Lots of off the Charter Boat locations do exist in the BVI but like most places are, once a boat is in one... about night fall a flock of "sheep" will follow you in. Most people use the Bight on Norman Cay as THE ONLY place... while it has nice places to eat and is a great point to start hikes it sucks as an anchorage/ mooring field unless you like living in an apartment complex with no doors. Several other locations are suitable for anchorage depending on the season and conditions. From the Bight, you can hike to several bays on the South side that are off limits to most charter boats. I've spend full days at Money Bay with out ever seeing a person or boat but I did hike in from the Bight or Benures Bay which is closer and a great anchorage but often fills in the evening again depending on season. In the late season ... after May you will probably have it to yourself most days but still at night you will get people who want to
anchor on your stern rail and some seem to want to
anchor in your cockpit.
On the North Side of Tortola several locations are great but out of the charter approval zone. None are good in the winter or when a Northern Swell is running. At little Yost Van Dyke several locations are far less used but you also need to be aware of the weather as some are more exposed. On Virgina Gorda, several anchorage locations away from the "attractions" are very good and you generally have lots of beach to yourself.
On Angada the anchorage/ mooring field is almost always thick with boat... few actually go the the beaches on that side. We have had 3 miles of sugar white beach all to ourselves for days on end. Most people take the taxi over to Lob Lolly or one of the other Northern end beaches.... you DO NOT want to attempt to anchor in that area.....Far too many reefs.
If you go to St. Johns south side in the USVI you will generally find far less activity and it is a great place to take the hiking trails of the National Park. Mooring fees are also less than typical in the BVI but have more limits on them.
Problem is that many of the Charter companies will not allow you in some of these locations or have them marked in red as off limits. However if you ask about a specific location you can often be given permission and they will fill you in on the Local knowledge you may need.
