After many years chartering with various BVI companies, we're considering CYOA for a January charter. We'll likely arrive early from SJU on the first day, do our shopping and get to the base late morning. Is Maho/Francis on St. John a realistic goal for that first night? I understand CYOA's briefings are thorough, and we'll probably need an hour for a checkout sail. How long to Maho/Francis given the typical conditions that time of year? Thanks, Eric.

It is roughly a 15 mile sail around STT to the North End of STJ. In January the sunset will be right at 6 PM. I know Twanger has done it many times, but he is underway sailing a CYOA boat to the SVI. Not much help - sorry.

Christmas Cove is always a back up if you get a late start.

I have done it many times as well, 3 hours at the most. Christmas Cove is an excellent stop or back up.

Three hours is reasonable. What's Christmas Cove like? Holding decent? Anyone know if the moorings in Francis/Maho tend to fill up that time of year? Thanks.

3-4 hrs is accurate sailing with wind or motoring.
Christmas Cove has fairly good holding if you avoid the grass and set the hook well, there may be moorings free.
Francis and Maho may fill up if there is any N. swell but there are quite a few moorings there - Jan. is a busy time yes.

Done the direct trip from CYOA to Francis Bay (and vice versa) a few times. It's about 13.5 nm and doable in 2 hrs with calmer seas, but plan for 2.5 hrs if you have strong E-to-SE winds and associated swell. Park Service advertises 57 mooring balls in Francis/Maho and I've never seen them all occupied in January.

If you're running short of daylight, it's only 7 nm to Christmas Cove with many free mooring balls though twice this winter there only 1-2 unoccupied when I arrived. I've not tried to anchor there yet.

It's 10.2 nm to Lind Pt/Caneel Bay where there are 40+ mooring balls. It's a reasonably calm anchorage after 6 pm when the daytrip power boat and ferry traffic subsides.

Thanks everyone! Looks like several doable options even with a mid-afternoon start.

Eric you have already received good info. North Shore St John should be doable with an early morning arrival. The captain and first mate are the only ones that have to be here for the briefing you can send other crew to the store during the briefing if you have them available. We also have provisioning service available if you don't want to mess with the shopping and speed up the process. Let me know if you have any specific questions we will be glad to help.

Jay
#mycyoa

We did just this last week and it was absolutely no problem. We also did the same in January and had no problem picking up a mooring around 5PM. January is shoulder season and less busy than December and February. We love Christmas Cove and routinely anchor in the west end outside of the mooring field. Its a very nice spot that is well protected.

Cheers, RickG

love that spot Rick, great breeze and the swell is blocked by the island, also surprisingly good snorkeling

We have done this exact leg many times. (never a problem) Love Christmas Cove as our last night stop on the way back in to either Island Yachts or CYOA

Did they move CYOA and Maho to the BVI? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Shocked.gif" alt="" />

LOL! No but you can see it from there!


When I first replied I did not even realize I was in the BVI section. Then when I did I had to laugh to myself and wonder why it was a BVI post.

Bottom line is they got some good info!

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Posting in the BVI forum probably will elicit responses from both USVI and BVI sailing folks - a number of the BVI members have chartered from the USVI in the past and can have good input but they may rarely check the USVI forum - I think most of us based in the USVI do read both forums regularly since we often spend time sailing in both jurisdictions.