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Hi All,
We have a 7night bareboat charter from CYOA in early Mar and are thinking of staying around StThomas and StJohns as opposed to our normal transit directly to the BVI. Thinking about an orbit around StThomas and first night in Magens bay followed by a 6 more around St Johns.
Any advise would be much appreciated.
Restaurants
Bars
Groceries
Moorings
Special National Park rules for StJohns

There are not a lot of boat accessible restaurants,bars,groceries compared to the BVI - it is better to stock the boat while at CYOA with the majority of your provisions.
leaving there and heading West - Honeymoon beach on Water Island has 2 beach bars, Brewers Bay has 2 food trucks. After that rounding the West End and heading up the North Side, Hull bay has a restaurant and Magens has a beach bar and are really the only 2 viable overnight anchorages - and that depends on the N. Swell 100%.
Heading East a day stop at some of the small Cays has merit and anchoring in Water Bay or Red Hook are possible options. restaurants and groceries are available in Red Hook - continuing to Great St James Christmas Cove - a floating pizza boat, some moorings possible and the STYC is a fair dinghy ride away.

St John is a very different story, many bays have NPS moorings and the peace and quiet anchorages are truly stunning.Cruz Bay is accessible by dinghy from the Caneel Bay mooring field and has restaurants aplenty and some groceries. Taking a taxi into town from some of the other N.Shore bays is possible for shopping if need be.
The south side of STJ has more peaceful mooring fields, a day stop at Reef Bay would be a treat - the Lameshurs and Salt Pond are fine deserted spots.
Coral Bay is a small village with restaurants and groceries.
There are a few bays NOT in NPS waters where anchoring is allowed, Rendezvous,Hansen,Newfound,Brown, -- all weather dependent.
Staying in the USVI is a sharp contrast to the barhopping crowded mooring fields of the BVI and a much quieter boat oriented vacation - great snorkeling opportunities abound, a kayak or SUP carried aboard will get used daily for exploring, sharing food and drink aboard is much more relaxing and affordable. The NPS moorings are generally plentiful and the honor system prices are a bargain.
I include the STJ NPS link:
https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/virgin-islands-marine-visitor-use-information.htm

A great way to avoid the steep BVI fees, the crowds and race for moorings,any C&I visits, overpriced shore spots with intoxicated sailors and to kick back and enjoy boating life with friends and family. Much different than a BVI trip so being prepared before departing CYOA is more important, the staff there is very good and Very Helpful for your planning.

Excellent summary LocalSailor!

Just to add the Lindberg Bay anchorage with access to the Emerald Beach Resort restaurant and bar.

If you get a late start from CYOA and want to head west, I highly recommend the nicely protected Brewers Bay north of the airport runway. It's a 45 minute motor from CYOA. I've used it as a jumping off point for an early morning sail to Culebra. Good snorkeling with many sea turtles and a nice beach.

For groceries, Dolphin Market in Cruz Bay is very well stocked and only a few hundred yards walk from the NPS dinghy dock near Mongoose Village.

Capella/Buck Island south of Charlotte Amalie has moorings in a surprisingly well-protected anchorage with good snorkeling, and complete privacy after the cruise ship snorkel tours depart by mid afternoon.

After three visits there, I would highly recommend Leinster Bay. NPS moorings (voluntary, you put you money in a box on a raft). Great snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay. (However, be careful of strong currents depending on tide and wind). The abandoned Annaberg sugar plantation is fascinating. When approaching by dinghy, do not go past the landing spot, as it gets very shallow (6"-12") very quickly.

Welcome to CYOA.

You are probably going to want to do this in a different order.

I would start by heading east towards St John. Christmas Cove or the North Shore the first full day. Do a figure eight around St John and St Thomas. Spend a day in town at Cruz Bay. It is the coolest town in the Virgins both British and US. Then a night in Maho/Francis. (You could spend days on the North Shore of St John and around the small barrier islands).

From there head around St John, snorkeling at Leinster. Possibly an overnight in Coral Bay. Then Salt Pond or Lameshur's. From there take a nice long down wind sail to Magen's on the next to last night. From Magen's head around the west end of St Thomas also down wind and spend your last night at Brewers, Lindbergh or Water Island.

As for places on shore. Things are changing quickly over here. There is now a beach bar at Honeymoon on St John. There is a food cart/bar at Maho Bay that opened this week. Some concessions are back open at Trunk Bay. The owners of Lime Inn are opening a floating food truck/bar in Hansen Bay right inside Coral Bay any day. It is called the Lime Out. Several Coral Bay favorites are open including Skinny Leggs. You also can get a slip or anchor in Red Hook if you want a town day. Back here is St Thomas Megan's has a bar and food during the day. At Christmas Cove you have Pizza Pi which might be the best floating food truck on the planet. Then back at Water Island you have Dinghy's Beach Bar and Heidi's Honeymoon Grill. In Lindbergh you have access to the beach bar and restaurant at Emerald Beach Resort.

Here is a link to the National Park Marine Resources Guide. ST JOHN MARINE RESOURCE GUIDE

Great information CaptainJay!

The directional itinerary suggested by Captain Jay is considerably better than a 1st night anchoring plan in Magens Bay.

Capt Jay wont steer you wrong...he knows the area Highly recommend working with CYOA, Capt Jay and the entire staff.

One point, paying for Moorings in the USVI is not voluntary. It’s mandatory and failure to pay cab result in large fines.
G

The moorings in the National Park were never voluntary they’re on the honor system and if you stay overnight it must be paid.

If you have a National Parks Senior Pass you pay half the going rate. One of the perks of being an Old Fart

Quite right!
Some add prestige to the park like myself and have an honorary free pass. 👻

One other consideration for St John, if it’s winter time take a close look at the swell forecast and modify your cruise plan as needed. A N swell takes out many of the options for mooring areas. Have a backup plan. Pretty much a non issue in the summer.
G

Great thread. I didn't think peace and quiet were available in the USVI and thought BVI's were my only choice for cruising grounds. I'm chartering out of Tortola this July, but have seriously begun considering CYOA with location and ease of flights into STT.

To those who posted, thanks for all the useful info.

You will find St John more peaceful than most BVI anchorages. There are however fewer choices for dining ashore ect..

I would also check Virgin Island Yacht Charters. We had a fabulous experience with them in 2018 and excited for our next charter beginning April 4th on a brand new 44 F/P cat. They are located in Compass Point Marina which is farther from the airport but quite close to Red Hook where we found great provisioning at Moe’s and a terrific pizza joint called the Island Time Pub. Worth checking out if you’re considering a STT start point. Also super close to Christmas Cove which was a good Anchorage for the last night. This year we will spend night 1 and night 7 at St John. VIYC has a great fleet and is a small, high service operation. Good Luck!