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While sailing between North Sound, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke, stop by the small island group known as the Dogs for a peaceful anchorage with good diving. The best anchorages are in the bays west of Kitchen Point on George Dog and on the south side of Great Dog.

Foxy’s bar at this tiny island is legendary, but there are many other similar spots at Great and Little Harbours and White Bay. You can clear BVI Customs at Great Harbour (seeJost Van Dyke).

Nestled in a sheltered, emerald-green lagoon and ringed by soft, white sand, Marina Cay is home to Pusser’s Restaurant (seePusser’s, Marina Cay), which attracts sailors as well as landlubbers who catch the ferry from Trellis Bay for salty camaraderie and good food. The island is fringed by coral; boats enter through the north side channel (seeMarina Cay).

Make a day stop at this deserted island for great snorkeling and strolling on the white beach. Deep water almost to the shore allows boats to come in close. Summer anchoring is best since winter swells can make it a rolly stay (seeSandy Cay).

Rumored to be a site of buried treasures, this island features a popular anchorage known as the Bight, home to the floating William Thornton restaurant and the shoreside Pirates Bight. Enjoy good snorkeling here (seeNorman Island).

One of the islands’ hottest anchorages, Cane Garden Bay has several popular bars and restaurants as well as the historic Callwood Rum Distillery (seeCallwood Rum Distillery, Tortola). A great stop for stretching your sea legs along the long, sandy beach (seeCane Garden Bay).

Use the moorings near the offshore wreck of theRhoneto explore the undersea wreck with mask and fins. Or go ashore at Salt Island’s Lee Bay or Salt Pond Bay to visit ancient salt ponds still in use for harvesting salt (seeSalt Island).

Drop anchor at Cooper Island’s Manchioneel Bay, for lunch or dinner at the very casual Cooper Island Beach Club (seeCooper Island Beach Club). The small resort has a dinghy dock to make access easy for sailors and a glorious beach ideal for sun-bathing.

While the Baths can get quite crowded with dinghies going back and forth to boats, it’s worth a stop to snorkel among the huge boulders that form small grottos. Swells from the north may make overnight anchorages somewhat unpleasant during the winter months (seeSpring Bay Beach, Virgin Gorda).

North Sound is home to a handful of resorts, all with bars and most catering to sailors. Distances between resorts are small, so it’s easy to barhop in your dinghy. But designate a nondrinker to take the helm (seeBar-Crawling in North Sound, Virgin Gordaand;Virgin Gorda & The Outer Islands).