St. Martin to British V.I. ?

[CharlesM]

Hello all

I am wondering how long one could expect a passage to take between St. Martin and the BVI? I estimate about 80 miles so likely at least 1 overnighter.

What could one expect? Is it a tricky passage or is it rather straight foreward?

regards
Charles

 

[snowleopard]

the anegada passage is a bit notorious locally but you'll be going downwind with a F5-6 up your tail. should be a blast. in a 40 footer i'd expect 10-12 hours maybe 8-9 in a cat.
i'd be inclined to get out of the lagoon the night before and anchor outside so you can make an early start. that gives you a daylight passage and arrival before nightfall.

 

[CharlesM]

Thanks for that Snowleopard

Will most likely be done in a 43' ferr hartley fijian (provided the survey does not show anything wrong - hod thumbs).

I guess that returning to st martin from BVI would on the other hand be bit of a nightmare as wind on the nose?

Charles

 

[Sea Devil]

Frankly sailing in the Caribbean is a lot easier than the UK and a hell of a lot nicer. You will find it a breeze - there is always one - its warm and I seem to remember you can sail from the Spanish Virgins to Grenada without doing an overnight if you are so inclined.

 

[snowleopard]

i and many others take a less optimistic view of the sailing conditions out there. some friends in a steel 40 footer said they regarded an inter-island trip as a 'work day' and days at anchor as holiday. the typical conditions are F5-6 and in open water that amounts to quite big seas. most passages have it on the beam which makes it 'lively' or 'uncomfortable' depending on your viewpoint. going to windward in those conditions is frankly unpleasant. the temperature makes it a lot more bearable but it's still very bumpy.

 

[Sea Devil]

I think you can get some gusts off the tops and bottoms of the islands but in the years I was out there going up and down the chain I found it mainly not a problem in my 36ft Moody - sure sometimes there was a blow and you stayed on anchor but I never found big seas - bit lumpy on the open bits sometimes but not bad.

I really did think the english channel and north sea was much more challanging and you can get some truly big seas in wind over tide which hardly exists in the 'windies'

 

[ashanta]

I have just come back from a holiday in St Martin and my apartment (Royal Palm Hotel) was literally by the entrance into lagoon. On one day a large super yacht was anchored waiting to enter. The mast was broken in half with the other half hanging down. It still had the sail attached and it looked in a bad way. The wind was always strong and appeared to be a regular 5-6 from the altlantic side. Yachts anchored in Simpson bay never moved from the way they were lying and there anchor chains were constantly taut. I saw most yachts (that were not racing) actually motor sailing.
I would have addded a picture of this yacht but I'm afraid I've not mastered the art of tranferring pictures to the post.

Regards.

Peter.

 

[Sea Devil]

Your right it is normally a 5 - 6 but normally you are reaching and that should not be a problem for a 40ft ferro boat or smaller. the islands normally always provide a lee and the only gusty bits are at the tops of bottoms - headlands. There are big squalls out there but you can see them coming - if you see a squall line either reef or drop your sails till it passes - sometimes bigger boats think they can handle it and find out the can't!

I agree most cruising boats spend 85% of the time on anchor - but thats not always because its too windy its because they are doing something else.

 

[AndrewB]

Did this one a few years ago. Yes, its good to do as an over-nighter as BVI is best approached in morning daylight. Its an easy enough passage at this time of year, typically broad-reaching in an easterly F4-6 with some swell.

We were challenged and interrogated at 2am by a US warship on drugs patrol about half way along this passage. Other than that, no problem. Returning might not be so easy though.

 

[RJD393]

Came down from BVI's this April to St Martins in a 43ft mono on our way to Grenada. Left just as it got light and were anchored in the bay outside the lagoon by 5pm - in time for a swim and liesurely drink. Seas between the islands can be quite big - depends what you are used to - and it is unusual to get light winds. What is nice is that not only is the wind warm but so is the spray - can be quite refreshing but going South we ended up with a thick coating of salt on everthing above deck.

 

[bluewater_ny]

Hi- just coming back from the BVIs. Sailing there is indeed something which you can do even without a lot of experience. Lots of anchorages with beach bars and restaurants. Can get crowded at times, though. Getting there from St. Martin: watch out for the horseshoe reef south of Anegada. This extends quite a bit to the south and has claimed many boats. This is an overnight passage and if you have limited visibility you might end up on the reef. I wouldn't try this passage without GPS, therefore.
Cheers,
Paul