Thanks for the updates......good scoops.
Our last trip was may , just before Irma. Our plan is to compromise and happily work with any new changes post Irma, and keep life easy and fun, and in some cases new .
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Rude C and I .
the only place that we ran into rude customs people was when we sailed over to Cruz Bay, St. Johns from Tortola. It was very bad,
. That was USVI officials. This was a few years ago. We never had a problem with flying into Beef Island. ( We are both pilots, myself as a profession, Erica private and aerobatic, and we liked to fly Cape Air from San Juan, Pr. I would sit up in the right seat with the pilot ) That was fun flying. . Our Customs experience had been BVI, We were always prepared for Beef Islands customs.. We treated them all with respect, Another thing is, there are only two of us. Not 10 to 14 people in our group . We cleared in, and walked thru the swinging doors. The taxi, open air vehicle was there and we tossed on our duffels and boarded. This is BVI,
Oh, and before leaving for St, Johns, on that trip, we cleared out of the BVI at Sopers hole. The gals did not have to be with us. We just presented our four passports, we had another couple on that trip. Bill and I were drinking Red Stripes, and walked into the BVI Customs office there at sopers hole. Gave the customs officer all of our passports, and sat our beers down on his counter. He reached over and picked up Bills beer and took a couple of swings and set it back down. We were in and out and off to the USVI. At St. Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S.V.I. customs was ecxtremely rude. No other we clearing in, but it was near lunch break. I just told them we were just going to over night at Leinster bay, snorkel, not go ashore, and could they please just clear us out for tomorrow, and we will be headed back to the BVi.
Thanks for the the warnings as to Customs, we will continue to be smiling, efficient, and respectful, and do our best to keep everything smooth and easy.
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SCRUB ISLAND .....scoops from you all are appreciated.
As to SCRUB , the rates for a slip were more than the moorings at other BVI anchorages, but the slip fees were reasonable at our time of the season, month of MAY., Our time on SCRUB was to be active and explore a new island for us. Point being, we
are not okole sitters or resort roosters, We we wanted to experience the fun ammenities of SCRUB. That trail up to the high view point looked great, plus the other activities and the beaches. And one special dinner out. However, we do pre plan,, and have learned that the slips are pretty much filled with DYC boats, But. we thought our 36 monohull might be able to get one of the 35 ft. slips.
Actually, with your information and possible lack of a slip available, we can always go to plan B, and pick up a mooring at Marina Cay, and dink over to Scrub, or jump on the hourly dock banger . Explore SCRUB , make our own good time, and the dock bang it back to Marina Cay for happy hour and dinner there.
To us the BVI is not okole sitting, or resort roosting, or drinking bubbly and be fawned over in an airport lounge . The BVI are great sailing, fun adventures ashore, plus ' snorkeling, good times, and being very active. Again, we do not need slaves or servants to get an arrival rum at Beef island, airport. We just walk over the the airport bar, order our own welcome to the BVI ' drinks to go, and then board the transportation to the charter base, and sip way, under way and enjoy the drive.
Others prefer a different type of BVI vacation.
as to our provisioning, we no longer have that arranged by the base. But, again, there are only two of us . And, we are now chartering with the friendly Conch Crew, and no longer bbqing dinners on board. We even make make a fun adventure out of provisioning.
No matter what, we try to keep life fun. So, we push one of Conchs wheeled dock carts over to Riteway. A hundred yards along the busy road. We load up our breakfasts, snacks, fresh water jugs , drinks, beer and ice. Now , comes the fun.
We run like crazy with the slight breaks in the fast moving road traffic, and duck in between parked cars on the side of the road to escape the fast moving locals. We have earned those bloody provisions, and have not had to rely on delivery or missing items.
Tanks again , to this forum for additional scoops .
This will be our first STT to Road Harbor trip. Never took a ferry before in 35 years. We do not have to clear out of the USVI, after a hotel on arrival day. the next morning we will be arriving early for the 08:30 am ferry. Also, we will be holding on to our one each carry on for the 45 minute enjoyable passage.
You all on this forum have also given us good tips on getting to the ferry early, and not checking our bags, and how to possibly get thru C an I at Road Harbor a little quicker. However, we are not in any rush since our first night on Tortola will be a hotel. Lots of wiggle room before boarding at 4:30 pm , the next day at Conch for the sleep aboard .
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THANKS ALSO for the scoops on Leverick,
We will just have to pay for the ice and boat water as we do at other harbors. Just part of the price of sailing those wonderful islands. We were thinking of reserving a slip at Leverick, should the moorings be filled. From this forum, and learning about lack of mooring availability in Gorda Sound, ,due to Irma, We are Planning ahead for Leveick Bay. We love sailing the entire distance up the Sir Francis Drake Channel, and have to tack a few times. Levericks moorings have a good chance of being occupied before we get in, at about 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Having a slip reserved seems like a good plan.
Oh, and we are going to pass on that VIP Card.
You all have been a great help.
Denny and Erica
