Suggestions Needed on Late Arrival Charter Members

Hi, My family is arriving on Tortola/Moorings for a first night sleep aboard on Saturday, June 24th. Then we had plans to head over to Copper Island after getting our groceries the morning of the 25th. This week, my sister and her husband had a family commitment come up and can't arrive until late afternoon on the 25th. They fly into Saint Thomas at 1:00 pm and I was thinking of booking a water taxi for them to get them to Tortola as quick as possible. More expensive than we want but we only have six nights and want to get out on the water. I was thinking that we might have to pick them up at West End after they go through customs but by then it would be too late for a mooring at Cooper. I guess our other options would be Norman or Peter. We have never stayed at Peter before so I am not sure if that is a good overnight for us. I am just trying to think of good places we will be able to get a mooring late afternoon. We will be on a 50 ft power catamaran so wondering how long it will take to get from West End to these islands. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Why not goto cooper for lunch then head to Sopers to get them in the afternoon? You can stay in Sopers or head to Norman (which has many moorings for the night). Another option is Peter for the night since you can reserve a slip but they are pricy. About an hour or so from the islands to Sopers. Cooper tends to fill early but worth a stop. We went 5 nights (plus one sleep aboard) last week.

Our itinerary:
1. sleep aboard (everything preordered and onboard) -
2. BEYC
3. Angeda
4. Little JVD - Bubbly pool, sandy spit and overnight CGB
5. Sopers for provisions and Peter Island overnight
6. Cooper for lunch, Overnight at Scrub
7. Back to base.

We had a 44 PC Marine Max - didn't feel rushed.

Second trip in 2 months - I took the recommendation of others and provisioned all ahead via riteway and Caribbean Cellars. It was nice after a long day of flying. I brought frozen meats and some dry goods. Also brought calzones for an easy dinner when we got onboard.

rigirly

Norman is a safe bet on finding a late mooring. Also, have you considered having your sister take a taxi to cane garden Bay. Or pick her up at Sopers hole then off to jost for the night, little harbour or possibly great harbour could work. They are close to Sopers hole.

Unless you do the water taxi, your options will be limited by the ferry schedule. I can only see three options on Sunday: Smith (Tortola Fast Ferry) at 2:15, Road Town Fast Ferry at 4:15 and Smith again at 5:15. Add a minimum of 45 minutes for Smith to get to West End and an hour for RTFF to Road Town. Add Customs & Immigration time to those times. The bottom line is it will be very limiting using the ferries. If they can make the first ferry to West End, Little Harbour JVD sounds feasible. Other anchorages on JVD may be full and Norman may be full with first nighters. Soper's Hole could be a default option for your first night.

How about Jost? It looks like there is a 2:45 pm ferry from St.Thomas to Jost.

If time, vs. money, is the primary limiter, they could probably get a water taxi to drop them off at Cooper or Peter.

It may be too late/expensive, but we have flown into Beef Island to avoid the ferry schedule madness. They might make the 2:15 Smith ferry, but I wouldn't count on it. I like the idea of an afternoon ferry to Jost, just have never looked at it. We have checked in to C&I there at Great Harbor, but always from our boat, never a ferry. You could move the boat mid-day to make sure you get a mooring, then hit a good lunch place.
If they can get to and through West End at a reasonable hour, I'd say go to JVD. If it's full, head over to CGB for the night. It can be noisy late, but restaurants are welcome after flying, getting organized, etc.
I would avoid Cooper that late in the afternoon. Hard to get a mooring and, if you do, playing bumper cars all night after the wind dies is no fun.
Our MarineMax 443 in April was fairly fuel-efficient at 10k, but not at 12-14, so we kept close to 10. Still, West End to JVD would be 1/2 hour, a bit over an hour to Norman. In June, there should always be a mooring in the Bight.
Most of all, remember it's island time. It doesn't work to fret, so just enjoy.

Thanks for the great ideas! I think I'll get them a water taxi to West End where we will pick them up and either head to Norman, Cane Garden Bay or JVD. I had planned on starting at Cooper, VG, Anegada, JVD, CGB and last night at Norman or Peter but I guess we could go the other way and start at JVD. Yes, I must remember we'll be on island time and it's all good!! Thanks for your help!

If you're going to get a water taxi, why pick them up at Sopers? Just have the water taxi bring them to Cooper or Norman or wherever you plan to spend that night?

Not sure if you are in a power cat but we saw a late arriving charter at the Peter Island marina last night that had the exact same scenario. They were able to enjoy a full day on the water before picking up their guests since they didn't have to worry about space for the night due to the dock reservation.

I really like that idea! Thanks!