Relatively new to posting on this forum but been an observer for some time as I have learned much from many of you. Now that I have recently purchase a boat in Tortola, which will be going to the Moorings fleet, I intend to become more involved and give back as well. I have studied the many postings on leaving BVI via boat thru Cruz bay as well as the return gauntlet process so I think I am OK there. I have chartered boats in the BVIs for the past 10 years but have never left and returned via the Charter boat.
My question is where I can pick up my crew in STT that is arriving by plane (sort of obvious). What locations were the most convenient and easiest on both me, bringing the boat over and also on my crew arriving at the airport? Any and all suggestions as well as any “special “process is appreciated. I will be on a Powercat, so I can move around fairly quickly. Closer to the airport the better. Thanks in advance.

There have been threads on this topic recently, with lots of opinions. Personally, I would pick up at Crown Bay Marina (small fee) if staying in USVI for a while, but if the trip is primarily BVI, would tell them to take the ferry to West End.

I'd pick up in Cruz Bay. You can anchor in the creek for three hours for free and you can meet your crew at the ferry wharf. Then you can enjoy some of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean on St. John's north shore.

Another option would be at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook. Your crew gets to skip the ferry ride

Cheers, RickG

It is all subjective, depends on many many factors, and all of those factors are basically personal decisions aided, abetted or disabled at the whims of weather , sea conditions and on time plane travel.

Easiest on you ? Heck, I could make it easy on myself and check out of JVD, check in at Cruz Bay, move to Christmas Cove for anywhere from part of a day to an overnight, motor back into Cruz to meet the ferry with my crew, motor up to Waterlemon Cay, set the hook, and treat myself and the crew to one of my favorite places in the VI's. Spend a night there and then check back in through JVD. That would be easy for me and I have huge doubts anyone else would complain about it. I'd have second thoughts about traversing Pillsbury Sound on the in and the out to Crown Bay or AYH, but that is just me and my subjective opinion.

Moving from Cruz Bay to Christmas cove after checking in will certainly involve 'traversing Pillsbury Sound'!! So you should also have second thoughts there and I don't think you can 'set a hook' at Waterlemon Cay anywhere unless all the NPS moorings are occupied.

Take your boat to Lindberg Bay, St. Thomas. Drop the hook, good holding, free, reasonably safe and right next to the airport. By far the easiest for everyone. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I second Crown Bay, very nice marina, 5 minutes from the airport.

thanks for all the suggestions. I will look each of them up so as to see which is the easiest and makes sense. The Crew is wife and kids so less for them the better. The know the ferry drill, but I am arriving a day early and staying 2 more days so the more travel I can take out of their trip, the more time they can spend on the boat. Also will give me more time to feel the new boat out.

RE Lindbergh Bay ::Is there a Dingy dock or central location in the bay that I can arrange to meet them or is it simply a shore pick up and drop? I have driven by this place but never scoped it out. any details appreciated.

Lindbergh Bay would be a shore drop.

How are you going to handle the boat? By yourself? The Moorings don't allow single handing a boat..

If he is the owner he can solo the boat.

That's news to me.. I'm an owner and haven't been allowed to single hand the boat. All the paper work says no single handling. Their insurance wouldn't take to kindly to something happening with only one on the boat.

There is a dock that you can use. I believe it is at the Emerald Beach resort. I have used it several times but not sure if it belongs to Emerald Beach or the next one.

The Moorings moves the boats solo all the time. I used my boat solo and the Moorings never had a issue. I will look at the policy but I think the no solo is when the boat is on charter.

There is no dock at Emerald Beach or anywhere. Last month, there was a swim rope up to keep dinghy traffic away from Emerald Beach.

There is no dock at Emerald Beach resort or Island beachcomber, I am not sure about Carib Beach resort - certainly no dock at all on the beach at Lindberg Bay - but your guests can walk there from the airport - 5 min. with modest luggage - it is a beach pickup - can be rolly if it is a South wind -- the next bay west -- Brewers bay is better protected in that case but too far to walk.

Why not pick up at the cyoa dock and stay on one of their moorings. Good access to Frenchtown restaurants too.

There is a dock I used to use a few years ago at the hotel on the hill I think it called the Carib Beach on the west end of Lindberg, when pulling into the bay it is to the left side of the Island Beachcomber on a small hill.
You would have to drop anchor and take your dinghy in.

Thank you. That is the dock I was referring to. I have not been there since April last and it was there then.

I thought there may be some kind of dock over there - been many years since I was out that way - that hotel is also walkable -5-10 min. -- from the airport with reasonable rolling luggage.

Thanks for the suggestion and details. I am new to ownership part so will check into the Solo part. I imagine they discourage but will not be too happy if I cant't take my own boat out however I want. It is not in any of my contracts but may be buried in the insurance? I will see them at the Annapolis Boat show later this week and the boat is being shipped this week to Tortola EOM.