January 21st Norman Island to Marina Cay via the Caves at Treasure Point, the Baths, and Spanish Town

One of our favorite features of Norman Island is the accessibility to good reef snorkeling either at the Caves (Treasure Point) or at The Indians (Pelican Island). In the morning we set off bright and early and were the first to pick up a National Park mooring ball at The Caves.

The National Park mooring balls are designed to allow accessibility to the reefs and to dissuade anchoring that destroys reefs in seconds. Daytime mooring is only permitted, but these national park mooring balls are scattered at good locations throughout the BVI.

On entering the water at the Caves the water came to life with numerous species of fish. We also realized that a new coat of bottom paint was needed on our boat because fish congregated around our hull eating the sea life that was growing underneath. Maybe that’s why we lost the race the day before!

After finishing at the Caves we headed northeast along Sir Francis Drake Channel, leaving snorkeling at the Indians for another day, to The Baths at Virgin Gorda. On our last trip to the BVI one our crew members had to stay on our boat finishing a grant proposal and was unable to see The Baths, so a stop was definitely needed. The Baths are a collection of large granite boulders through which the waves wash. Pools of water collect and exploration between the boulders is really quite intriguing. It is difficult to directly access The Baths because the waves can crash onto the adjacent beech. Thus mooring balls have been installed a little out to sea for dinghies. From there one must swim in to the beech.

After stopping at The Baths, we headed further northeast to Spanish town. Unfortunately, we didn’t arrive until after 4pm and all mooring balls were taken. We could have anchored but the area was exposed and very choppy. Our plan B was to head west to Marina Cay, a large reef which provides good protection for mooring and anchoring. We pushed as fast as possible to get over there because it was likely that many had already tied up to the balls. We were following another boat into the mooring field unsure whether any balls were available. Rather than following them through the field, we cut 45 degrees to port through the middle of the field on the assumption that to follow them would be frustrating because we would merely watch them pick up the last ball. Our strategy paid off as we quickly found what we think was the last ball, tied up and opened a cold one (or two….) and relaxed for the evening.

In the guide book a restaurant is advertised at the top of Marina Cay. However, it has been damaged by a storm and is not yet re-opened. Instead we went to the beech bar and restaurant where we drank Pussers painkillers and ate Carribean food.