TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Very Good News for Yachting in the BVI with New Protocols

Cannot wait to come back Jason. I am glad it is not too easy or it would be overrun.....

Brent--thanks

Thanks , Yes I do call in advance. Miami is the only airport that I use a wheelchair. So much walking.

Yes, Miami is a VERY long walk, in addition to Atlanta. Atlanta is probably longer, if you are connecting internationally.

Thorsten, are you looking to get to your villa, or are you now looking to charter a yacht ?

A travel agent might help you keep different requirements separate in your mind, and when you are ready, do all the requesting of airline services on your behalf and make flight reservations, too.

Thorsten, can you fly out of Fort Lauderdale? According to Google Flights, there are flights in December to Beef Island for well under $200 on Jet Blue. You won't have to handle your baggage and it's just a short taxi to Trellis for the ferry.

I feel you on going through STT, which is why we don't do it. Your other option is the afternoon Cape Air flight from STT to EIS for $175 in December.

Took a look on Jet Blue out of FLL. Only found flights that go thru San Juan on puddle jumpers. no non-stop

Took a look at MCO only spirit non-stop Not my favorite airline Took it once, very basic transportation. Took a look at PBI, FLL and MIa Only non-stop is Mia to STT Just no easy way to get to VG.

Since I am a million miler with AA, they give me me a perk of better seats and usually I can get seats with the middle seat empty by booking window and aisle.

Yes, thank you Carol!

Ahoy Captains,

Here is a short checklist for a Caribbean Escape in the BVI, on a Yacht with No Mask and No Distancing and No Politics, that I am sharing with my Guests.
The testing and tracking are the 'new normal', short term I hope, if you want to travel most international destinations, and even many USA Destinations.
Please consider that the tests and tracking work both ways to protect You and your Family and Friends

Because rates are rising so fast in the USA your priority should be -
1. Stay Healthy
2. Please Stay Healthy
3. Find local sources for 3 Day PCR testing. This will change many times as rates rise in the USA. Try https://www.goodrx.com/blog/drive-thru-coronavirus-testing-near-me/#find-a-site
4. The App, when available, should take about a minute to download. Your anti-virus on your phone will automatically check it. It should take a few minutes to complete. It will be simple and similar to paperwork for chartering a Yacht. It is $175/person, but includes 2 more tests in the BVI (cheaper than private tests in the USA).
5. There is a Tracking App. It is less intrusive than Facebook or Google as it does not collect data on your Searches or Friends or Likes. Any teenager will be able to delete it, clear the history, and scrub your phone memory after your vacation.
6. 2 Weeks before your vacation you and your crew need to pro-actively 'socially simplify your life'.
7. 1 Week before your vacation you and your crew need to proactively confirm a test site with 3 day results. Order all your Provisions and Sporting Gear online for delivery to the Yacht.
https://www.rtwbvi.com/contact-us
https://bviwatertoys.com/
8. Within 3 Days submit your PCR Test results and complete your App details. Consolidate a Go Bag with hard copies of your tests, flight info, and Gov ID.
9. Get to the airport early as most flights do not have pre-flight check in now. Seriously, Please, wear your mask over your Mouth And Nose, I have Family who work for an Airline.
10. When you arrive you will get a Day 1 test, already paid for as part of the App.
11. Straight to the Yacht and stay on the Yacht. Load your delivered Provisions and Sporting Gear. Briefings on the Yacht. Sorry, no shopping or dinning out for the first 4 days.
12. Depart on Day 1 or enjoy a Relaxing Sleepaboard and depart early Day 2. For Day 2 & 3 please Sail and Swim and Scuba and Windsurf throughout the BVI and then Overnight at one of the Quarantine Harbors (to be determined, but probably Norman, Peter, Cooper, Marina Cay). With No Mask and No Distancing and No Politics.
13. Day 4 sail to a harbor near one of the Re-Testing Sites (to be determined, but probably Virgin Gorda, Beef Island Airport, RoadTown, West End Sophers Hole, Great Harbor JVD). You will get a Day 4 test, already paid for as part of the App. Enjoy a celebratory ice cold Corona Extra beer.
14. Then you are Free to go Any Where and do Any Thing with No Mask and No Distancing and No Politics on your Yacht.
15. If you need another test to Re-Enter your Country, State, or County then the test is available at $70/Person (cheaper than a private test in the USA).
16. At the end of your charter beg for more time on the Yacht because after Everything in 2020 it feels like the best week of your life and you don't want to go back to the frozen masks and outdoor line ups.

"She said I can't go back to America soon, So goddamn cold it's gonna snow until June ...
Yeah, they're freezin' up in Buffalo stuck in their cars, And I'm lyin' here 'neath the sun and the stars ...
I hear it gets better, that’s what they say, as soon as we sail into Cane Garden Bay”
https://quitosbvi.com/webcam/

Fair Winds, Brent from The Captains Compass

This is the hard part...

3. Find local sources for 3 Day PCR testing.

Getting a test taken and results back then putting it thru the BVI Portal 48 hours prior to arrival only gives you 24 hours.
Not doable here unless I am understanding the rules wrong.

12: No also Anegada both in mooring fields and testing,seems you never makes it to Anegada

Also dining is available by contactless delivery to your yacht from your favourite restaurant in the mooring field if you wish as well as ice delivery.

CAPTMONK - I agree, this seems to be the trickiest part, esp if your 72-hour window straddles a weekend. We found a place in DC that can accommodate us, Same Day Testing, $195$/ea. Fingers crossed it all works out.

Regarding 8.: within three days of EXACTLY what? Departure of flight landing in BVI (like Hawaii)? Arrival?
It takes us about 12 to 20 hours to get to the BVI from the West Coast, so timing the test will be critical.

"within three days prior to arrival".

I'm worried about the time between steps 13 and 14. Test turnaround time and false positive or real positive.

Good luck. I am still looking here but my hopes are dimming as we are going into another 3 week lockdown starting Weds. People are starting to panic again.

I found private testing in our neighborhood for $50, with 24-48 hour turnaround. However, it takes us 20 hours to get to the BVI. It's not clear how we will be able to pick up the results, upload them and make our flight, assuming we test negative.

From what I have read, the final test in the BVI is to be done four full days after arrival. So if you arrive Monday evening, you would be retested Friday evening. Not sure if you have to wait for negative results to move about, but it would make sense. So that would mean Saturday before you are clear.

The rules I saw posted also said boaters must stay within 30 feet of their boat, so no windsurfing or kayaking, it appears. There was mention of certain attractions which might be visited, so perhaps some remote beaches. We will see. Obviously people can't quarantine in populated areas.

Agreed Captmonk - panic was evident yesterday at all the larger food stores - full parking lots and, once again, no toilet paper......and we have a shortage of tests now to boot.

Comment on #12: The steering committee introduction video from 11/12 (https://www.facebook.com/BVIGovernment/posts/10158073116507945) indicates that you have to remain within 30 feet of your yacht. So that appears to prevent windsurfing and diving, among other things. Also, I thought it was four FULL days of Q, so if one arrives late in the day (say a 5:30 flight or late ferry), then days 2-5 would be Q and testing on day 6, with "release" on day 7 (presuming a 24 hour turnaround), correct?

The way the SteerCo video describes the days is arrival is Day 0, last test on morning of Day 4, release on morning of Day 5. So a Monday arrival (anytime) would mean test on Friday morning, release on Saturday morning.

Then only 3 full days of Q....so confusing. Still too much for us with a 7 day charter. Good luck to those still trying to get there!

Is the wrist tracking device water proof?

1. All travellers for entry to the Territory, inclusive of all citizens, Belongers, permanent residents and work permit holders, will be required to pay for the traveller app, monitoring bracelet and the required two tests (entry and four-day) at a total charge of $175 per person. This is significant reduction from what was previously mentioned.

I very much doubt there will be any. Probably just the app.

Yes they are.

Staying within 30 feet of boat.? So no snorkeling, no SUP, NO NO NO NO

This is going to worse than Irma!

There is no capacity to enforce these restrictions. Once off the dock it will be a free for all. The BVI can't keep STT boats out of the territory much less police Covid boats that are quarantining.

I agree 100%. I am sorry, but this is comical.. Again, this reminds me of when the PM of Vietnam told everyone to wear helmets on their scooters. Ummm.. 3 million helmets short. This will be a free for all - my biggest concern is the craziness that will play out around the testing protocols. I foresee major organization, process, and supply chain issues. These are well-intentioned folks designing in a box with limited experience. Reality is their friend.

STT charter boat just fined $20,000 for illegal entry,

So are you suggesting the BVI is preventing the every day illegal traffic to and from STT by busting a charter boat? Come on....

I doubt all the traffic is being stopped but a good number is. Having a heavy armed HMS Medway in the territory is a significant deterrent. Having heard about a shortage of some "supplies" on island is an indicator the traffic is at least significantly reduced.

Jason--not exactly sure which 'supplies' you're talking about being in short supply, but that could perhaps be related to the recent arrest of the police officer?

Ahoy Captains,

Sorry, I won’t criticize my Neighbor for doing Everything Reasonable to help keep his Family and Friends all Safe and Healthy.
Sorry, I won’t criticize the use of Tests and Tracking for a few months. Those simple processes, and Masks and Distancing. Cheap, Simple, Safe and Unselfish.
Sorry, I won’t make this Political. Now is not the time in History to make a Profit on Bones. Especially against a Country wiped out by a Cat 5 Hurricane only 3 years ago.

There is a Storm coming.
Some of us will be into the harbor at 3PM and anchor at 6 to 1.
Some of you will be in at 6PM and try to anchor at 3 to 1 - inside the mooring field.
You know who you are.

Fair Winds, Brent from the Captains Compass

As a serious STT local sailor can you give any more info on this - timing, any other details or website. Thanks!
[Even via private message.]

These are the Take aways from one of our Crewed Clearinghouses Managers in the BVI on some of the items the steering committee is saying:
Take Aways -
The so-called 4 day quarantine is disingenuous, visitors do not receive their "all clear" until the morning of the 6th day.
No non-BVI-based yachts will be allowed to charter inside the territory.
No "touch and go" check-in/check-outs will be allowed for yachts wishing to clear in and out at the same instance.
No day trips from St. Thomas/St. John allowed.
"Quarantine anchorages" will be throughout the BVI.
Vessels will be able to navigate between "quarantine anchorages" while on quarantine.
The "quarantine bubble" around each vessel is 30 ft from the yacht.

Good info, Kerry. Do you know where one can find any required paperwork for BVI entry? Also, should the tracking app be downloaded prior to arrival? Thanks.

I don't believe the tracking app can be downloaded before arrival. The BVI is late with getting the Travel Portal up. On the 16th of November they said within the week.

Now they're saying Monday for the portal.

Monday 3rd November?