Seasonal· Jost Van Dyke· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Winter North Swell (Jost Van Dyke)
18° 27.3′ N · 64° 43.8′ W · approximate
From late autumn to spring, distant North Atlantic storms send long north and north-east ground swells into the BVI: they light up the Bubbly Pool, but make the cays' beaches hard to land on and can wrap into White Bay.
Practical
Coordinate is the Bubbly Pool on the exposed north shore (approximate placeholder). NPT: access to Sandy Cay is particularly difficult in the winter months when north-east swells are common; use caution landing dinghies. Yacht Warriors: northerly ground swells wrap around the west end of Jost and can make White Bay uncomfortable or cause anchors to drag; avoid overnighting there. JVD Scuba: Sandy Spit changes shape with storms and ground seas. Coast Pilot 5: the strongest trade winds usually blow from late December to the end of January. North-shore dive sites (The Playground) and Mercurius Rock need calm conditions. Check swell forecasts daily and prefer Great Harbour, Little Harbour or Diamond Cay for overnights.
Best for
Planning anchorages and the Bubbly Pool around swell
Season
Roughly Nov–Apr; worst after North Atlantic gales