Seasonal· Tortola· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Christmas Winds (Dec–Feb reinforced trades)
18° 23.4′ N · 64° 33.6′ W · approximate
Strong Atlantic highs in winter reinforce the trade winds for days at a time, bringing 15 to 30 knots from the east to north-east and short, steep seas in the Sir Francis Drake Channel.
Practical
Position is the Wikipedia reference point for the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Yacht Warriors: during the December to April high season expect several days of strong winds (15 to 30 knots), mostly E to NE with less rain; reef early. Winter also brings north ground swells that close north-shore anchorages such as Cane Garden Bay and Brewers Bay; head for south-coast harbours or Trellis Bay and Marina Cay. Currents around the Atlantic points (Scrub and Great Camanoe dive sites) run harder.
Best for
Planning passages and anchorages in winter
Season
Roughly December to February
Nearby
- Blonde Rock1.3 NM away
- Dead Chest Island National Park1.5 NM away
- Painted Walls (Dead Chest)1.6 NM away
- BVI National Parks Trust Marine Conservation Permit1.8 NM away
- RMS Rhone Marine Park Day Moorings (Lee Bay)1.8 NM away
- Rhone Reef & Rhone stern snorkel (Lee Bay)1.9 NM away
- RMS Rhone Wreck1.9 NM away
- Salt Island Bay Beach1.9 NM away