Anchorage· St John· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Leinster Bay Moorings
18° 22.0′ N · 64° 43.7′ W
A double-lobed bay under Annaberg's ruins, looking straight across The Narrows to Tortola, with Waterlemon Cay's reef at its eastern end: one of the best snorkel-and-overnight combinations in the park.
Practical
Position is the GNIS point for Leinster Bay. Coast Pilot 5: a double indentation about 0.8 mile long between Mary Peninsula and Leinster Point; the east part (Waterlemon Bay) is partly sheltered by Waterlemon Cay. NPS moorings plus 2 big-boat moorings (61 to 100 ft); floating pay station; NPS vessel-trash bins. Anchoring is not permitted (park waters outside the Francis/Maho and Lind Point anchorages require moorings). Current runs hard on the north (Tortola) side of Waterlemon Cay (NPS). Annaberg and the Leinster Bay Trail are a short dinghy ride ashore. Park mooring rules (NPS marine page and 2026 Superintendent's Compendium): no anchoring while on a mooring; never secure to a mooring with stern cleats; catamarans run a bridle with one line from each bow cleat through the pennant thimble; no fishing from moorings; 5 mph / no wake in and near mooring fields; vacate park moorings when tropical-storm conditions (winds of 40 mph or more) are forecast. Overnight fee US$26/night (US$13 with Senior/Access pass; NPS fee table labelled 2024, page updated Sept 2026; a 2024 proposal would raise it to US$40 for boats up to 60 ft and charge 24 hours a day, so verify locally), payable before spending the night (5 pm to 7 am) via the Recreation.gov app (scan the QR code on the pay station, site 10214380) or envelope; limit 7 consecutive nights per bay and 30 nights per year. First come, first served; no reservations.
Best for
Overnight next to the best snorkel on the north shore
Season
Year-round; check conditions in north swell