Long time lurker..first time poster. We’re chartering with CYOA later this week. Two of our crew will have to cut their trip short for family matters. They’ll have to catch a ferry from either St. John or Tortola back to St. Thomas. Of course we’ll clear all the crew and the boat into the BVI’s, but where is the best place for them to reappear on land and go through Customs...St. John or Tortola? Do I, as captain, have to do anything when our crew decreases in number mid-trip? Thanks for your advice. Bert

It’s really going to depend on your cruise plan. The easiest will be to drop them at the nearest suitable location near where you plan the boat to be. If you will be near St John’s dropping them there is simple and easy. If you have already cleared into the BVI and are planning on staying a few more days going back to the USVI would be a major pain. Drop them at Roadtown and have them ferry from there or if on the N side drop them at CDB to cab to Roadtown. If in the eastern BVI drop them at the airport again to cab to Roadtown.

I've never cleared in and then out of the BVI (back to USVI) with a change to the crew manifest. If they depart on the Roadtown ferry, I think you may need to accompany them to C&I so the crew manifest change can be noted, or perhaps you can handle it all when you first clear-in to BVI.

Also, I don't know of a convenient dinghy dock (short of wading ashore) near the Roadtown ferry dock if that's where you want to do the dropoff. You could dinghy to the Pub or TMM and from there it's about a 1/2 mile walk.

If they return from St John, then you should be able to both clear-in and clear-out of BVI when you arrive to BVI since you are on a charter vessel. You could all then clear into USVI using the ROAM app if all US citizens (CYOA will have the vessel info for you), or you dinghy to the Cruz Bay C&I office to clear-in then walk the 150 yds to the ferry dock.

As George notes, it really comes down to your cruise plan. If it means 1 less day in the BVI, then I would return to St John and spend an extra day enjoying the south shore anchorages of Lameshur and Salt Pond Bay, or add an evening dinner in Cruz Bay.

You can dinghy into the Road Town ferry dock as there are ladders to climb up and the person in charge will direct you and your crew to the place to go

There is plenty of beauty to be found in the USVI with peaceful anchorages.
So if your early departing crew leaves you with 1,2 or 3 nights exploring STJ and STT having them leave from St John is an easy option.

We had had this scenario before on multiple occasions. All they did was cross their names off of our paperwork. No issues for the boat or the people departing early.

Thanks everyone for your advice, particularly CDavis for letting me know it’s not a big deal. Bert

One thing I should have mentioned is that you need to make sure that your disembarking passengers take their individual forms with them since the customs officials are not happy if you forget those. Those are the forms that are 1 per person and you need to return a portion of the form when you leave regardless of how you entered. Do not forget those.

Also for people leaving early we have done just about every possible method including ferries from west end, ferries from road town, ferry from peter island to tortola while staying at their marina, drop offs at beef island to catch scheduled flights, drop offs to catch st john to red hook ferry, drop offs at american yacht harbor in red hook, water taxis, flight charters from beef island to stt, and helicopter pickups at both peter island and bitter end. Water taxis and chartered aircraft are definitely the most convenient and reliable but depends on appetite for cost versus convenience. We have entertained clients so convenience as trumped cost in a lot of cases for people on brief trips.

On the BVI form listing all "crew" on outbound, after drop off in USVI and returning to BVI, you strike thru those not on board (One solid line) and to left side, beside each name, write "NOB" (Not on Board).

Agree with dropping off anywhere on Tortola and allowing them to cab to ferry.