The Islands (continued)

Peter Island

• Good snorkeling and hiking.
• Great shelling on E shore.
• Everyone crowds the N side at Little and Great Harbor, but S side- Sprat Bay and anchorage W of Key Pt. and White Bay are good anchorage's and private.
• The Bight
  • One of the best natural harbors in the West Indies.
  • Quite deep; good overnight anchorage- best spots are fairly close to shore on SE and S parts of harbor; what looks like a good spot in NE corner has poor holding on grass- it is routine to see boats dragging.
  • Instead of backwinding the breeze accelerates as it funnels down the gap between the hills to the E.
  • Beach is fair; ruins ashore for exploration, coins, pottery abound.
  • On right side of right hand beach is a bleach bottle tied to a tree- trail up to top of Spy Glass hill about 30 minutes with 360 degree view.
  • Good snorkeling on reef at E end of harbor just S of beach.
  • Within 5 minute dinghy ride are several good , fairly calm dive sites with moorings - Angelfish Reef, Ringdove Rock, Rainbow Canyon, and the Indians. The Caves are minutes away.
• Deadmans Bay
  • Considered by many the most beautiful beach in the world.
  • White sand and palm fringed beach; nice beach at E end, a "must" lunch stop.
  • Excellent snorkeling; large fish around NE point of bay (tarpon).
  • Resort provides lounge chairs for visiting yachtsmen.
  • A wonderful daytime anchorage; anchor in extreme SE corner; anchor difficult, do not overnight if ground swells; winter swell but sometimes OK; surge around NE point.
  • Deadmans Bay is good first stop from Tortola.
• Little Harbor
  • Is picturesque and well protected but can be an unsettling challenge for a first night anchorage because it is quite deep and E wind coming over hills play odd backwinding tricks.
  • Avoid inner end of harbor (where several private moorings complicate your anchorage spot); anchor fairly close to S shore.
  • Don' go ashore - private.
• Sprat Bay
  • E of Great Harbor (not on maps); windswept and cool; good swimming, fascinating reef; a short walk to Deadmans Bay; a short walk to W shore of Great Bay to view fishing operations
  • Hotel and yacht harbor, dock space, overnight anchorage, facilities, water, ice, fuel, etc., make reservations for restaurant.
• Great Harbor
  • Secluded after fishing nets removed in afternoon.
  • Overnight anchorage; considered too deep for anchorage except for two spots.
  • Anchor on N side; once fishing operations are done sail right up to beach, drop stern anchor and tie bow to a sea grape tree- now moored for the night.
  • At center of bay is a shallow coral reef less than 20 yards off shore, beginning in 8 feet of water, loaded with colorful sponges and a marvelous array of marine life.
• Key Pt.
  • Excellent anchorage W of Key Pt.; protected in all weather; cool gentle breeze; bug free; good snorkeling within swimming distance of boat.

Prickly Pear Cay (N Sound of Virgin Gorda)

• Prolific reef life off spit of beach.
• Good overnight anchorage on the S side; beach combing; short dinghy ride to Eustatia Sound where snorkeling is excellent.

Salt Island

• Day anchorage only- surge. Anchor at Salt Island Bay or Lee Bay to dinghy to Rhone. Need permit for dinghy moorings over the Rhone. Strong current after 12 noon.
• Natives are friendly and appreciate recent magazines.
• Lions Pt.- fine snorkeling in shallow water.
• Rhone Reef- just around corner from Rhone at SE tip of Island; begins with rocks jutting through surface to 40 feet.

Sandy Cay (off JVD)

• Nice beach and good snorkeling on N reef when seas are flat.
• Nature walk.

Scrub Island (off Tortola)

• Anchorage off SW side is always smooth; moorings, restaurant - reservations required.
• Good shelling.

  

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