I have a boat going over the St.Thomas for 1 day (Nov. 24th) to pick up a couple and they're overnighting there for one night. They want to moor or dock someplace adjacent to the mainland. My initial suggestion from research was Cowpet, but it appears that might not be an air tight plan on account of STYC. While that mooring field will stay on the radar, are there any other suggestions of best places to moor/dock for one night? They will probably want to go ashore for dinner. Thanks.

You might consider Christmas Cove and a dinghy ride over to the Yacht Club (no dinner on Saturday) or the Elysian. The St Thomas Restaurant Group has two places there. Otherwise, Red Hook?

Yeah, I mentioned Christmas to them, and they seemed to think that it would be late enough (honestly, only like 5 or 5:30) that they did not want to try to dinghy all the way across. Personally, I wouldn't have an issue - Christmas is the highest recommended place I can find. But they're looking for mainland on the east end. They may not all be as nice or convenient as Christmas, but there's gotta be something, I suspect.

Well, Vessup Bay and dinghy to Latitude 18?...Secret Harbour?- it can be rolly...If they are yacht club members somewhere, they can check at STYC about reciprocity and the possibility of staying there overnight. 340-775-6320

How about Charlotte Amalie, plenty of room to anchor and plenty of restaurants within dinghy range and calm water.
Cowpet has to many private moorings.
Redhook has a ton of private moorings and the ferries go barreling through rocking all the boats
You could get a slip in Redhook for the night at American Yacht Harbor marina and fill up with water before you leave.

CA/STT would work, and you could pick them up on the sea-wall with the dink.

Crown Bay Marine at the dock would be a possibility - easy taxi to Frenchtown or CA.

You could also drop the hook in Lindbergh and drop them at the Best Western Emerald Beach for Dinner.

You could contact CYOA in Frenchtown and ask about an overnight mooring rental - easy access to restaurants and short taxi to airport.
Or call Island Yachts in red Hook and ask about renting an empty mooring if they have one that night. AYH in Red Hook usually has slips available.
Anchoring in Charlotte Amalie Harbor is usually fine and dinghy into the seawall works.
Yacht Haven has plenty of slips available I am sure.

NOTE: They will have to clear out of the BVI and then into the USVI - [at Cruz Bay or Charlotte Amalie] and clear back into the BVI with the new arrivals.

I might be reading this different then you guys but the OP clearly states: "But they're looking for mainland on the east end" Red Hook is your best answer. Tons of restaurants, electric, if you have A/C, and pretty nice showers. We once had to stay at YHG due to AYH having an event. I wish I could post you a funny picture of Long Overdue sandwiched between a 125' and a 150' yacht. We looked like a sailing dinghy in there. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, the idea was to avoid CA because of the couple they are picking up and the trek they'll have the next day. While there is only so much coddling you can do on a boat, we figured CA to JVD might be a bit much for their first day ever on a boat. Especially when you consider the possibility of decent moorings on the east end and, thus, a much shorter 'baptism' the next day. Thanks for the advice. I have submitted a request with AYH for a mooring/slip - will wait to hear back. Will do the same with CYOA.

...spoke too soon. CYOA isn't on the table. Just AYH or else picking up something, anything in redhook.

Does anyone know if there are mooring balls or is anchorage an option in Water Bay or Coki? Water is listed as a "VI Mooring/Anchorage" but I can't find anyone with any experience.

Water Island is C.A. Coki is untenable. AYH does not have moorings, dock space will be about $2 a foot. you are much better calling then emailing, it's toll free to STT. You can anchor in Vessup (Red Hook), but it can be quite rolly. A cat would be much more comfortable then a mono.

Another idea!
Grab a National Park mooring outside of Cruz Bay SJ and take the ferry to either Red Hook or CA.
The ferries run back and forth till about 11PM

Since you will clearly have to stop in Cruz Bay to clear C&I for the USVI - everyone has to appear at Customs by the way <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" /> - it might well be easier to have your arrivals just make their way to Red Hook and over to STJ - sometimes the BVI and Caneel ferries do make some of those moorings a bit rolly before sunset - I have moved up to Maho or Francis after clearing in on occasion - both of which have easy dinghy pickup[Maho is easier, just off the road] if your new arrivals want to taxi from the airport to either the Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook ferry and taxi to Francis or Maho from Cruz Bay - it is a short sail for their 1st day then over to JVD Customs to clear back into the BVI for all.

... probably not that hard just to have them take the ferry from Red Hook to JVD or Tortola West End.

Cheers, RickG

Water Bay is where the former Renaissance is. Neither it nor Coki would be a great overnight anchorage, IMHO.

I'm kind of agreeing with the St John contingent. If your crew are coming in late, the last ferry from Red Hook is at midnight. Lots of restaurants in Cruz Bay, and the dinghy dock is very convenient.