Transit from BVI to Leeward Islands

[Journeys End]

We are planning to transit from North Sound VG to St. Martin/Marteen or Anguilla. Where is the best port to arrive at with ease of entrance, anchoring, and customs. Thanks to all for the help.

[Zanshin]

Funny timing. I was in the North Sound yesterday planning on going to St. Martin. I've done that crossing over 30 times and it is never much fun slogging upwind. Yesterday was 15-20 knots and 1.7m swell at 7 seconds and I gave up, completing the passage would take too much toll on myself and the boat. I have a plane to catch, so ended up returning and will store my boat in the BVI for a month.

The North Sound is the best place to start the trip from. The first part, going out the channel and between Neckar Island and Prickly Pear is easy to do even at night and that is what I usually end up doing, although there are always some fish pots out there until the depths go over 200 feet (which is a long way offshore).

My first trip was 24 hours, but I was too proud (and stupid) to turn on the engine. Now I usually will wait for winds <10 knots and waves under 1m and motorsail the whole way to get it over and done with.

I would time departure so that your arrival will be done during daylight. I have used Grand Case (most frequent), Marigot (2nd) and Simpson Baie (3rd) as destinations and all three are pretty much the same distance/timing.

Formalities and costs are significantly cheaper on the French side than on the Dutch side. That said, if there is north swell in the forecast then the only sheltered anchorage is on the inside of the lagoon. The bridge into the lagoon on the French side is frequently inoperative, and the depths on French side are quite shallow. The bridge on the Dutch side always works and unless you have a deep draft you can find lots of places on both the French and Dutch sides to anchor. Entering on the Dutch side you will have a bridge fee and clearing in on the Dutch side there will additional costs involved. Not really significant compared to some countries, but still a lot more than the 5Euro costs on the French side.

When I anchor in Grand Case I'll take a public bus into Marigot the next day and clear in at Island Waterworld for 5Euros. You can clear in at the ferry terminal in Marigot, but they charge some "harbour fee" and other costs which I've always felt was a scam.