Posted By: aarpskier
Trip Report & Tips - 06/26/2017 03:33 AM
Dates: June 14 - 22.
Crew (11): 5 adults, 2 senior citizens and 4 kids, ages 8-14. (Second BVI trip for this family group, the first in June 2014.
Boat: "Mercurey", a 2015 Lagoon 52 from Dream Yacht Charters out of Hodges Creek Marina. Our broker (Jenny Goya) and briefer (Carleton) were very helpful, efficient and responsive. HCM is a clean, crowded, no-frills but adequate facility. Warned about mosquitos, we brought plenty of bug spray. When we arrived after hours (7:00 pm), Riteway had already placed our provisions in the salon and filled the refrigerators and freezer. The boat was very clean, and all mechanical systems (engines, refrigerators, ice maker, stove, oven, A/C, generator, water maker, winches) operated perfectly.
Overnights & Dinners Ashore: HCM / VG: Savannah Bay / VG: LBM (Jumbies BBQ) / Guana: White Bay / Scrub: SIM x2 (Tierra, Tierra) / Norman: Privateer Bay / Cooper: Manchioneel Bay (CIBC).
Snorkel Sites: Savannah Bay, Baths, Kodiak / Kraken, Monkey Point, Diamond Reef, Treasure Point, Cistern Point. Pleasantly surprised by number and variety of fish, multiple turtle and ray sightings, and beauty and apparently health of coral.
Highlights: Adults - Being only boat and people in Savannah Bay, and multiple great sails. Kids - Second visit to Baths (this time by boat), Jumbies, Scrub facilities, and watching lots of barracuda and tarpon under the boat.
Tips: (1) Charter the middle of June (low season), and 75% of charter fleet will be in a marina, not out competing for moorings and dinner reservations. (2) Start and end charter mid-week, to trail the weekend "counter-clockwise fleet". (3) To ensure not having to wait for a ball at popular snorkel sites, overnight nearby. (4) Stay and relax last night on St Thomas rather than racing for ferry and plane on the last day of charter.
Crew (11): 5 adults, 2 senior citizens and 4 kids, ages 8-14. (Second BVI trip for this family group, the first in June 2014.
Boat: "Mercurey", a 2015 Lagoon 52 from Dream Yacht Charters out of Hodges Creek Marina. Our broker (Jenny Goya) and briefer (Carleton) were very helpful, efficient and responsive. HCM is a clean, crowded, no-frills but adequate facility. Warned about mosquitos, we brought plenty of bug spray. When we arrived after hours (7:00 pm), Riteway had already placed our provisions in the salon and filled the refrigerators and freezer. The boat was very clean, and all mechanical systems (engines, refrigerators, ice maker, stove, oven, A/C, generator, water maker, winches) operated perfectly.
Overnights & Dinners Ashore: HCM / VG: Savannah Bay / VG: LBM (Jumbies BBQ) / Guana: White Bay / Scrub: SIM x2 (Tierra, Tierra) / Norman: Privateer Bay / Cooper: Manchioneel Bay (CIBC).
Snorkel Sites: Savannah Bay, Baths, Kodiak / Kraken, Monkey Point, Diamond Reef, Treasure Point, Cistern Point. Pleasantly surprised by number and variety of fish, multiple turtle and ray sightings, and beauty and apparently health of coral.
Highlights: Adults - Being only boat and people in Savannah Bay, and multiple great sails. Kids - Second visit to Baths (this time by boat), Jumbies, Scrub facilities, and watching lots of barracuda and tarpon under the boat.
Tips: (1) Charter the middle of June (low season), and 75% of charter fleet will be in a marina, not out competing for moorings and dinner reservations. (2) Start and end charter mid-week, to trail the weekend "counter-clockwise fleet". (3) To ensure not having to wait for a ball at popular snorkel sites, overnight nearby. (4) Stay and relax last night on St Thomas rather than racing for ferry and plane on the last day of charter.