Similar experience as above. I intended to do a daily update, but we got too busy having fun and it didn't happen. We arrived by water taxi (s) on Saturday, July 24th after an overnight at Emerald Beach Resort. Nothing exciting about EBR, but they met all our needs for an overnight layover. We used Stanley's Love Cab to transfer us from the airport to EBR, then to Red Hook, and the return from Red Hook to the Airport on Sunday, August 1st. Our water taxi was 'Chillout Water Taxi', and we found them to be professional, knowledgeable, and competent. Because we had 14 people, they used two boats. We put the three young kids with their moms on one boat expected to head to Road Town to test the children, while the rest of us went straight to West End to clear C&I and take a test. It turned out both boats went to West End and NO ONE was tested. Yes, we all paid $50 for a test upon arrival, but I'll let that 'sleeping dog lie'. After the captains cleared C&I, they took us straight to Voyage Charters. It was about $135 (total) per person each way, although more pricey than the ferry, it was certainly worth the extra money. We shopped at Harbor Market, had beverages delivered from Caribbean Cellars (they were out of a bunch of stuff), scuba tanks & weights delivered by Blue Water Divers, rented a 'lily pad' from Island Surf & Sail, and dinner take-out from Omar's Fusion. We booked a 'sleep on board' our boats in the marina that night, and would head out to Norman Island the next morning.

One of our boats was 'Electrified' and the other was 'Somewhere Sandy'. We found 'Electrified' to be full of new technology, but quickly found it did not meet our needs. No one's fault, it was simply we didn't intend to do much actual sailing as we didn't have sufficient folks on board with sailing skills. With the kids on board we simply needed a 'party barge' for moving from point 'A' to point 'B'. The crossing from West End toward Norman in head winds, waves, and current, we found the boat propulsion lacking if we didn't want to completely drain the batteries before arriving at Norman. This boat needs to be 'sailed' by competent skilled individuals, and then it would be fine. Once we finally arrived in the Bight, we maneuvered fine, with no issues. However, our itinerary was to take us back into the head winds up the Drake Channel and I feared this would not work for us in this boat. Again, this is a beautiful boat. I should have made my needs more clearly when booking, as it was doubtful we would ever use the sails.

The next day our problem was solved, but at the expense of our electric catamaran. Anyone in the Bight Sunday night would have experienced perhaps the greatest thunderstorm they have ever seen. 'Thor' was throwing bolts at everything in and around the anchorage. The masts of two sailboats took direct hits before the storm finally passed. We had no electrical issues during the night and prepared to leave the anchorage and head to Peter Island the next morning. That was when we discovered we had no propulsion. Apparently there was enough electricity in the water/air that our propulsion system was 'fried' during the night. By afternoon the folks at Voyage brought us 'Moonstruck', another 480, although with typical diesel power. Everyone pitched-in to move everything from 'Electrified' to 'Moonstruck' and we made our way to Great Harbor on Peter Island to meet our other boat. We missed the dive at the Indians and at the new 'Willy T', but now at least we had a 'power boat', and comfortable about our itinerary. The Voyage staff towed Electrified back to Soper's Hole. I'm sure they will get it repaired and back in the fleet when the new season starts.

We made stops at Cooper Island, the Baths, Oil Nut Bay Marina, and Scrub Island Marina (in that order). All were good. On Friday we arrived early at White Bay, JVD and anchored in front of Soggy Dollar. By noon the bay was full of boats, but very orderly, at least for the situation. It was now time to figure out how we complete the portals for returning to St. Thomas on Sunday. First of all we got word that some of the portals were being completed with 'antibodies' tests, therefore we all completed the portal and some actually came back approved, others did not? We had only three Abbott eMed tests for the three kids, which we successfully proctored online while on our boat in White Bay. The rest of us had 'MDLink' concierge actually come to us in White Bay, tie-up to our boat and give us antigen tests with online results in about an hour. The cost was $125 for person, no travel fee. With the test results we all received the green QR Code from the USVI portal.

Friday night one boat took a mooring ball in Great Harbor, JVD (they had their own chef on board) and we took Moonstruck to Little Harbor and had a great lobster dinner at Abe's that evening. The next morning we grabbed mooring balls in front of Sandy Cay for several hours before heading back to base at Voyage Charters. Once back at about 3:00 pm I sent the kids and parents to Smuggler's Cove for a couple of hours. We dined on left over provisions in the marina and packed for our return on Sunday morning.

Chillout Water Taxi picked us up, cleared out at C&I, and headed to St. John to clear us into USVI, and then on to Red Hook. Stanley met us and took us to the St. Thomas Airport, which was insane. Please do yourself a favor and grab a porter. They now charge $5 per bag, but worth it. Once through U.S. Customs and TSA we found it even more insane. Certainly not a good scene with the virus surge. That is it, we all arrived home safely and in good health. PM me if you have any specific questions.