We had a great time on this trip, which was expected since this is my 6th or 7th trip to the BVI, and it's one of those trips that never gets old. What was a shock was how much more crowded the BVIs were this time. The last time we visited it was right after Hurricane Irma, so there were a lot fewer boats, and it was less crowded, but this time, the new reservation system made certain places like Cooper Island or Marina Cay nigh near impossible to get mooring balls for.
The Baths in particular, felt like even though we'd gotten up early we still only managed to snag one of the last mooring balls. The fight over the mooring ball we vacated left a bad taste in Mark Brody's mouth, and we would still talk about it several days later.
The book mentioned that Soldier Bay and Privateer Bay were backwinded harbors. I didn't understand what that meant until this trip. What it meant was that the wind blows into the harbor but then bounces off the walls at the far end, and then flips back and blows against the wind. What this means is that the night is full of motion as the wind keeps swinging you back and forth between the prevailing wind direction and the backwinded direction. That's the main reason why there's no competition for mooring balls in those harbors! My crew didn't mind the wild ride but it's something to be aware of.
Someone asked me if I would do the same trip again, and I said, yes, but not right away. That's a pity because the virgin islands are so beautiful. But there's plenty of other places to explore in the Caribbean, so I'm excited to see more of it.
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