Here's a link to my trip report from May 2019. Been back five times since and I really look forward to the 4 hour sail.
http://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubb...usvi-svi-bvi-trip-report.html#Post196804Make sure to study the Christiansted harbor entrance before you arrive. You go from deep to shallow water very quickly. There are lots of potentially confusing navigational aides marking the two channels into the harbor and there is Round Reef just past the entrance that must be avoided.
I prefer to anchor in
Christiansted off the beach at Altona Lagoon in 10' depth, just
east of Green #10. In settled conditions, I've also anchored above the 8' shallows at Little Middle Ground just
northwest of Red #10. The swell has a tendency to wrap around the point at Fort Louis Augusta and will catch you broadside with easterly winds. It's a 0.6 mile dinghy ride to the Christiansted boardwalk.
Don't try to venture west of Protestant Cay as it's packed with private moorings. The docks at St Croix Marina look a bit shabby. There is a dinghy dock there if you need marine supplies.
We just leave our dinghy locked at the boardwalk near Shupe's restaurant or Brew STX. We've enjoyed good pizza and drinks at
The Mill Boardwalk Bar and Brick Oven Pizza, and had nice dinners at
Rum Runners, both on the boardwalk. If you have an overnight rental car, then I highly, highly recommend
Duggan's Reef waterfront restaurant (~20 minutes east of Christiansted).
Centerline Car Rentals is a less than 5 minute walk from Shupe's, and they have nice vehicles and good prices. In Google Maps, it's actually located in the building labeled Bayside Kitchen. You can overnight park for free in the lot across the street.
Seaside Market & Deli (<1 mile east from Centerline Car Rental) is similar to Moe's on St Thomas, and offers high-quality provisions if you need to top off.
Fort Christiansted is very interesting to tour, but has been closed since March due to Covid and in late-October was closed for renovations.
Another nice anchorage in settled conditions is in the
lee of Green Cay if you don't plan to go ashore - it makes for a 3 mile dinghy ride to the Christiansted boardwalk.
I've seen a few boats anchor in
Gallows Bay - just south of St Croix Marina. Need to stay out of the way of the STT-STX ferry that departs from there at 8 am and returns at 5:20 pm.
You're supposed to have an anchoring permit to anchor for the day at
Buck Island. In August I was approached by a NPS patrol boat and asked if I had the permit. I told them I've had it for several years and they simply moved on to the next boat. I don't know if they are allowing overnight anchoring again. I got no response when I texted them requesting overnight anchoring permission. Once you have the permit, you need to request permission to overnight anchor for specific dates.
From what I've read, the entrance to
Salt River requires some local knowledge. I would not venture in there with a charter boat. Frankly it doesn't look to be a very attractive harbor as we've driven past and it has more than its fair share of derelict vessels on private moorings.
Frederiksted is a lovely 2 hr downwind sail from Christiansted and offers a very protected anchorage in most conditions. Anchor in 15~20' just north or south of the cruise ship pier depending on the wind and swell.
