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SVI / USVI Suggestions #114177
12/08/2016 03:12 PM
12/08/2016 03:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
GoneSailing Offline OP
Traveler
GoneSailing  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
We are going to start a trip on December 19 for 10 days leaving from St Thomas and returning to St Thomas. It is just my wife and I and we are thinking about going somewhere different than the usual haunts.

Here is the question: If there is one spot that you would say is the must see / do on these islands what would it be.

St Croix
Vieques
Culebra
Any other USVI locations

Thanks for any thoughts you might be willing to share.

Doug & Kristine


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Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: GoneSailing] #114178
12/08/2016 06:37 PM
12/08/2016 06:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Twanger Offline
Traveler
Twanger  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Bio Bay Vieques.
Flamenco Beach, Culebra.
Good scuba diving at The Wall and Luis Pena island south side of Culebra.
We enjoyed the zip-line tour on St. Thomas. Lovely views.
El Yunque rain-forest visit in Puerto Rico.

Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: GoneSailing] #114179
12/08/2016 07:51 PM
12/08/2016 07:51 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
BaardJ Offline
Traveler
BaardJ  Offline
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
Buck Island, St Croix - 32nm from south shore of St John. A few day boats come in, but will likely be only a couple overnight boats. Nice hiking trail to the top of the island with beautiful 360 views. Did not have an opportunity to snorkel in the lagoon, so I'm looking forward to a return visit.

Playa Flamenco, Culebra - Just returned from our first visit. An incredible crescent beach (must be at least a mile long). Walk to the west end of the beach to see the two stranded rusting tanks. Very good facilities with several food kiosks. Anchor in Ensenada Honda near the Dewey town dock. Lock your dinghy at the dock then hail one of the taxis that hang out by the ferry dock.

Would also suggest a visit to nearby island of Culebrita if no north swell. About a dozen mooring balls and good sand bottom for anchoring.

St John - On the north shore, Francis or Maho Bay (depending on wind direction). Great beach for just lounging. On the south shore, Salt Pond Bay (only 5 mooring balls) or Little Lameshure Bay. At nearby Reef Bay (1 public day mooring), arrive very early and take the short hike to the Petroglyphs then tour the old rum distillery ruins on the return.

A visit to Vieques is on my to-do list.

Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: BaardJ] #114180
12/08/2016 11:09 PM
12/08/2016 11:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
T
TravelHat Offline
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TravelHat  Offline
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T
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
Agree on Buck Island. Did snorkel the lagoon and it was great. We were on a day boat but we're one of the only ones there so it was fun.

Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: TravelHat] #114181
12/08/2016 11:37 PM
12/08/2016 11:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline
Traveler
LocalSailor  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
Easily spend your time exploring STJ and STT if your usual haunts are in the BVI ----- STX or the SVI are available if you enjoy the boat moving and sailing.
Circumnavigating STT and STJ can easily give you a new anchorage every night - admittedly with a lot less shoreside entertainment or drinking/dining options but varied and interesting in other ways.
It would be a less social vacation and if you take on a " Enjoying life aboard" experience - more akin to a cruising lifestyle than a typical 'vacation charter' - could certainly be a great trip.

Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: LocalSailor] #114182
12/09/2016 09:51 AM
12/09/2016 09:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
GoneSailing Offline OP
Traveler
GoneSailing  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions we will do more exploring this trip. We have visited most all of the spots on ST Thomas and St John. Christmas Cove is always a favorite spot to spend the night after checking in at Cruz Bay. Great Pizza from Pizza Pi and a nice place to prepare yourself for the end the trip.


Be Happy or Leave
Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: GoneSailing] #114183
12/09/2016 11:14 AM
12/09/2016 11:14 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
Traveler
RickG  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We visited Culebra in November and had a blast. Its worth renting a jeep from Carlos Jeep Rentals for 24 hours and seeing the island. In 2015 we visited Culebra, Vieques and eastern PR. Good times, but we had weather and the anchorages in Vieques were a challenge.

Culebra is close. If the Christmas winds kick in early it is going to be a beat coming back from Culebra, much less Vieques. With a big east wind, it would be easier to return from Vieques via St. Croix than to try and go straight up wind.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: RickG] #114184
12/09/2016 01:15 PM
12/09/2016 01:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
GoneSailing Offline OP
Traveler
GoneSailing  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
Quote
RickG said:
We visited Culebra in November and had a blast. Its worth renting a jeep from Carlos Jeep Rentals for 24 hours and seeing the island. In 2015 we visited Culebra, Vieques and eastern PR. Good times, but we had weather and the anchorages in Vieques were a challenge.

Culebra is close. If the Christmas winds kick in early it is going to be a beat coming back from Culebra, much less Vieques. With a big east wind, it would be easier to return from Vieques via St. Croix than to try and go straight up wind.

Cheers, RickG



Thanks Rick, We were thinking of making it a bit of a triangled route. Put the chute up and a nice downwind ride to Vieques then to St Croix for a day or two then should be a good reach up to the BVI for a couple days then back to Sapphire Beach where we keep Dharma. I appreciate the ideas and input.

Take care,
Doug


Be Happy or Leave
Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: GoneSailing] #114185
12/09/2016 02:30 PM
12/09/2016 02:30 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 125
Fairfax, VA
GW248 Offline
Traveler
GW248  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 125
Fairfax, VA
Doug - I stayed at Sapphire in October. Have they finished the dock?

Rick

Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: GW248] #114186
12/09/2016 04:25 PM
12/09/2016 04:25 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Twanger Offline
Traveler
Twanger  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Something I should point out about Vieques...

Glenn Kranig (340)-227-4288 operates 6 moorings off the south coast of Vieques at Esperanza. Just call him up and make arrangements to pay. It's pretty reasonable. I want to say $25 a night. Also, you really do want to talk to this guy, because he is a wealth of local knowledge and will give you all sorts of great tips on local anchorages.

Esperanza is a quaint town with good food, a pretty "board walk" some shops and a little grocery store up on the hill where you can buy ice and food.

Glen pointed us to Bahia La Chiva last time we went to Esperanza ... La Chiva is an awesome anchorage and there was bio-luminescence all around the boat. We were the only boat in the anchorage.

Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: GW248] #114187
12/09/2016 10:54 PM
12/09/2016 10:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
GoneSailing Offline OP
Traveler
GoneSailing  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
Quote
GW248 said:
Doug - I stayed at Sapphire in October. Have they finished the dock?

Rick


Rick,

No they haven't yet. Last year they had about half of the north side done and finished it around Jan. Then this year they are working on the south side and looks like it will be Jan again before they finish. I would guess that they will need at least one more season maybe two before they get it fully completed. Luckily we paid our deposit at the end of last season to make sure we had a spot for this year. It is a great place to keep the boat. Easy in and out of STT and over to West End to check in is easy since they are open late during the season. We can get to Sapphire by 4:30 or 5 take off and get into West End just around dark get a ball, check in and have dinner.

Doug


Be Happy or Leave
Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: Twanger] #114188
12/09/2016 10:57 PM
12/09/2016 10:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
GoneSailing Offline OP
Traveler
GoneSailing  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
Quote
Twanger said:
Something I should point out about Vieques...

Glenn Kranig (340)-227-4288 operates 6 moorings off the south coast of Vieques at Esperanza. Just call him up and make arrangements to pay. It's pretty reasonable. I want to say $25 a night. Also, you really do want to talk to this guy, because he is a wealth of local knowledge and will give you all sorts of great tips on local anchorages.

Esperanza is a quaint town with good food, a pretty "board walk" some shops and a little grocery store up on the hill where you can buy ice and food.

Glen pointed us to Bahia La Chiva last time we went to Esperanza ... La Chiva is an awesome anchorage and there was bio-luminescence all around the boat. We were the only boat in the anchorage.



Thanks, I will give him a call as we get closer to the day. I appreciate the information. This is one of the spots we wanted to hit during our first time there.


Be Happy or Leave
Re: SVI / USVI Suggestions [Re: GoneSailing] #114189
12/12/2016 02:15 PM
12/12/2016 02:15 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 125
Fairfax, VA
GW248 Offline
Traveler
GW248  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 125
Fairfax, VA
Thanks Doug. Was just curious (will be back there land-based for a long weekend in March).

Rick


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