BVI Charter Tips & Tricks

[Commodore64]

That was actually a slip. I meant to say Snorkel instead of Scuba.

[keioki]

We're doing a 10 day trip next month, in the middle of a 3 week vacation. Is there any places to add provisions or do laundry on islands other than Tortola?

[EmeraldCoastSailor]

Originally Posted by keioki

We're doing a 10 day trip next month, in the middle of a 3 week vacation. Is there any places to add provisions or do laundry on islands other than Tortola?

I believe Leverick Bay Resort has washing machines and small store and Spanish Town should have all you need.

[RickG]

Originally Posted by keioki

We're doing a 10 day trip next month, in the middle of a 3 week vacation. Is there any places to add provisions or do laundry on islands other than Tortola?

In addition to Leverick in North Sound and Spanishtown, there is Rudy's Market in Great Harbor JVD and a small market in The Settlement Anegada.

Cheers, RickG

[Commodore64]

Agree with above.

Leverick, Trellis and Anegada all had markets for provisioning. Also if you stop at Cane Garden (I know this is Tortola). Leverick has everything really (showers, laundry, water, diesel, ice). It had the most on shore of anywhere we stopped (didn't stop in Spanishtown).

In our charter briefing we were told that Anegada had water and diesel. We couldn't find any there and when we asked they said no. So we ended up without water in our tank till we got back to Leverick. We were able to buy some at the market though.

[keioki]

And another question. Are mooring balls hard to come by in March? Are they first come first served, or do they have to be reserved? If reserved, is it by island, or is there a company that controls the reservations.

[keioki]

Has anyone been to the Baths this season? Do you recommend mooring there, or going into Spanish Town and taking a cab to the Baths?

[Commodore64]

Originally Posted by keioki

Has anyone been to the Baths this season? Do you recommend mooring there, or going into Spanish Town and taking a cab to the Baths?

Yes we were there two weeks ago. We picked up a ball there. It was easy and convenient. Also not too crowded until mid day when tours started to show up.

[Commodore64]

Originally Posted by keioki

And another question. Are mooring balls hard to come by in March? Are they first come first served, or do they have to be reserved? If reserved, is it by island, or is there a company that controls the reservations.

It’s first come, first served unless you use boatyball.

Our experience was you could generally find a ball at any anchorage if you arrived by early afternoon. After that all bets are off.

You can try to reserve with boatyball, but we found those were all gone minutes after the reservations for the day opened at 7am. We only used it once. We anchored or found a ball every other night.

[RickG]

The only spot where boatyball is pretty much a requirement is Cooper Island. Have everyone on your boat go for one of those at the stroke of 7AM. We just skip that anchorage, but you can anchor at Salt Island and dink over. Norman Island does not have any boatyballs. The orange balls there are not boatyball and they are well maintained.

All the balls at Leverick Bay were taken Sunday. We anchored at the back of the mooring field with no problem. There are alternatives to mooring balls pretty much everywhere. We are headed from St. John to Jost Van Dyke for the weekend today to meet friends on charter. I expect the few moorings at Diamond Cay will be taken when we get there. There is room to anchor in the lee of Little St. James and behind Green Cay.

Cheers, RickG