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Short Trip Report #294402
01/22/2023 01:42 PM
01/22/2023 01:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
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Shifty Offline OP
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Shifty  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
Greetings, All. Back in wintry Indiana after 9 nights aboard Ojala, a 47 ft. FP Tanna chartered through Waypoints (Tortola). First and foremost, I cannot give Anthony and the rest of the Waypoints gang enough praise. After 30+ years of bareboating with CYOA, I'll confess to apprehension about what life after the sale would look like. We were not disappointed. A quick rundown of our adventure:

-Scrub Island / Marina Cay: I was planning to go to Cooper or North Sound on the first night, but we had some late arriving friends, who ferried over to meet us on the boat. Remember when Scrub Island was just a scrub island?

-North Sound (Bitter End): Impressed with the new digs at Bitter End. Didn't strike me as on equal to the glory days, but they're still at it. Great to see them up and running again. Had appetizers and cocktails at Saba. Fabulous wait staff and great experience.

-North Sound (Leverick): Huge gratitude to Leroy, the dock manager. Terrific guy and super accommodating. Took a slip for the night, rented a safari truck and toured the island. Yes, including the Baths. For 20 years, I've said I'm done with the Baths, but there's always a newby on board, so what the heck. Actually, crowds were very light. Nice visit. Took in Michael Beans that night. Super guy. Good show. Pizza for dinner at the poolside restaurant (meh).

-Anegada: 2 nights there. First time up there in over 30 years. Super fun. Really cool to join the am Anegada Regatta for an easy sail. And though the course was very simple and the channel well marked, I'll admit it was nice to follow somebody else in who didn't crash and sink. Dinner at Anegada Reef Hotel on night 1. Lobster. Fine, not great. But a splendid evening with a great view. I almost never complain about anything. But I will say that our server must have been having a bad night. Not great service. Second night . . . Sid's. Outstanding on every level.

-JVD: Wonderful sail from Anegada to JVD. Maybe the best day of the trip. 10-15 knot wind. Sunny skies. Blissful sail. Grabbed a ball in Great Harbor, then took our 6 friends around the corner in the dingy to Soggy. Before you ask if that was a good time, I'll just say the dingy ride back was rather harrowing! Also had to make the obligatory stop at Foxy's. Then had dinner at Ali Baba's. Wasn't even planning to, but what a great call. Some of the most welcoming and friendly people I've ever met in the BVI. Baba sat and talked with us for a long time. Just a memorable night.

-The Bight: Slogged upwind from JVD, hit the caves, consumed painkillers on the beach and, yes, snuck over to the frat party on Willy T. Saw 2 octopi (octopusses?) in the caves. Really cool.

-Cooper Island: Fabulous snorkeling, as always. And a great visit on shore. A little bummed it was the last night, but we were all well satisfied and ready to return to the real world.

Summation: Here's one takeaway for me. First time sailing out of Tortola in many years. Thought we'd give it a try. And it was fine. The travel costs, however, greatly exceeded what we've grown accustomed to when chartering out of St. Thomas (CYOA Frenchtown). Also, I found I really missed St. John. In the past, we'd usually spend 2 or 3 nights there at the tail end (Maho, Leinster, Lameshur or Caneel). But when chartering out of Tortola, that was just not feasible from a customs point of view. We booked transport with Island Time from portal to portal and they were great. But between taxis, customs, customs, customs and water taxis, we did feel nickel and dimed pretty heavily. As for my first trip to Anegada in many years, as I said, we loved it. But I'd probably not prioritize it every year . . . maybe one in three. And a final word to Waypoints. If you are chartering and looking for a top level boat, excellent service and an all-around great experience, go with them (either out of St. Thomas or Tortola). Having been treated to first-rate experience with Captain Jay, Nancy, Marsha and the rest of the crew at the St. Thomas location for so many years, I was exceedingly pleased to meet and work with the staff at Tortola.

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Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294409
01/23/2023 02:11 AM
01/23/2023 02:11 AM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10
Nashville, TN
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Cayzzz Offline
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Nashville, TN
Excellent report! We’re going back in 5 weeks and we’re so excited. Glad to hear Leroy is still at Leverick. What an awesome guy!

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294418
01/23/2023 10:38 AM
01/23/2023 10:38 AM
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 117
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Rush Offline
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Rush  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 117
Nice report and thanks for sharing! Great to hear about Waypoints. We also had a great experience with CYOA and will be chartering twice this year with Waypoints (for the first time). And we are considering putting our future new boat with them (also a Tanna).

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294425
01/23/2023 12:11 PM
01/23/2023 12:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
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Volle Maan Offline
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Volle Maan  Offline
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Posts: 49
Thanks for the great trip report. How many boats went from North Sound to Anegada? How long of sail was it? How long was the sail to JVD and did you have other boats heading back that way? Cheers

Rob

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294435
01/23/2023 02:10 PM
01/23/2023 02:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
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Shifty Offline OP
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Shifty  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
We left Leverick at 8:30 am sharp, southeast winds 10-15 knots. There were 6-8 boats at various distances in front of us and, eventually, 6-8 boats behind us. About 2 1/2 hour sail (I thought it would be more). Mooring field was pretty full both nights. But when we arrived around 11 am, there were still several to choose from. The sail down to JVD was fabulous. Same basic wind conditions. There were only 2 other boats making the same trek. Took about 4 hours. Candidly, I was a little nervous about the distance, but in good conditions, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294454
01/23/2023 07:55 PM
01/23/2023 07:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
LauraTheTshirtGal Offline
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LauraTheTshirtGal  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
we are literally looking at about the same itinerary in March so thank you!! we are out of Waypoints as well, cannot wait!

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294456
01/23/2023 09:28 PM
01/23/2023 09:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
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Shifty Offline OP
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Shifty  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
Very exciting. We'll all look forward to your report.

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294467
01/24/2023 08:54 AM
01/24/2023 08:54 AM
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
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Volle Maan Offline
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Volle Maan  Offline
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We are looking to charter with Waypoints out of STT in November. Sailing to Anegada is in the plans. Appreciate you sharing your info.

Rob

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294492
01/24/2023 04:00 PM
01/24/2023 04:00 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
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Shifty Offline OP
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Shifty  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
Rob, if you've never sailed with CYOA (now Waypoints) out of St. Thomas, you're in for a treat. If you have, I'm sure you'll agree. In the office, Marsha is as welcoming and accommodating a person as you'll ever meet. And Jay and his crew (Nancy, especially), are fabulously good at acquainting you with the boat, briefing your charter and getting you set to go for a great sailing vacation. If you run into issues during your charter, Jay will be on it. Very professional, exceptionally knowledgeable, and accessible. And their boats are unquestionably top-knotch.

What boat are you sailing on?

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294495
01/24/2023 04:22 PM
01/24/2023 04:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
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Volle Maan Offline
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Volle Maan  Offline
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I have 6 charters with CYOA, last one 11/21, USVI only trip. Still deciding on 45' Elba or 47' Saona. Totally agree about the CYOA staff. Capt Jay and Nancy and everyone else there have been fantastic.

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294511
01/24/2023 07:06 PM
01/24/2023 07:06 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
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Shifty Offline OP
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Shifty  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
Fabulous!
The Saba 50 (Brizo) has been the best handling boat I've ever been on. You might check it out. Also, the Apres Sky is also a Saba 50, a little newer and has all the same bells and whistles, plus underwater lights (which my crew loves).

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294543
01/25/2023 12:48 PM
01/25/2023 12:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay Offline
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CaptainJay  Offline
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Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
Shifty we have one of the first Fountaine Pajot Aura 51''s in charter anywhere. The Saba is a great boat. This one takes it up a couple of notches.

What's Left Aura 51

Re: Short Trip Report [Re: Shifty] #294546
01/25/2023 02:16 PM
01/25/2023 02:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 95
Indiana
Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 95
Indiana
Great trip report!


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