Seasonal· Norman Island· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Winter north swell & Christmas winds (southern chain)
18° 19.4′ N · 64° 37.1′ W · approximate
From about December to March, reinforced 'Christmas winds' and north swells from winter cold fronts make the chain's north-facing coves rolly while the classic harbours stay calm.
Practical
Placed at Kelly's Cove, Norman Island, one of the north-facing coves most affected. Yacht Warriors: high season December to March brings spells of several days of strong 15 to 30 knot winds from Atlantic high-pressure systems. North swell: the entries in this file mark these spots as exposed to northerly winter swell: Kelly's Cove, Soldier Bay and Benures Bay (Norman), the Indians day moorings, Deadman's Bay (Peter) and Salt Island Bay; Treasure Point and the Caves can surge in northwest swell. Better choices: the Bight, which Coast Pilot 5 says is open to the northwest but protected by St John from any sea; Great Harbour, Peter Island ('may be entered easily at any time... holding ground is excellent', Coast Pilot 5); Sprat Bay marina; and Manchioneel Bay. In Christmas winds the gaps between the islands funnel and the open Caribbean side (Money Bay, White Bay, Key Bay, Privateer Bay) gets wrap-around swell, so pick the lee of a big island and allow extra swing room. The Indians day moorings are exposed to northerly swell and the Rhone moorings can be rolly with surge: visit both on calm days.
Best for
Choosing a calm overnight in winter
Season
December to March (Christmas winds); north swells roughly November to April
Nearby
- Kelly's Cove (Norman Island)Right here
- Pirates Bight (Norman Island)0.4 NM away
- Spy Glass Hill Trail (Norman Island)0.4 NM away
- The Bight Beach (Norman Island)0.4 NM away
- The Bight Mooring Field (Norman Island)0.4 NM away
- Norman Island wild goats0.5 NM away
- Soldier Bay (Norman Island)0.5 NM away
- Treasure Point (Norman Island)0.5 NM away