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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 114
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 114 |
We did our first USVI only charter in November through CYOA. Had a blast! Just booked a 6 day charter for just my wife and I for April. Already dreaming of pain killers and ice cold Caribs.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - beer in hand - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214 |
We are doing our first USVI trip in April. After 23 BVI trips we are looking forward to a new adventure.
Colleen
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190 |
We are headed down next weekend - planning to spend all our time around STJ. Looking forward to escaping sub zero temps but not looking forward to the crowded moorings. Had a long chat with a friend who is a USVI based charter captain this week - he confirmed that it is indeed a zoo right now.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 266
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 266 |
Leaving for St Thomas on Feb 14th. Hopefully there will be mooring balls available somewhere???
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 245
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 245 |
Relax and come and enjoy. I am at Francis bay right now and there are open mooring balls all around.
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 84
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 84 |
We are headed down in April as well. We have 9 nights on a 43 cat - 5 adults, 3 kids. We’ve sailed the BvIs a few times but this will be our first trip in the USVi. We love sailing and going in to shore for dinner. It appears that there aren’t as many places for dinner and some of the sails look to be short. We will likely just go out and sail for the day and then end up at a location vs sailing directly to the next stop. In any case we are really looking forward to it. The trip last year to Antigua was canceled due to Covid.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,965
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,965 |
We saw free moorings at Salt Pond, Great Lameshur, and Little Lameshure yesterday. Plenty of room.
Cheers, RickG
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,220
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Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,220 |
Just received Scott's Virgin Islands Sailing Guide in Saturday mail. Read it once. Sad to skip the BVI section, but happy to explore the USVI as a new destination. Good info on mooring sites and detail of number of balls. Looks like there are a few more eating (and drinking) establishments than I thought. Though mentions in threads above of “it’s a Zoo”, to “plenty of room” are raising the anxiety level. Wondering about a planned itinerary. Discussions of Bow Tie, multiple East - West trips, or daily day sails (North-South, starting from the southern bays?) brings several options. Not real keen on two mile power runs from bay to bay. We hope to include St. Croix too, one of the reasons for a nine night charter. Appreciate the advice to do St Croix as mid-trip, not as early trip. We’re on a Lagoon 450-F and wanna get those big flappy things up in the air, and spend quality deck time on the expanded flybridge! Anybody have a suggested itinerary that they have found to hit the obvious highlights?
Last edited by jphart; 02/08/2021 08:05 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 114
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 114 |
We never had a problem grabbing a mooring when we were down in November. I think the only place that ever got full was Honeymoon Beach/Lind Point. When we were in Lameshur it was only us and one other boat. At Leinster Bay it was us an 3 boats. WE enjoyed dinner in Cruz Bay. Planning on spending 2 nights in that area this time for dinners since it's just my wife and I.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - beer in hand - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190 |
I think things have picked up since November, at least that is the on island/in area reports I am getting from people regularly sailing the area (a good friend runs a crewed cat charter our of STT) and on island. Honeymoon and Maho seem to be the big sticklers with moorings. Salt Pond and Lameshurs are a crap shoot. We don't like STT so I haven't asked for reports from areas there. We are heading down this Sunday, spending most of our time around STJ since Spanish Virgins are still a no-go and we are not St. Croix fans (to each their own I suppose). Had hoped to hit Lovango early in the trip but as it is pretty exposed,with the heavier winds and gusts forecasted, think we'll be skipping it. JP - here is a good resource for moorings around STJ (National Park): https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/virgin-islands-marine-visitor-use-information.htm You can see the location of each mooring. If you are planning dinner in Cruz Bay make reservations EARLY. It is very busy on island. I made dinner reservations a month in advance for Morgan's Mango and got the last table for my preferred night outside on the porch on the rail. ZoZo's at Caneel takes reservations one month in advance.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860 |
We were on one of two boats at Salt Pond last night.
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190 |
Cleo - ENJOY!! Please post your thoughts/experiences for those of us arriving soon!!!
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 27
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 27 |
The only place I have been able to find information that the SVIs are closed for bareboat yachts from the USVI is on this forum. Is there an official PR or SVI travel restrictions site saying this? I don't doubt the information, just want to know where to look for any future changes to this status.
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 24
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 24 |
We are going down on 2/26 for a week. When we booked last February, we intended a BVI cruise; luckily we chartered a USVI based Cat because at the time, it was an easier way to travel - soooo much more now.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860 |
Will do. We are on a crewed charter and it is absolutely fabulous, our first trip on a boat after 25 years of being land based.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,965
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,965 |
Will do. We are on a crewed charter and it is absolutely fabulous, our first trip on a boat after 25 years of being land based. It could become a habit. Next you'll be boat shopping! Cheers, RickG
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,190 |
"It could become a habit. Next you'll be boat shopping!" Rick's right Cleo - hoping to close on my new cat soon
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 124
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 124 |
Regarding SVI, it may depend on your charter company. Our previous company would not allow us to go to SVI at the time with the restrictions. We have a charter in May planned and I still do not think they have lifted the restrictions, though we are hoping to go back to SVI for sure.
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