by Sailorman Chuck

Caribbean Adventures

Navigation

Navigation in the Virgin Islands

All navigation in the Virgin Islands can be totally by sight. No fancy instruments are necessary. A GPS is fun to use for planning your trip and for estimated time of arrival to your next stop.

 

Please use this information only as an aid and do not rely solely on it for safe navigation. It is important to err on the side of caution when navigating in new sailing areas. When in doubt: Don’t continue on the same course.

 

Always leave yourself an alternative course to steer.

 

Allow plenty of time to reach your desired destination and have an alternate destination in case of delays or deterioration of the weather.

 

Have current navigation charts issued by NOAA, Admiralty charts, or electronic charts provided by an authorized distributor.

 

The charter company should provide a cruising guide and will provide you with a chart. The chart has a disclaimer that it is not for navigational use. They will mark restricted areas, usually in red, on the chart. It is important to avoid the restricted areas for your safety and your pocketbook. You will be responsible for boat repairs if you sail into the restricted areas.

 

Navigation Charts

The best chart is the NOAA chart No. 25621 “West Indies - Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda to St. Thomas and Gorda Sound”. This is the only chart that shows all of the Virgin Islands with the exception of Anegada. You may want to purchase a package of the stick on compass rose printed on clear vinyl. The chart compass roses are not conveniently located when the chart is folded into thirds for use on deck.

 

There are some good British Admiralty charts that have more detailed harbor areas for the BVI. A good one to have is 25610 “Approaches to Gorda Sound”. It has very good detail of  Gorda Sound as well as the approaches.

 

A good all collection of useful charts can be found in the MapTech Chart Kit “The Virgin Islands”. This is a good collection; however, the organization is a little awkward at times.

 

A very nice pictorial representation of anchorages is the “Virgin Anchorages” published by Cruising Guide Publications. It is also a good coffee table memento of you adventure.  

                     

Water Depth and Bottom Structure

Hopefully the boat will have a depth sounder that works. If not, then you will need to learn to navigate using the water depths on your navigation charts and by the color of the water. Fortunately, the water is relative deep near shore as compared to the Bahamas. Make sure to take a high quality pair of polarized sun glasses.

 

Navigation by the color of the water is a tricky and it is almost impossible during the early hours and late afternoon. The reason is that there is strong reflected light during these hours and the water will appear to sparkle. Of course, waves and ripples from the wind will also obscure your view of the sea bed.

 

So, what are you looking for when you are using water color to estimate the depth?

Here are a few “rules of thumb”, please do not rely only this information:

Dark blue to dark gray is typically deep water.

 

A light blue to off white will usually represent a sandy bottom and the lighter the color the more shallow the water.

 

A medium to light blue with darker patches should indicate moderate depths with sandy, rocky or grassy bottom. Or any combination.

 

Any color of water with medium to dark brown patches could indicate a coral reef. This is a definite must avoid. Some of these areas may not be indicated on a chart.

 

Any color water with a white irregular splashy appearance that remains in the same spot is a submerged coral reef or rock that is just below the surface. As mentioned above, avoid this area and stay well away. Who knows what is under the water near this obstruction?

 

Light blue water or brownish patches with a darker blue channel is something that you may see while entering a few marinas, such as Virgin Gorda Yacht harbor, and some snorkeling or anchorage locations. CAUTION: Do not pass through this channel unless it is well marked by channel buoys.

 

Channel Markings

Be very cautious when entering a channel. It is possible that some or all of the channel marks will be missing. Be especially cautious if you are sailing in an area that has recently experienced a serious storm or hurricane.

 

The US standard of marking channels with red and green buoys is now practiced in both the USVI and BVI. A good way to remember which color buoy is on which side of the boat is “Red Right Returning”. This means that the red channel marker will be on the right side of your boat when you are entering the channel from the sea. You will have the green buoy on your left.

 

CAUTION: Have a good plan for entering a new area and know where buoys are located. Understand the meaning of the markings, color, audio signal or light. You may see channels marked with white buoys, pilings or some other item. The white markers often indicate that this is a privately maintained channel. Other buoys may indicate an obstruction like a ship wreck, a big rock or a coral reef. A number of yellow buoys in a circular or irregular pattern could indicate the limits of a large coral reef similar to what can be found around Johnson Reef just north of Trunk Bay, St. John  (Do not pass between the yellow buoys).

Nav station onboard the Hylas 54.

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