TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands First Charter

So we are taking this families first sail charter in March, and we have paid up to have the cat pick us up at Red Hook as opposed to ferrying over to Tortola. We land in St Thomas at 3:15 and go straight to the boat. I have not had a direct conversation with the captain yet, but expect to very soon. Getting to the boat that late in the afternoon, would you expect to set sail immediately upon arrival or do you think we will be staying in port that night (weather dependent, I understand)? Is it worth the extra $ to have them pick us up at Red Hook? Another question I have is if a 6 day trip is too short to consider Anegada as a destination? We will be sailing a Lagoon 500Thanks in advance. Have really enjoyed the info from this site! Jim R

How much extra are you paying for the pick-up at Red Hook?

Personally, this being your first charter, I wouldn't pick up the boat in St Thomas. Of your six day trip, you just wasted a day considering sailing time and customs. I haven't experienced or heard of any ferry problems this year so landing in St Thomas at 3:30 would get you on the 5 PM Fast Ferry. Sleep on the boat that night and you're set up for what ever islands you want to visit. Starting in St Thomas with limited time, I wouldn't even consider Anegada on this trip.

300 bones...Normally they would pickup at Village Cay <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Is the boat provisioned?
You can easily leave Red Hook and get to an overnight anchorage close by if your boat is ready to go when you arrive - even a night around the corner at Christmas Cove is fine.
Visiting Anegada in the remaining 5 nights is possible but will be a lot of time underway and maybe a bit too much sailing for a new charter group.
Consider the cost of your group for the ferry and Tortola taxi VS. the cost of the pickup to compare - and C&I time and fees.

It is a crewed charter, so provisioning is confirmed. Also being a full moon should give us some additional time to "break free" as well,no? Thanks so far.....

It's a bit confusing what type of charter you are on. Is this a bareboat with a skipper added or is it a crewed charter? Is it a noon start that day or is the charter starting the day prior?

Captain and chef picking us up at Redhook for destinations unknown. Landing at Charlotte Amalie at 3:15. Returning on the 18th for 4:40 departure on American.

I would ferry to Tortola and head out from Village Cay..as said..you will waste a full day if you start at Red Hook. I love Anegada but with your time frame I'd save it for your next..longer..trip.

If this is a crewed charter with the crew based on the boat starting at Redhook should be fine. If it's a bareboat charter where you have contracted for a Skipper and cook it's likely they will arrive late in Redhook.
Either way you will have to make 3 customs stops. Entering the BVI, exiting the BVI and re entering the USVI. It might be possible to clear in and out of the BVI at the same time and drop one stop. Personally I would heed manpots advice and ferry to and from the BVI. You can have them pick you up and drop you at WestEnd.

What others said.. Take ferry to west end. The ferry will go direct at 20mph the sailboat won't. Clear customs..meet crew and enjoy Sopers or if allowed to sail after dark they can take you somewhere.

Paying a sailboat to be a water taxi is not wise imo, especially on a short charter. I'd want to hit the ground running. By taking ferry or flying to beef island or VG airport..doubt cost is much more than extra to come to redhook and wasted time...or water taxi..you will save a lot of time.

Excellent information! Thanks all.

I would vote for your original plan. Cost is probably a wash by skipping ferry fees. A quick sail over to Christmas Cove or Caneel Bay and your vacation has started. Nothing fun about ferry rides and standing in line for customs in Road Town.
We love a day or 2 along St John north shore bays and do it even if we start in the BVI.

Just my opinion.
Terry

Agree 100% with Terry. Eliminate the ferry ride, family standing in lines at C&I, and additional taxi ride to the yacht base. Under best of circumstances and with no flight delay, the ferry option won't get you to your boat til about 6 pm with sunset at about 6:30 pm in March. I doubt the captain will take you for an evening sail.

From Redhook you'll have time to enjoy a short sundowner motor/sail to a St John anchorage for the evening, then a 30-45 minute run the next morning to Great Harbour or West End C&I where only the captain will need to present himself.

Jim, I know this is obvious, but since both options could work, I would talk to your captain to get his or her perspective. Personally, we love St. John, but since you have a limited number of days, I would want to clear customs on your travel day to get it over with. Of course, you can do this either by taking the ferry or having your captain pick you up. A key factor will be your itinerary. If you plan to start the trip in the Jost or western side of Tortola area, taking your boat may make more sense. However, if you plan to be in Virgin Gorda the next day, taking the 5:00 pm fast ferry to Road Town would avoid a big chunk of this long journey at 6 to 10 knots.

For our family, we try to avoid the ferry. Therefore, we would probably start our trip in the Sopers or Jost area and pick up the boat in Red Hook.

Good luck!
Steve

Jim,
Is this charter through MainSail YC?
Just curious.

mappy <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Red hook is approximately 60 minutes of sailing time from Jost. You can clear-in at Great Harbor.

If you REALLY have to go to Anegada on a six day charter you can do it, but I would save it for the next trip.

Since we are newbies when it comes to this type of travel, vacation truly will start as soon as we get on the boat, regardless if where it is in the cruising grounds. Ferrys and lines are exactly what we do not want, so i think we will likely keep to our plan and have the boat come get us Red Hook. All replies gave me food for thought and i appreciate the contributions!

I sailed out of Red Hook on a charter/sail course a couple of years ago.

Given your late arrival, getting picked up at Red Hook is the better option IMHO. Especially, if it is only an extra $300.

If it is your first trip and you are arriving that late you will be apprehensive and anxious as to whether you will make the ferry either out of CA or over to Red hook. Then, as other posters stated, you have to get through customs and taxi to wherever the boat will be. By this point it will be close to dark and you won't be going anywhere most likely. stressed, tired. What's the point?

The alternative is have them meet you in Red hook, as you originally suggested. If you get in to CA on time, you would have enough time to sail over to Christmas cove, Cruz bay or Francis Bay on St John. Enjoying a wonderful evening under the stars on the hook your first night sounds like a pretty good start!

Worst comes to worst and you are late arriving you can still meet the boat in Red hook and stay the night on a slip. The boat will be waiting for you! Red hook is a nice little port with lots of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops to explore your first night. Not a bad worst case scenario!

The next morning you can sail into Soper's Hole and clear in or Jost depending on your itinerary.

I like it! Thank you. Jim R

Be sure to hit Duffy's for your first Bushwacker if you have any time in Red Hook!

Cap'n says we sail as soon as we get aboard but our return may leave us some time for a farewell cocktail.....:)