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Boaty Ball question Rhyno Yesterday at 11:54 PM Sorry if this has been asked and answered! We will be in the BVI in March. I bought the BB subscription for myself and one crew. Does the crew person get his own login credentials? If not how do we both try to reserve at the same time? We will be on the same boat of course!

Thanks in advance!

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Moorings 44.3 versus Mooring 46.3 Matt Yesterday at 12:10 AM Hi All,

I am trying to choose between the Moorings 44.3 (Dufour 44) and the Moorings 46.3 (Beneteau Oceanis 46.1) for a charter. Anyone have any experience with either or both of these? Mostly interested in getting the best speed and performance generally, both under sail and under power. I know I should have fairly low expectations for sailing performance on a charter boat (and I do), so maybe it's a question of "least bad". Thanks very much for your thoughts.

Matt

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Banking Question Husker 02/17/2026 11:09 PM I had some work done on my boat recently and am trying to pay the vendor with a wire transfer. My bank (BoA) is insisting on a IBAN number in order to make the international transfer. IBANs used mainly in Europe. BVI banks (First Caribbean International in this case) do not use IBANs for transfers. I've been around in circles with BoA on this and they can't help me. Anyone out in TTOL land have similar experience? Is there some sort of work around? Appreciate any help. Thanks.

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Days 1-3 so far, so yummy the captain 02/17/2026 03:53 AM You guys have always been so helpful. Here is giving back by way of trip report.

Day 1 was an LONG one. We just happened to wake up at 03:00 and couldn’t fall back asleep. Arrived JFK at 0530 for an 0715 boarding & ontime departure at 0800. Arrived on aa1959 out of JFK. Arrival was early but a 10 min wait for our gate to clear. No bags to grab, so we quickly hooked up w Leslie. Always a fair pricing and super convenient service! This was the 2nd time we got a car with the plate R1.

Checked into Maho, jumped into beach attire & we were enjoying rum punches at the Driftwood an hour AFTER touchdown. This is why we chose SXM as our go to simple vacay. All our other trips are heavy planning so SXM is relatively easy.

After our traditional welcome drink (sadly without our firstborn who’s in Uni), we headed back to the pool. This was the busiest Ive seen the last Terasse pool. The economy seems to be booming this year if these numbers are any indication!

First nights dinner: Beirut. How had we driven past this so many times? Well, we have no picky eaters on this trip (but he’s missed!)! We didnt have reservations and given the long travel day, we forgot it was Valentine’s Day. We arrived at 1700 and they were super accommodating. We ordered kibbeh, kebabs, garlic shrimp ….2 apps, 2 entrees and 1 cocktail. Also included was a bowl of lentil soup, so darn goooooooddd.

$123 not bad and we were plenty full. Needless to say we were exhausted. Got back to Maho and were in bed by 2130.

Day 2 Sunday. Walked over to the Deli for a pair of coffees. Lovely chatting with the girl behind the counter.
Then I drove the ladies up to Grand Case. Besides enjoying food, our daughter is a girly girl. She loves styling her hair, skin, makeup , scents…..just the day before she was raving about perfumes. So we surprised her with a perfume making class at Tijon. The owner Mimi met us at 10:30 and for 90 minutes, the ladies donned lab coats and methodically concocted their own potions. I attended as the photographer and it was a nice activity I’d recommend.

By noon, we were going to head to Hercule Resto for takeout Haitian Creole food. But I tapped Mimi for ideas & she recommended Villa Royale. OH MY GOD. Their food was SO GOOD. Got to talking to them and they warned us that Carnival was about to start in Marigot and would block our return to Maho (Daughter had a 3 hr online class at 1400). So we grabbed 3 platters of food and took the long way east, through the French Qtr.
2 platters of griot, one with mushroom rice, the other with plantains, and 1 grilled chicken platter w rice & beans. $55 and we have leftovers…You HAVE to try this place. Plus it was very pretty inside though Im unsure if it was just for Valentines Day.

While daughter did her class in the room, we walked around Maho VIllage then hung out poolside.

Later that night we enjoyed JAX for the first time. 3 cocktails, a chateaubriand and the grilled salmon….$209. It was good for a steakhouse but….I dont think their ovens are hot enough for a fantastic sear with a nice charred crust. Just my opinion. The service and drinks were fantastic. Aike was a great server.

day 3 Monday. Shopping in Phillipsburg…thanks for the DK Gems recommendation. My wife is awesome. Wanted to get her something special. She only had me donate $1000 to the Dk Gems fund. She really is a cheap date!

A few cruise ships in town but it didnt seem overwhelming. Trying to see if I want to bring home some liquor….Have a look at how pics. I got to see how the pricing is for these bottles!
She needed to get her new ring sized so we paid then headed to Reveil Matin for brunch around noon. Breakfast wrap, an omelette and avocado toast, 3 drinks….$80 We can now say we’ve been to both locations.

Afterward, we got back to Maho and hung out poolside for a bit before heading out to Bistrot Caraibes for dinner.

Rode up to Grand Case and that was a helluva meal. I’d never ordered a full lobster before. I’ll sometimes get tails with a steak. The ladies ordered shrimp, salmon. The guy tells me to choose a lobster.. Im a noob. Perhaps they should have said, you sure you want this big one on your first run?

Nah, I got a 7.5 pound lobster, half Thermidor, half grilled. We shared. It was delicious. And 1 cocktail…..$500. USD.

The guy let me choose 7/5 lbs LOL. Too funny.

I have left over lobster…anyone want any? I am STUFT. If I dont get rid of this, I need to search out someone in need! Im serious. If no one here is suitable and wants, were are the local homeless?

Lets see if I can throw up some pics

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Chicken Pesto Pasta SXMScubaman 02/17/2026 02:57 AM OK I'm spoiled. My wife makes the best. She grows her own basil and makes pesto from scratch. We have it often at home but will be on island for 4 weeks and will need my fix. I have never seen it on a menu on island before so I'm looking for recommendations to find a restaurant that has it. Dutch side restaurants only.

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Olympics Ice Hockey Final jonmar 02/17/2026 02:42 AM The gold medal game is Sunday at 9:15am local time. Does anyone know of any restaurants that will be showing the game? I know there was a sports bar in Maho last time I was on the island but can't imagine they open that early on a Sunday. Any info would be great for the Simpson Bay Majo area.

Thanks.

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Saint Martin Beach Resort future to be decided SXMScubaman 02/16/2026 04:09 PM LINK

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Beach day, then Bistrot, Terasse, d’Alelier logistics the captain 02/15/2026 08:45 PM Staying in Maho but looking to do beach days up at Friars and/or Orient.

Then we have reservations at bistro Caraibes one night, Terasse another night and D’Atelier. But we are trying to avoid running back to Maho to get dolled up again and run back north. That would be hellish!

So I proposed that the ladies bring an outfit and we change /prep somewhere up in Orient. Is there a place we can change and get ready up that way?showers, bathrooms, etc?

We are bringing chairs and umbrellas but would be happy to patronize or pay an establishment for the access to a place or times off and prep for dinner.

And thanks. Love you guys and taking notes for our trip report.

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Pasanggrahhan Boutique Hotel SeaLady29 02/15/2026 03:10 PM Can someone on here verify it actually is open...we were there last in 24 and it was still not recovered from the hurricane..friends have a day pass after a cruise, but it looks as though some people were in a bait and switch, not open when they arrived and out the $, thx

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Brisket RonDon 02/15/2026 12:00 PM Does anyone know if there's a place in SXM serving brisket?

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