The BVI mooring buoy system is one of the best in the Caribbean — well-maintained, properly inspected, and positioned to protect the coral from anchor damage. In most anchorages you pick up a buoy rather than anchoring; anchoring is prohibited in many protected areas and actively discouraged everywhere else. These are the stops that define the BVI charter experience.
The Baths, Virgin Gorda
Non-negotiable. The granite boulders at the southern tip of Virgin Gorda — some the size of houses — create a series of grottoes, pools, and passages at sea level. Moor on a National Parks Trust buoy (pay the warden who comes to collect) and dinghy ashore. The path through the boulders takes 45 minutes and emerges on Devil's Bay beach on the other side.
Timing: Arrive before 0900 — the day-tripper boats from Road Town arrive from about 1000 and the grottoes become crowded. The mooring field holds around 30 boats; it fills by midmorning in peak season.
Gorda Sound (North Sound), Virgin Gorda
The finest enclosed anchorage in the BVI. Gorda Sound is sheltered on three sides by Virgin Gorda, Prickly Pear Island, and Moskito Island; the entrance from the north is straightforward. Anchor in sand in the eastern part of the sound or take a mooring buoy near the Bitter End Yacht Club. The sound is large enough for wind sports — kitesurfing and windsurfing conditions are excellent in the afternoon trade wind.
Eat: Saba Rock, a tiny island in the centre of the sound, has a good bar and grilled lobster. The ferry from the Bitter End dock runs on request.
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke
A long white sand beach on the west side of Jost Van Dyke — accessible only by sea. Pick up a mooring buoy off the beach (the buoys are privately laid by the beach bars; no charge if you're spending money ashore). The Soggy Dollar Bar and Ivan's Stress Free Bar compete for the trade. The Painkiller cocktail — Pusser's rum, cream of coconut, orange juice, pineapple juice — was invented here or close enough. White Bay is quiet in the morning and busy by noon; plan accordingly.
Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
The main settlement on Jost Van Dyke. Foxy's Tamarind Bar is the reason most itineraries include this stop — a legendary Caribbean beach bar run by Foxy Callwood (and now his family) since 1968. The New Year's Eve party at Foxy's attracts several hundred boats from across the Caribbean. Moor on a buoy in the harbour or anchor in the outer bay in 4–6m on sand.
The Bight, Norman Island
A wide, sheltered bay on the north coast of Norman Island with over 100 mooring buoys. Pick up any unoccupied buoy — the William Thornton floating bar is in the centre of the bay. The caves at Pirates' Bight on the south-west tip of the island are 20 minutes by dinghy — bring an underwater torch and expect visibility of 10–15m in the caves. Snorkelling at the caves is among the best in the BVI.
Cooper Island Beach Club
A small island south of Tortola with a boutique beach club, craft rum bar, and restaurant. Moor on the club's buoys (charge applies, credited against bar bill). The rum selection — Cooper Island produces its own label — is exceptional. A quieter alternative to the Bight at Norman Island for a final night before returning to Tortola.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I anchor in the BVI?
A: In some areas, yes — but anchoring is prohibited in national park areas and over coral everywhere. The mooring buoy system covers most popular anchorages. Where anchoring is permitted, anchor in sand only. Fines for anchoring in coral are significant.
Q: What do the mooring buoys cost in the BVI?
A: National Parks Trust buoys cost approximately $30 per night; private buoys (at beach bars etc.) are typically free with food or drink purchase. Inspect every buoy before attaching — check the pick-up line and the through-hull fitting for chafe and wear.