All,
Is this worth a stop? Usually our first day out of CYOA we sail to St. John and stay in the Cinnamon/Maho area.
I just learned of The Mermaid's Chair in Hawknest Bay, and was wondering if this is worth a snorkel stop?

Is this just a day stop or also an overnight stop?

We'll be on a 40-foot cat, so we are a little less worried about ferry wakes than we might be with a monohull.

Thanks!

You won't find ferry wake bothering you on a Hawksnest mooring by that tiny pocket beach.
It was always a fine day stop but has nothing special to offer beyond general good STJ snorkeling.
A day stop at the Mary Point mooring is a snorkel treat, or Whistling Cay moorings [pay attention to current] -- then an overnight in the Francis or Maho mooring field makes for a great 1st day.
Mermaids Chair is generally referring to the western end of STT -- the STJ Hawksnest pocket beach reference is a relatively new internet appellation.

Here's a link to the Mermaid's Chair reference I'm talking about, below.
It's definately St. John.

https://stjohn-beachguide.com/mermaids-chair/

I understand completely where you mean - I have been taking daysail passengers there since 1970's - it is still a newer name for an old destination.
Nothing more unique about snorkeling than standard STJ shoreline.

Gotcha. Thanks for the help!
We're looking for a couple of new places to check out on our trip in July.
I'm all ears if you have other suggestions.

Never knew they had a name for it but it’s appropriate spot and it a nice spot to be with your mermaid.

This is just one of many references to STT Mermaids Chair, http://www.itsanecessity.net/2016/04/mermaids-chair-a-hidden-gem-on-st-thomas/

You might try stopping in the passage between Lovango and Congo for a new place, I mentioned 2 others earlier.
Newfound Bay is a sweet hidden gem. Rendezvous Bay is always a good place for an overnight if there is a North Swell.

Thanks Localsailor! I’ll check these out!

You can always pop up the South side of St. John and hit Lameshure Bay or Salt Pond. There is a fun hike to Europa Bay through lush vegetation from Lameshure, pretty flat. Salt Pond has the Ram Head hike and Ital frequently selling his handmade items in the parking lot there.

Maho Bay now has a beach bar, Maho Crossroads, that has music, food, drinks, and chair rentals. The VI Ecotours location at Honeymoon Bay has a bar too. Lime Out is in Hansen Bay. If you visit the Coral Bay side, give me a ping. We live there on our boat Echoes.

Cheers, RickG

Thanks Rick! Would love to see you guys.
I'll have to see what the crew wants to do.

The secluded beach you have always been looking for. Instead of Mermaid’s Chair, I have heard it called Very Little Hawksnest. There is Hawksnest and Little Hawksnest so I assume the “very” came from it being he smallest of the beaches on the bay.



We like to snorkel from Hawksnest Beach out to the point and then stop coming or going at Mermaid’s Chair just to take it all in. Great beach for two!

Little Hawksnest is actually the Gibney and Oppenheimer beach area in front and right of Hawknest when looking out

That is why I have heard Mermaid’s Chair referred to as "Very Little Hawksnest"

Totally make sense, I wonder if Hans Christian Andersen had anything to do with it? :))

Best snorkeling in st John post hurricane is Salt Pond..by far. Unfortunately the North Shore reefs got hit pretty hard.