Lobster Island

Anegada Island: 9-10 Jul 08

Anegada at Dusk

I should mention that our brave Cap’n, having sailed in to North Sound through a very narrow channel between reefs off Mosquito and Prickly Pear Islands, also sailed out! We arrived at Anegada quite early as it seems our invitation to stay at Necker Island (owned by Richard Branson) had gone astray. Apparently it’s the most exclusive resort in the world….with its own 300 year old Hindu meditation hut. Ho hum. Didn’t somebody tell him they’re on every street corner in Delhi?

Pelicans near Setting Point

Anegada means “place of drowning” and it seems appropriate given the number of wrecks on its extensive reefs. The island is coral (not volcanic) so it is extremely flat (and hot!) but home to the largest lobsters I’ve ever seen in my life. Given that it’s generally off limits to most charter fleets, we hoped for a peaceful anchorage. Oh, what a mistake! A rally group of about 40 yachts had arrived and settled in before us. Worse still, they had dibs on the daily lobster catch!

Boy Scouts at Whispering Pines, Anegada

We found a mooring away from the crowd but with less than 2 feet under the keel; on tender hooks was our Cap’n! One of the nice features of WJ3 is that it is so easy to swim off the back. With the addition of a boarding ladder and hot/cold outdoor shower, we are in complete luxury! 

Later we took a quick walk around Setting Point (it really is quite a remote island) and settled in for sundowners at Potters by the Sea and then Whispering Pines – a bit of a bar crawl round the anchorage. This gave us false courage to anticipate our next big adventure – crossing the notorious Anegada Passage.


From: Biras Creek, North Sound Lat/Long: 18 30N  64 22W Date/Time: 9/7/08: 1130
To: Setting Point, Anegada BVI   Lat/Long: 18 44N  64 23W Date/Time: 9/7/08: 1430
Time Taken: 14nm (3hrs) (See Note 4)  Distance (this year): 77nm (23.5hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 77nm (23.5hrs)   Fastest Speed:
Weather: Fresh Trade Winds 12-15kts ; 4-5 ft swell

 (Note 4: Apologies for the repetitious information in this table – our blog is also serving as our online cruising log.)