Photo: Photo: Henry A-W (Henry aw 23:34, 10 July 2006 (UTC)) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Anchorage· Tortola· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)

Road Town Harbour Anchorage

18° 25.1′ N · 64° 36.4′ W

Road Harbour, the largest natural harbour on Tortola, is the BVI's commercial port and capital: ferries, cruise ships, half a dozen marinas and every service a yacht could need, all within dinghy range of Road Town's shops and offices.

British Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands Spanish Virgins

Practical

Approach from the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Noonsite warns that boats regularly run aground on the sand bar on the Road Reef/Fort Burt (west) side of the entrance; marinas.com notes a flashing green buoy off Burt Point marking the reef that extends into the harbour and a flashing red buoy marking Scotch Bank on the east side. Anchoring is possible off Fort Burt, off Wickham's Cay and in Baugher's Bay (Noonsite, Dec 2022); most mooring fields belong to the nearby marinas and inner-harbour anchoring is first come, first served. Commercial traffic (inter-island and USVI ferries, cruise ships) is constant, so keep clear of the ferry and cruise-pier fairways and anchor out of the channel. Lift and lock dinghies and outboards. Do not anchor before clearing in if arriving from abroad: Noonsite reports that boats clearing at the ferry dock must take the mooring ball directly in front of the customs office, and anchoring risks a heavy fine (Jan 2026). Fuel and water at Village Cay and other marinas; groceries, hospital, banks and chandleries ashore.

Road Town Harbour Anchorage

Practical

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