With 17 BVI trips over 36 years, only once did we leave the BVI and head over to Cruz Bay, to St. Johns. Customs at St. Johns was a rude beast, and we kept life simple, we cleared in and out and only snorkel Leinster bay for one over night, and gone the next morning.

FYI for violating customs check in: That afternoon at Leinster bay and shorkeling watermellon cay, we spoted a USCG Coast Guard Patrol Vessel, hove to just of the harbor entrance for quite some time. No real reason to do that, unless they were checking out the moored vessels and confirming they had checked in. We would consider risk vs reward.

That particular time, several years ago, we checked out of the BVI at West End ( Sopper hole) . St.Johns USVI, and back in at Sopers Hole,
Tortola , BVI. Customs at West End was very easy, very friendly and shared a beer with the customs agent. Big difference in attitude ..

If we wanted to spend time in St. Johns, we would follow all of the required procedures and make several days of it enjoying the various anchorages, and having a grand time. Extend the vacation.

However, at this time, the less involvement with customs, and emigration, etc, the better, we only would be sailing the BVI, and enjoying all those special treasures , and snorkeling sites, and hiking, and great sailing winds, and partying down throughout the whole BVI chain .

Actually now, we spend a night or two on St. Thomas on the trip down and on the return. And use the ferry to get over to Road Harbor, and pick up our 36 ft sailing vessel for our bare boat tow weeks of Sailing the BVI.

Just FYI, our BVI Itinerary: ( can vary )

Fort Burt Hotel next to Conch Charters. One ngiht.
* Early Boarding, our own total 100% pre sail vessel inspection, self provisioning, chart brief, and vessel systems check out by Conch Staff.
* Sail over to Norman Island, and of course party down on the Willy T. ( I think they are now at Peter Island ) .
* Snorkel and breakfast from Mooring at The Indians and Pelican Island. ( early works, few moorings )
* Cooper Island , Maschioneel Bay, ..snorkeling and happy hour, beaching it and swimming. Good times.
* Sail up the Sir Francis Drake Channel...to the Baths hike thru to , Devils Bay, romp inside the Baths, then snorkel outside the boulders back to the beach, walk up to the Top O the Baths, swim and rums/ Then Back to the
boat.
* Sail up to Virgin Gorda Sound and moor or slip at Leverick Bay for the Friday Night jump up and BBQ, and the mocko jumbies. Makes your pants want to get up and dance,
* Also, at Leverick, we sometimes would take a tour taxi to the Baths....if the moorings were filled at the Baths. Or also pick up slip at Virgin Gorda Yacht harbor...lots of options.
* Back to sailing, Next Island, Marina Cay. Snorkeling, and partying ashore, excellent dinners , view and fun.
* After leaving Marina, Cay, motor the short distance to MONKEY POINT... wow ! Super snorkeling, limited time . Now worries, super snorkeling and then breakfast, drop off, and open the mooring to others.
* Next Island, JOST VAN DYKE, a couple of favorite mooring areas, Diamond Cay ( Foxys Taboo) and Bee line Beach Bar, plus Great Harbor, more fun, and THE SOGGY DOLLAR BAY in White Bay.
* Jib only easy sail to CANE GARDEN BAY..... easy mooring pick up, and , party ashore, live bands, and fun times , many great bars and restaurants.
* SOPPERS HOLE: More beach bars, Pussers Co. Store, jMyettes, QUITOS, and the BANANA, plus more.
* NANNY CAY, TORTOLA, Really nice new marina, new slips, super service, Peglegs to party down, beach and swim.
* Sail Back to the Moorings, and maybe a last overnight again at the Willy T.

Now, these were our favorite BVI anchorages, and marinas over 36 yrs and 17 sailing vacations where we bare boated with the Moorings, Sunsail, and now Conch. Point being, there really was no reason to go to St. Johns, but if we did visit that beautiful island again, we would build in a few days there, not just an overnight, and extend our sailing vacation to three weeks.

Would our itinerary change , absolutely, due to wind directiion, swells and an open roadstead, weather, no moorings available, or just having a good time and stay at an anchorage for an extra day

I fully understand that St. Johns, USVI, is a very close neighbor to the BVI, but I also believe in following procedures and am fully aware of the consequences of violating a nation's borders, and customs regulations and laws.

Lordy, we need the BVI to completely open up and this bloody covid to be long and permanently gone, so we can return to sail those fabulous islands, and talk story with everyone, the locals, the belongers, the visitors of both sea and land....Our favorite time of the years is late may early june, before hurricane season and the kids getting out of school.

I know, a log post, but I needed to share the great times, and hope for near future returns to the BVI.

It feels so good to reflect back to all those grand sailing vacations.

Denny and Erica