North Sound — Bitter End
Gorda Sound · Bitter End Yacht Club · BEYC anchorage
18°29.88'N 64°21.20'W
Depth
4–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for excellent holding in sand in 4–8m. The sound is nearly fully enclosed — almost no wave action inside. BEYC mooring buoys are 65m appropriate radius. Anchoring in sand away from mooring field gives same excellent holding. One of the few BVI anchorages where anchor drag risk is very low in normal conditions.
About This Anchorage
North Sound (Gorda Sound) at the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda is widely regarded as one of the finest protected sailing anchorages in the entire Caribbean — a vast natural harbour of nearly 2,000 acres enclosed by reefs and headlands, with the Bitter End Yacht Club on its western shore. The BEYC, destroyed by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 (a direct Category 5 hit) and completely rebuilt by 2019, is once again one of the Caribbean's most sophisticated sailing resorts: 70 mooring buoys, a full-service marina, watersports centre, chandlery, restaurants, and the famous Bitter End bar. The sound is almost entirely protected from the NE trade winds — the sea state inside is flat even in strong trade conditions. The entrance via the Colquhoun Reef passage requires careful chart study — the pass is well-marked but coral heads are close. Saba Rock (a tiny island at the sound's northeast entrance) has 12 additional moorings and a popular restaurant and bar, rebuilt after Irma. Eustatia Sound (NE corner) offers a quieter alternative anchorage.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · W · NW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- BEYC mooring buoys $30/night via BoatyBall; Saba Rock moorings $30/night; anchoring in sand is free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Enter via Colquhoun Reef passage only — do NOT cross over the reef; no anchoring on coral; respect BEYC mooring field boundaries; speed limit 5 knots throughout North Sound.
Hazards
- !ENTRANCE — Colquhoun Reef passage requires chart study; coral heads close to the channel; do not cross reef
- !BEYC mooring field — reserve via BoatyBall in advance for December–March; field can be fully booked
- !Dinghy traffic heavy throughout the sound from multiple resorts and anchorages
- !Shoal patches in the eastern sound approaching Eustatia — use chart carefully
Skipper's Tips
- →Book a BEYC mooring buoy via the BoatyBall app at least 48 hours in advance in peak season — the 70 buoys fill completely
- →The Bitter End bar at sunset is one of the great sailing experiences in the Caribbean — arrive by dinghy from anywhere in the sound
- →Saba Rock (10-minute dinghy from BEYC) has one of the best rum collections in the BVI — the rum bar is legendary
- →Leverick Bay Marina (3nm SW of BEYC by dinghy) has the best provisioning in North Sound — ice, food, and chandlery
- →The BVI kite-surfing scene is centred on North Sound — consistent NE winds make this one of the best kite areas in the Caribbean
Facilities
Bitter End Yacht Club: full-service restaurant, bar, chandlery, watersports. Saba Rock Resort: restaurant and bar (famous rum collection). Leverick Bay Marina (3nm SW): provisioning, restaurant, fuel.
Nearest provisions: Leverick Bay Marina (3nm SW by dinghy) (3nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. One of the safest, most sheltered anchorages in the BVI — excellent in all normal trade conditions. Hurricane season June–November must be avoided.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
In Anegada waters, the Horseshoe Reef leaves no margin for anchor drag. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — essential in these waters.
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