I'm in agreement.

The airport expansion is a pipedream that feels financially and logistically impossible for the BVI to pull off.

IMO - I would like to see the government do everything they can to keep the AA flights in from MIA (which this increased demand seems awesome), the Tradewinds flights direct to VG from San Juan, and then figure out a way to offer more (and specifically later) ferries from STT to Tortola (and even more direct STT to VG than just once a week on Saturdays)

Just making it slightlyyyyyyyy easier to get to the BVI would make a world of difference.

I had never seen the islands so clearly, as this past April.
I couldn't capture a picture.
I never knew how big they were. The clearest day after 2 weeks of clouds, and dust!

OK, this one isn't about the original topic anymore, so will close it here.

Beautiful pictures! Just booked flights for January 2025... we're already ready!

I would estimate based on our recent charter that about 60%+ of the boats out there are transmitting an AIS signal. Still need to keep your eyes out, but it’s really becoming “easy button” sailing.

Thanks, Dave. I appreciate the directions and we probably saw Secret Seafood from our villa at Simpson Bay Resort.

At the end of the walkway is a restaurant called the pier. Very good food and inexpensive

Keep in mind that in many oceans you have both swell and wind driven waves. Often they come from different directions. The BVI is prone to swell from the North usually generated by storms in the North Atlantic. If you hear of a big Nor’easter in the US expect a big North swell in the BVI a few days later. Those swells in the BVI have virtually no impact when you are in open water sailing. They become a factor when they reach shallow water and turn into breaking waves. Wind driven chop on the other hand is what makes things nasty when out sailing creating short duration steep waves. Usually however it has little effect on anchorages as good ones provide both shelter from the wind and not enough fetch for the waves to build. Cane Garden Bay can be a great anchorage in 30 knots of wind when you are getting hammered out on the open water. CGB is however not a good place to be in a North swell even with calm winds. The North swell is monitored by a series of buoys along the Eastern US. This leads to very accurate swell forecasts. Wind forecasts are more iffy.
As far as the impact a swell might have on a anchorage there are no set rules. Slight changes in direction can have a big impact. Each anchorage will be affected differently. In the BVI a N swell primarily impacts Cane Garden Bay for overnights. My general rule is just go somewhere else if it’s over 1.2 meters give or take. A swell will also impact day stops like the Baths, Dogs, Savannah Bay, Guana, Monkey Point ect.. A swell can also produce large loads on shallow water mooring balls if the swell lifts the boat when its position is such that the mooring line snaps tight as the boat rises. This is probably what led to a well publicized ball failure by a big Utuber. Never leave a boat on a mooring unattended in a North swell. When the swell builds to 2 meters or more it can cause issues in places you don’t expect as it wraps around land masses or reflects off others. White Bay on Jost is an example and I have seen Cooper Island impacted in a big swell. If in the USVI and moderate or larger swell will take out all the great North side anchorages on St John.

I recently flew out of SXM and found the security process to be quite smooth, definitely not needing four hours. It could be worth checking the latest updates directly with Air Canada. You can reach out to them using the air canada phone number for the most accurate information. In my experience, two to three hours before departure is usually sufficient.

OK, thanks. Just looked kinda odd.

Was there a calendar feature that showed who was around at one point?

I'm headed down later today! There through the 29th.

Nature will do as nature does. I would think as the trade winds ease, more sargassum "islands" will form and they will occasionally be brought into contact with the islands by winds and currents. It kind of is what it is and has been happening since the beginning of time. It won't ruin your trip unless you let it.

I remember growing up in Miami how the launching basin at CRYC used to get absolutely full of the stuff for months at a time during the summer. It got so thick at times you almost thought you could walk across it. If I recall correctly, we even convinced some poor trusting child try give it a try from time to time. It wasn't always appealing, but never stopped us from launching our Opti's and getting in a good day of sailing or anything else. In fact, we found fun and creative ways of enforcing group norms by tricking those who may have tested the groups rules or patience into hanging from the hoist hook and swinging them out over the seaweed as we called it and lowering them until they showed contrition. Ah, the good ole days. It also taught us the importance of boat maintenance and proper cleaning along with the value of maintaining a good coat of Teflon wax.