Sailing BVI

Greg2

Greg2

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We are thinking of chartering in the BVI late October and I was wondering if anyone else has sailed there at this time of year? Initial research indicates that despite it being the wet and hurricane seasons we can exect constant light trade winds, reasonable seas and plenty of sunshine. Rain can be torrential but usually short lived (we experienced this in Barbados). It seems that in the event of a hurricane there is normally seven days notice so whilst it may put a downer on the holiday it is unlikely to catch us out at sea.

Company are advising flotilla as opposed to bareboat at there is still freedom for some independent day sails and there is a saving on damage waiver fees and access to one of the best islands, which is out of bounds if bareboat.


Have I got this right? Any thoughts, tips or comments welcomed.
 
Small but real risk of a hurricane at that time of year and you MAY NOT get much notice, read about hurricane Tomas.

Assuming you are going for a week give Anegada a miss and forget the flotilla option. The sailing is easy passages are short and almost all the navigation required is of the eyeball variety. No tides, changing currents etc to worry about.

Very enjoyable intro to Caribbean sailing.

If you go have a painkiller at Foxys on Jost Van Dyke for me.
 
Agree with the above, other than it's Bushwackers at Fox's and Painkillers at the Soggy Dollar.
 
Thanks guys. We are thinking two weeks and the flotilla option didn't sound too bad to us.....same sailing with some company if we chose it and a visit to Anegada.....
 
Sounds ok to me, you'll enjoy it. Just make sure you get lots of mozzy spray and put it on every day before sunset.

Also it's quite humid and you'll not want to be wrapped-up in sheets at night, so some peppermint or lavender oil dropped onto cotton wool at each night in each cabin helps keep the little buggers away too.
 
Bobc said:
Sounds ok to me, you'll enjoy it. Just make sure you get lots of mozzy spray and put it on every day before sunset.

Also it's quite humid and you'll not want to be wrapped-up in sheets at night, so some peppermint or lavender oil dropped onto cotton wool at each night in each cabin helps keep the little buggers away too.
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Helpful tip....thanks!
 
BVI sailing is great! what ever you do make sure you enjoy happy hour where ever you go, the best pain killers are Sopers Hole, try their hamburger (it feeds two) - you will never want to go to macdonnalds again.

Hurricane season June to November so look out
 
And don't believe anyone who claims they can't fly out to you on your boat when you are anchored off Anegada!
 
We bareboated with The Moorings last year - no problem with going to Anegada, in fact we went twice in two weeks (refused entry to US VI! - don't try it unless you have a US Visa, visa waiver does not count!)

We had a fantastic time - highly recommended!

Neil
 
Thanks for the responses....all booked up with Sunsail!! Cant wait....bit of a special holiday and I am really looking forward to some good sailing (we are mobo types in the UK but swing both ways)! :-)
 
Watch out for the salad at foxies.... Induces projectile vomiting.

You will probably not get out of sunsail early, so have a nice sail over to cooper island and grab a mooring for the first night... Nice swim off boat, nice little beach and bar... And a great sunset...

WP12.jpg



Next day sail up to the baths...
 
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Greg2 said:
Thanks for the responses....all booked up with Sunsail!! Cant wait....bit of a special holiday and I am really looking forward to some good sailing (we are mobo types in the UK but swing both ways)! :-)
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Sunsail flotillas are great fun. Plenty of opportunity for free sailing but support there if you need it.

Haven't done it for many years but recently spent nearly two years in the BVI and regularly met up with people on the flotilla. Great time had by all.
 
Jeannius said:
Sunsail flotillas are great fun. Plenty of opportunity for free sailing but support there if you need it.

Haven't done it for many years but recently spent nearly two years in the BVI and regularly met up with people on the flotilla. Great time had by all.
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Fantastic! Good to hear that. Our inclination was to go bareboat but it sounds as though the flotilla should be a good option. Can't wait!
 
I went on a one week flotilla in the BVIs in October with sunsail. When we got there we found there were no flotillas as this is when most of the staff go on holiday so we had to bare boat (got about £400 back from sun sail for the cock up). The whole of the BVIs with the exception of the soggy dollar bar is dead with many places shut.

We had good weather but be warned it is incredibly humid this / Oct time of year and at night it can be 30C easy so sleeping can be hard!

One of the busy marinas!
IMG_3290.jpg


On the plus side we did find real ale at the soggy dollar bar!


IMG_3223.jpg
 
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neil1967 said:
We bareboated with The Moorings last year - no problem with going to Anegada, in fact we went twice in two weeks (refused entry to US VI! - don't try it unless you have a US Visa, visa waiver does not count!)
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It's ten years since we went (see British Virgin Islands June 2001, but am glad to hear that the effort we put in to get our visas (promising we were not going to overthrow the US Government etc) was not wasted.

On the other hand the US BVIs are not different enough to bother really; just a bit exciting to "go foreign"!

Mike.
 
Thanks flawed_logic. I did check and they said that they have a max of 12 boats on a flotilla and that we will be the sixth on this one so hopefully there will actually be a flotilla!! I did wonder if it would be quiet as all the websites don't mention October. Mind you I think I prefer quiet to crowded and as long as we can get a drink and a bite to eat somewhere it should be good.
 
ChattingLil said:
we are going on 2nd Feb and I can't wait! One week flotilla followed by one week bareboat (Sunsail). I am hoping to get to Anegada too.
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I'll let you know how it goes. I think Feb will be in the season so probably a few more people about than when we will be there by the sounds of it.
 
I've been twice - the first time for ten days straddling the end of October/beginning of November, the second time in mid-March.

It was definitely more humid at night in October and the weather was slightly less settled. However, it was still a fantastic trip.

All the bars were open by the time we got there and it was by no means dead, although some do close for the low season. the BVI forum on www.traveltalkonline.com has some useful information on any closures.

This thread http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1430625&page=2&fpart=1&vc=1 has a link to restaurant info showing any closures.
 
Thanks AuldScot, that is both helpful and reassuring that we will not be visiting a ghost town! To be honest some good sailing combined with some serious relaxing will be just the ticket and if we there are bars that are open then it will be a bonus!
 
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