{"id":1673045,"date":"2026-10-30T08:16:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T07:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/?p=1673045"},"modified":"2026-10-30T08:16:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T07:16:00","slug":"trellis-bay-beef-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/segelmagazin\/trellis-bay-beef-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Trellis Bay in the BVI: travel, harbour information and trip destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Trellis Bay is a bay on the north side of Beef Island, the small island off the eastern tip of Tortola, and lies right next to the airport of the British Virgin Islands. Here you can read how to get to Trellis Bay from the airport and by ferry, how yachts lie in the bay, where to park and shop, what wind to expect, which trip destinations are nearby and what skippers need to consider when clearing in.<\/p>\n<h2>The essentials at a glance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Trellis Bay lies directly east of Terrance B. Lettsome Airport; by car it's about two minutes to the ferry jetty.<\/li>\n<li>Trellis Bay is not a marina with pontoons: yachts lie freely in the bay, you come ashore by dinghy.<\/li>\n<li>At the ferry jetty there is a covered waiting area and a car park, right next to it is the Trellis Bay Market.<\/li>\n<li>For a large provisioning shop you take a taxi or hire car to Road Town, about nine kilometres west as the crow flies.<\/li>\n<li>In winter the trade wind usually blows stronger, in summer weaker. The hurricane season runs from June to November.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Where is Trellis Bay?<\/h2>\n<p>Trellis Bay opens to the north, with the airport site on the western shore and the small island of Bellamy Cay in the middle of the bay. Yachts lie freely in the bay. The ferry jetty is on the south-western shore near the airport, about 500 metres from the anchorage east of Bellamy Cay.<\/p>\n<p>Beef Island is connected to Tortola by a bridge; you reach Road Town by road via the eastern side of Tortola. The bay is the transport hub for the islands to the east: from here boats travel to Virgin Gorda, Scrub Island and Marina Cay, and for Guana Island and Mosquito Island, Trellis Bay is the usual departure point.<\/p>\n<p>In the early 1950s the sailor Wladek Wagner built a small boatyard on Bellamy Cay and for the government the first small airstrip on Beef Island. The boatyard no longer exists today.<\/p>\n<h2>Arriving for trip departure in Trellis Bay<\/h2>\n<p>Trellis Bay borders directly on the airport.<\/p>\n<h3>From Terrance B. Lettsome Airport to Trellis Bay<\/h3>\n<p>Terrance B. Lettsome Airport (code EIS) is the main airport of the British Virgin Islands and is located on Beef Island, operated by the BVI Airports Authority. There are no direct flights from Europe. You change planes in San Juan, Puerto Rico, St Thomas, Antigua or Sint Maarten; from North America there is a direct flight from Miami. For travellers from the UK, Antigua is the usual connection point.<\/p>\n<p>Trellis Bay lies east of the airport. On foot it is a short walk, by car about two minutes to the ferry dock. With luggage for a whole sailing trip a taxi is more convenient. Taxis operate on official fixed rates.<\/p>\n<p>Since 1 January 2025 you fill in the <a href=\"https:\/\/bviedcard.gov.vg\">entry and customs form online<\/a> at the earliest 72 hours before arrival. You need a photo of your passport page and will receive confirmation by email after submission.<\/p>\n<h3>By ferry or taxi via St Thomas<\/h3>\n<p>If you land on St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, you take a taxi to the ferry dock in Charlotte Amalie (about ten minutes) or Red Hook (about 45 minutes). The ferries run to Road Town or West End on Tortola and only operate in daylight; according to the current schedule (October 2026) the last one usually departs between 16:30 and 17:00. From Road Town or West End you continue by taxi to Trellis Bay.<\/p>\n<h3>Parking<\/h3>\n<p>Around the waiting area at the ferry dock there is a car park which ferry passengers also use, plus small parking areas on the shore and at the airport.<\/p>\n<h3>Arrived early: waiting at the ferry dock<\/h3>\n<p>At the ferry dock there has been an open, covered waiting area with seating and toilets since December 2024, built for ferry passengers and crews who are being picked up by their own boat. It is wheelchair accessible. You can also spend the waiting time on the beach in the bay or in the studios and caf\u00e9s on the shore \u2014 more on this under Harbour day.<\/p>\n<h3>Shopping for the trip<\/h3>\n<p>Right on the shore, about 130 metres from the ferry dock, is the Trellis Bay Market with bar and grill. There is no large supermarket in Trellis Bay. You buy provisions for a whole week in Road Town, about nine kilometres away as the crow flies to the west. You get there by taxi or hire car. In Road Town there are several supermarkets along the Waterfront and in the neighbourhoods by the harbour.<\/p>\n<h3>Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services<\/h3>\n<p>There is no pharmacy in Trellis Bay; the nearest ones are in Road Town on Waterfront Drive. The islands' hospital, the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital with an A&amp;E department, is also in Road Town, about ten kilometres as the crow flies from Trellis Bay.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>911: Emergency number for police, ambulance and fire brigade<\/li>\n<li>311: Police, for non-emergencies<\/li>\n<li>767: Sea rescue VISAR (Virgin Islands Search and Rescue), 24 hours<\/li>\n<li>At sea: VHF Channel 16 for distress and calling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What does Trellis Bay offer?<\/h2>\n<p>Trellis Bay is an anchorage with a ferry dock, small shops, studios and caf\u00e9s on the shore. There is no marina with pontoons, electricity and water at the berth.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Feature<\/th>\n<th>Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Position (approximate)<\/td>\n<td>18\u00b0 26,9&#8242; N, 064\u00b0 31,9&#8242; W<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Location<\/td>\n<td>north side of Beef Island, east of the airport<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Type<\/td>\n<td>open anchorage, no marina<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Landing<\/td>\n<td>by dinghy, dinghy dock at Aragorn's Studio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>ferry dock<\/td>\n<td>southwest shore, with covered waiting area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Einklarieren<\/td>\n<td>not possible, nearest clearance ports Road Town and Spanish Town<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Distances (as the crow flies)<\/td>\n<td>airport right next door, Road Town about 9 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Equipment<\/h3>\n<p>On the shore there is the Trellis Bay Market with bar and grill, several caf\u00e9s, a coffee shop, arts and crafts shops, the studios Aragorn's Studio and the pottery TerraForma, as well as a sandy beach. You land your dinghy at the dinghy dock at Aragorn's Studio.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the weather like for sailing in Trellis Bay?<\/h2>\n<p>On the Virgin Islands the trade wind blows from easterly directions almost all year. In winter it is usually stronger and there is less rain, in summer the wind is lighter and there is more rain.<\/p>\n<p>From December to February, cold fronts from North America occasionally bring strong northerly winds, the so-called Christmas Winds, and high swells to the north coasts. This also affects Trellis Bay, which is open to the north. Hurricane season begins on 1 June and ends on 30 November; during this time tropical storms can approach from the east and south.<\/p>\n<p>The US National Weather Service in San Juan issues a Small Craft Advisory when winds of 21 to 33 knots are expected, which is about Force 6 to 7.<\/p>\n<h2>What sailing destinations can you reach from Trellis Bay?<\/h2>\n<p>From Trellis Bay the eastern islands of the British Virgin Islands are particularly close. Virgin Gorda is a short day's sail away. The distances are rounded distances over water on the usual course from the bay; for exact planning the chart applies.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1673002\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-blick-auf-tortola-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"View over clear water to the hills of Tortola\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-blick-auf-tortola-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-blick-auf-tortola-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-blick-auf-tortola-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-blick-auf-tortola-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-blick-auf-tortola-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-blick-auf-tortola.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marina Cay: about 1 nm<\/li>\n<li>Cooper Island: about 5 nm, round the eastern tip of Beef Island<\/li>\n<li>Virgin Gorda, The Baths: about 5 nm<\/li>\n<li>Virgin Gorda, Spanish Town: approx. 6 nm<\/li>\n<li>Road Town: approx. 9 nm, through the Sir Francis Drake Channel<\/li>\n<li>Virgin Gorda, North Sound: approx. 10 nm<\/li>\n<li>Anegada: approx. 18 nm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Marina Cay and Scrub Island<\/strong> lie to the north and northeast of the bay. Scrub Island has a marina with resort. A resort boat runs from Trellis Bay to Scrub Island, also calling at Marina Cay.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Virgin Gorda<\/strong> is famous for The Baths, huge granite boulders with rock pools on the southwest coast, part of a national park. In the main settlement Spanish Town you can clear in at St. Thomas Bay.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cooper Island<\/strong> lies to the east of the Sir Francis Drake Channel. To the west, off Salt Island, the mail ship RMS Rhone sank in a hurricane in 1867. The wreck lies in the British Virgin Islands' only marine national park.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Anegada<\/strong> is unlike the other islands\u2014flat and made of coral limestone, with the highest point only about 8.5 metres above sea level. The island is surrounded by the Horseshoe Reef, an extensive reef; anchoring on the reef is prohibited.<\/p>\n<p>More about the capital and its marinas can be found in the profile of <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/harbours-road-town-tortola\/\">Harbours in Road Town<\/a>. Further east lies Sint Maarten, which we cover in the profile of <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/harbours-sint-maarten-simpson-bay\/\">Harbours on Sint Maarten<\/a> .<\/p>\n<h2>What can you do ashore in Trellis Bay on a harbour day?<\/h2>\n<p>Studios, bars and the beach all lie along the shore of the bay.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aragorn's Studio: The studio on the shore is known for its fire sculptures\u2014large metal spheres lit during bay celebrations. The dinghy dock is also by the studio.<\/li>\n<li>TerraForma pottery: At the pottery you can watch work at the wheel.<\/li>\n<li>Full Moon Party: At present (October 2026) Trellis Bay celebrates the full moon with music and food on the shore. Pottery-making starts at Aragorn's Studio around 18:00, a raku firing demonstration takes place at 21:00, the fire sculptures are lit around 21:30 and stilt dancers\u2014the Moko Jumbies\u2014mingle with guests.<\/li>\n<li>Trellis Bay beach: The sandy beach lies right in front of the bars and studios.<\/li>\n<li>Trip to Virgin Gorda: Ferries run from the ferry dock to Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda; a day trip to The Baths is possible even without a yacht.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>For skippers: Berthing and sea conditions in Trellis Bay<\/h2>\n<p>In Trellis Bay you lie at anchor in the bay and go ashore by dinghy. You cannot clear in here: anyone arriving from outside the British Virgin Islands must clear in first at a port of entry.<\/p>\n<h3>Anchoring in Trellis Bay<\/h3>\n<p>The bay is a natural anchorage; there are no berths at pontoons. The airport lies on the western shore, with Bellamy Cay in the middle of the bay. You land your dinghy at the dinghy dock by Aragorn's Studio; ferry passengers and crews awaiting collection wait at the ferry dock on the southwest shore. Expect ferries and water taxis in the area of the dock, which come and go regularly.<\/p>\n<h3>Clearing in to the British Virgin Islands<\/h3>\n<p>All boats arriving from outside clear in immediately on arrival with Customs and Immigration. Trellis Bay is not a port of entry. The nearest are Road Town on Tortola (Customs and Immigration daily 08:30\u201319:00) and St. Thomas Bay in Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda (daily 08:30\u201316:30; as at October 2026). Outside these hours it is only possible by prior arrangement and for an additional fee.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In advance: fill in the immigration and customs form online within the 72 hours before arrival.<\/li>\n<li>On arrival, call the port of entry on VHF channel 16 and switch to channel 17 when instructed by the port authority.<\/li>\n<li>The skipper clears in the whole crew and brings the passports of all persons on board and the ship's papers.<\/li>\n<li>Payment is made at the cashier of the tax authority and at the cashier of the harbour authority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For cruising in British Virgin Islands waters you also need a cruising permit, issued by Customs.<\/p>\n<h3>Approach<\/h3>\n<p>Trellis Bay lies on the north side of Beef Island and is open to the north, towards Marina Cay and Great Camanoe. You reach the bay from the Sir Francis Drake Channel by rounding the eastern tip of Beef Island. When cold fronts bring northerly winds and swell in winter, both enter the bay directly.<\/p>\n<h3>Which marine weather forecast applies in Trellis Bay?<\/h3>\n<p>The official marine weather forecast for the waters around the British Virgin Islands is issued by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/marine\/sjumz\">US weather service NWS in San Juan<\/a> For Trellis Bay, the coastal waters zone up to ten nautical miles north of the islands applies; for passages east beyond Virgin Gorda, the open Anegada Passage. The forecast gives wind, gusts and sea state for several days, plus warnings such as the Small Craft Advisory.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Disaster Management of the British Virgin Islands additionally publishes a forecast with wind and sea state around the islands, but does not regard itself as an official weather service. During hurricane season it provides storm warnings.<\/p>\n<h2>Trips departing from Trellis Bay on T\u00f6rnfinder<\/h2>\n<p>Im Oktober 2026 gibt es auf T\u00f6rnfinder 1 T\u00f6rntermin in den n\u00e4chsten zw\u00f6lf Monaten mit Start oder Ziel Trellis Bay.<\/p>\n<p>Offers in the whole region can be found under <a href=\"\/en\/cabin-charter-caribbean\/\">Sailing in the Caribbean<\/a>, all dates and sailing areas in the <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-trips\/\">trip overview<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>How far is Trellis Bay from the airport?<\/h3>\n<p>Only a short distance: the bay lies directly east of Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island. By car it is about two minutes to the ferry landing; on foot it is a short walk.<\/p>\n<h3>Is there a marina in Trellis Bay?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Trellis Bay is an anchorage without pontoons; yachts lie at anchor in the bay and crew come ashore by dinghy. The nearest marinas are on Scrub Island and in the east of Tortola, about 15 minutes' drive from the airport.<\/p>\n<h3>Where do I park at trip departure in Trellis Bay?<\/h3>\n<p>In the car park around the waiting area at the ferry landing, or on the small parking areas by the shore and near the airport.<\/p>\n<h3>Where do I shop for the trip?<\/h3>\n<p>In Trellis Bay there is only the Trellis Bay Market with bar and grill by the shore; for a weekly shop you drive by taxi or hire car to the supermarkets in Road Town, about nine kilometres as the crow flies to the west.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I clear in at Trellis Bay?<\/h3>\n<p>No, Trellis Bay is not a port of entry. By boat you clear in at Road Town or at Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda; anyone arriving by air clears in at the airport.<\/p>\n<h3>When is the full moon party in Trellis Bay?<\/h3>\n<p>As things stand (October 2026), at full moon in the evening: from about 6 pm there is pottery-making in front of Aragorn's Studio; around 9:30 pm the fire sculptures in the bay are lit.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trellis Bay auf Beef Island: Ankerbucht direkt am Flughafen der BVI, Anreise, F\u00e4hranleger, Einkauf, Passat-Wetter und T\u00f6rnziele bis Virgin Gorda.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":1673001,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[536],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1673045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviere-haefen","category-536","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1673045"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1673048,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673045\/revisions\/1673048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1673001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1673045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1673045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1673045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}