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Dropping off up guests in St Thomas #28853
09/10/2014 03:31 PM
09/10/2014 03:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41
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svlamorocha Offline OP
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svlamorocha  Offline OP
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Hello everyone
My boat is based in the BVI but in my next trip I will need to sail to St Thomas to drop off guests in St Thomas. They will go straight form the boat to the airport.

I would appreciate any suggestions about smart ways of doing that.

Thanks in advance

Charlie

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Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: svlamorocha] #28854
09/10/2014 04:52 PM
09/10/2014 04:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
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Kimber Offline
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Kimber  Offline
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St Thomas, USVI
Quote
svlamorocha said:
Hello everyone
My boat is based in the BVI but in my next trip I will need to sail to St Thomas to drop off guests in St Thomas. They will go straight form the boat to the airport.

I would appreciate any suggestions about smart ways of doing that.

Thanks in advance

Charlie


Where is it that you plan on clearing US customs?

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: Kimber] #28855
09/10/2014 05:06 PM
09/10/2014 05:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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I'm not sure that's really a decision, is it? Isn't it required that you first stop in Cruz bay to check in?


Matt
Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: maytrix] #28856
09/10/2014 05:32 PM
09/10/2014 05:32 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
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snmhanson Offline
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We're likely doing the same thing next trip. We will probably sail from Norman to Charlotte Amalie the day before they are leaving, clear in and spend the night anchored there. If their flight is later in the day we might consider clearing at Cruz Bay and then spending the night at Christmas Cove. Partly depends on whether they want to spend their final night in relative solitude or they prefer shopping and dining options. FWIW, we will also probably spend some time in the USVI and maybe SVI after dropping them at the airport since we will have already cleared C&I anyway (though a trip to the SVI will require we clear customs a second time).

Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong here, if the boat has a LBO sticker you should be able to just call in and do customs and immigration over the phone. Not sure how likely a charter boat out of the BVI is to have one, but worth checking into. We were able to do that coming into the SVIs on our last trip and it saved quite a bit of time.

Matt

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: snmhanson] #28857
09/10/2014 05:40 PM
09/10/2014 05:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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To the OP, Crown Bay is your best option. It's 5 minutes from the airport, they have provisions, laundry, dining, and a great group of people who run the place. As to the LBO (local boat owner) sticker, all members of crew must have the certificate, it's not for the boat. You also need a U.S. Customs sticker on the boat. I don't know about charter boats, but the stick is $27.50 a year. After SVI, you do not have to check back in to the USVI.

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: maytrix] #28858
09/10/2014 08:30 PM
09/10/2014 08:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
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Kimber Offline
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St Thomas, USVI
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maytrix said:
I'm not sure that's really a decision, is it? Isn't it required that you first stop in Cruz bay to check in?


It is a decision with options. Since the OP didn't say whether they were clearing in on STJ or on STT or intending not to clear in at all, it's hard to give them suggestions. They also didn't indicate if they want to dump passengers and dash back to the BVI or spend time here. Sail2wind provided a decent option.

As to clearing in at Cruz Bay, C&I has been fine with people coming straight from the BVI to St Thomas and clearing in at either Yacht Haven or by the seaplane. I know that's not exactly how the regs read...

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: svlamorocha] #28859
09/11/2014 09:26 AM
09/11/2014 09:26 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 195
Boston and Tortola, BVI
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Buddy Offline
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I keep my boat in the BVI and have done this once or twice. I find the easiest and most pleasant is to clear in at Cruz Bay then go over to Lindberg Bay, St. Thomas. The holding is good and it is within walking distance to the airport. You can park your dink at Emerald Bay resort and there are a couple fairly good restaurants. Its quick, easy and simple and not a bad anchorage to spend the night before.

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: Buddy] #28860
09/11/2014 12:03 PM
09/11/2014 12:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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Matt, many day trippers who live closer to town clear in STT, never a problem

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: sail2wind] #28861
09/11/2014 01:31 PM
09/11/2014 01:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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I always thought you had to clear in at St. John when coming from the BVI. Good to know.


Matt
Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: maytrix] #28862
09/11/2014 04:11 PM
09/11/2014 04:11 PM
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Posts: 100
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Kunderwater Offline
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I beleive that you check in at closest point of entry.

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: maytrix] #28863
09/11/2014 04:34 PM
09/11/2014 04:34 PM
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Posts: 41
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svlamorocha Offline OP
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svlamorocha  Offline OP
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Quote
maytrix said:
I'm not sure that's really a decision, is it? Isn't it required that you first stop in Cruz bay to check in?

Yes, there is a decision. We can clear in at Charlotte Amalie or Cruz Bay. We are "aliens" so we have to do the thing in person. That said, the clear-in will happen way before the dropoff, which is what I am asking about.

Fair winds
C

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: sail2wind] #28864
09/11/2014 04:41 PM
09/11/2014 04:41 PM
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svlamorocha Offline OP
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svlamorocha  Offline OP
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sail2wind said:
To the OP, Crown Bay is your best option. It's 5 minutes from the airport, they have provisions, laundry, dining, and a great group of people who run the place.


Thanks. The location sounds great. I would like to avoid spending the night at a marina though. Do you know if there is an anchorage within dinghy range of the Crown Bay dinghy dock?

Many thanks in advance!

C

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: Kunderwater] #28865
09/11/2014 04:57 PM
09/11/2014 04:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline
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You may find the shortest boat trip is the easiest - pick up a mooring outside Cruz Bay STJ and dinghy into the dock with all aboard to clear C&I - your airport bound guests could easily take the ferry from there in Cruz Bay direct to Charlotte Amalie STT - [3 times a day] - get off on the waterfront in STT and take a 3-5 min. taxi to the Airport.

The closest anchorages to the Crown Bay docks are:
NW side of Hassel Is.
S side of Water Is.- Elephant Bay
W side of Water Is.- Honeymoon Bay

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: Kimber] #28866
09/11/2014 05:03 PM
09/11/2014 05:03 PM
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svlamorocha Offline OP
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Quote
Kimber said:
Quote
maytrix said:
I'm not sure that's really a decision, is it? Isn't it required that you first stop in Cruz bay to check in?


Since the OP didn't say whether they were clearing in on STJ or on STT or intending not to clear in at all, it's hard to give them suggestions. They also didn't indicate if they want to dump passengers and dash back to the BVI or spend time here. Sail2wind provided a decent option.

Sorry; we have to clear-in in person because we are "aliens":) and we will spend time in USVI both before and after dropping off those guests..

Do I understand correctly that

a) the Emerald Bay Resort dinghy dock is the closest place to the airport where I can land a dinghy and;

b) they usually let sailors use their dock to land people who are not staying at the hotel?

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: svlamorocha] #28867
09/11/2014 06:19 PM
09/11/2014 06:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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no dock, Crown Bay has a transient fee of $20 if you choose not to stay on the dock. Or you can anchor at Elephant and pick them up at the Ticles dock when they arrive.

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: sail2wind] #28868
09/11/2014 06:37 PM
09/11/2014 06:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay Offline
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Saint Thomas, USVI
I hate to ask this but what kind of "Aliens" are you? Visa waivers don't apply to private vessels.

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: CaptainJay] #28869
09/11/2014 06:43 PM
09/11/2014 06:43 PM
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svlamorocha Offline OP
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CaptainJay said:
I hate to ask this but what kind of "Aliens" are you? Visa waivers don't apply to private vessels.


Aliens of the human kind. No green skin or antennas.. smile

Sure, my UK passport is eligible for Visa Waiver Program but this does not work when arriving by own boat.

Therefore I need to drag everyone to Customs and Immigration on the way in and drop off I-94s on the way out. I do that in Cruz Bay that is very user friendly...

Re: Dropping off up guests in St Thomas [Re: svlamorocha] #28870
09/11/2014 07:25 PM
09/11/2014 07:25 PM
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Posts: 41
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svlamorocha Offline OP
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svlamorocha  Offline OP
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Thank you everyone!


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