prepared.

2. Cooper Island Short sail from Tortola. Machioneel Bay, wonderful peaceful anchorage and great first night. Several moorings, one of our fav restaurants and bar, New, additional rum bar and brewery. Un crowded beach with small circular wood in the water occktail tables for sodas or libations as you frolic in the refreshing calm waters. Snorkeling at Cistern Point at the south end of the bay. Dink over from your boat , they have dinghy moorings at the snorkel site. Great first afternoon and first night.

3. The Baths, Virgin Gorda. I know, it is a big rave, but things have changed since it has been discovered be the few thousand passenger cruise ships and day trippers. Frankly it was like the dallas county fair on our last trip # 14.
Moorings are filled, no anchoring, we went into Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor, paid for a slip. And took a taxi to the baths.

We took our mask,snorkels, and fins and since we could not even get thru the masses into the baths, we enjoyed a snorkel outside the boulders to beautiful devils bay. We rested a bit, soaked up some sun, and snorkeled back. The party was on, we had a cold red stripe beer, talked with a cruise ship tour director Then we walked up to the TOP O THE BATHS, had lunch and a swim in their perfect swimming pool. Fact was the trail through the grottos through the boulders down at the baths was absolutely crammed and no room to enter. Suggest you talk with your charter briefer and maybe find a time when the cruise ship pax are not there.

4, Virgin Gorda Sound. We really like LEVERICK bay. Moorings, gets you free ice, and fresh water for the boat. Dink ashore, make reservations for dinner upstairs or mocko jumbie , bbq, and band, on sat night. Then go swimming in the pool, take land showers, have a pain killer at the tiki bar, and dink back to the boat to return later for dinner. Super great Pussers store.



5. In North sound, you also have moorings at the BITTER END, and SABA ROCK, next to the bitter end, SABA is ,our fav, fun happy hour. tarpon feeding time, excellent dinner and service. Bitter end has shops and a nautical village.

Virgin gorda sound is a bit of a trip, so you can spend a couple of days there or hold off untill your next visit, With 5 days, we would explore the other islands.

6. MARINA CAY...nice easy kick back, we may swim / snorkel or dink ashore. Fresh water, fuel, ice, small PUSSERS company store, nautical attrie and gifts. Wonderful beach, not crowded. Very nice restaurant , view of the islands, excellent meals, and happy friendly service. The snorkeling here, for us, is just to cool down and swim ashore, not the marine life,

7. Up early and motor through the camanoe passage, to MONKEY POINT, on the southern tip of Guana Island. 30 minutes of easy motor.. Monkey point ..early arrival pick up a national parks free mooring, Fix brakfast, and with the sun now higher, snorkel all along the small beach , rocky and coral area. Great snorkeling.

8. JOST VAN DYKE. Several anchorages, you can read up on them. We like White BAY, but check draft on that 42 footer if it is a monohull, You can pick up a mooring next door at Great Harbor, and walk over or take a taxi ,or dink over to White Bay.

To liven life up a bit, the soggy dollar bar , is quite active, especially if the day trippers are there. But, there is a stack of free beach chairs, carry them down the beach a few feet,], Hendos is a new spot, not crowded, and has great reviews. Long beautiful beach at white bay, so you have your choice of party down or just vege out, or select in between.

9. Canegarden Bay. Also ask about the cruise ship crowds for your planning.

Study up on entering the pass. May be some nav aids. Wonderful long palm fringed beach. Live music and fun at one of the beach bars. Our fav for drinks and dinner is Myetts,

10. For water, a nice protected marina and neat shops and outdoor restaurant, is SOPERS Hole, west end , tortola.

11. Or a last night, party down, dance, leap off the stern to cheers, is a pirate style ship bar and restaurant called the WLLY T. For a tasty and reasonable meal we have their honey dipped fried chicken, at one of the tables on the main deck. Then head up to the fantail bar to celebrate our last night .

12, Next morning we stop at the INDIANS and PELICAN for some great snorkeling before sailing back to tortola to turn in the boat. Now obviously it is not possible to do all of this in 5 days. We cruise the BVI for two weeks each visit. But, you need to select an itinerary that suits your personal style and what you are looking for .

13, To make things easy, we spend the first night at the moorings / sunsail base, or conch charters, at a hotel, swim, and go out to dinner. We just want to slide into bvi time for a day or two, before sailing, and provisioning, and chart briefings and vessel system check out.

Hope this helps in your mixing and matching, and this is only a few of the islands and anchorages. After 32 years, we are still finding new places to get on BVI time.

We go in late may, brisk good sailing reefed down winds, blue skies, maybe a tropical passing squall. Before hurricane season and the kids are still in school.
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Old 25-10-2016, 17:08   #14
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

When you collect the boat the guys at the charter company will fill you in on the best spots and give you a lot of advice. earlier this year was my first time and we made plans but in the end just went as the feeling took us. Weather plays a part also... It will be awesome. Willie T's is fun...!
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Old 26-10-2016, 07:21   #15
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Re: BVI 5 day itinerary

Another thought,

If chartering thru the mooring or sun sail their marina is very nice and fairly new. Again we get there a day early and arrive early afternoon. We check in with both the charter company and also have reservations at the older near the docks hotel.

Now it is time to illumunate the fun light. A few feet away from the room is their very nice pool, bar and restaurant area.

We lay our towels out, get an arrival celebration Painkiller, and swim and play in that very refreshing pool water.

Dinner......At CHARLIES at the far end of the docks next to the Moorings lobby and offices. Named after Charley Carrie who originally created the moorings bare boat charter business.

Possibly the best dinning experience on tortola. Classy, yet casual, super excellent meals, very friendly, easy going and professional service. Totally pleasant ambiance, open air dining with a view of marina and road harbor.

After dinner we like walking the docks and checking out the boats as we stroll along.

Next morning , up early, and go to breakfast at the open air dockside restaurant and then attend the chart brief, check out of our room, and get our gear on board and totally stowed. Next comes the boat systems check out, and then, we let go the dock lines and are off to our first anchorage,

Just FYI
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