Dropping crew off for ferry?

We have 2 of our crew leaving a few days before our charter is finished next month. They’ll need to take the 7:30 am ferry to STT. What’s the best overnight mooring on Tortola with the shortest cab ride to the ferry dock in Roadtown?

You could just pull into Village Cay and they can walk to the ferry if they don't have a lot of luggage.

Brandywine Bay is right around the corner, available moorings, nice restaurant. Just a thought. Easy to drop them in Road Town from there. It's a small bay, and by the time you exit you're practically already in the approach channel for Road Town.

OP may not want to move boat in the dark, that's how I'm reading it.

Brandywine may be a good option. Can you really just pull into Marina Cay docks long enough to drop off?
How early should they get to the ferry terminal for the 7:30 am ferry?

Isn't there an anchorage in Road Town south of the channel? You could dinghy across right to the ferry dock (or next door)

Yes, there is an anchorage and some balls. However, I'm not aware of a dinghy dock at the ferry term. Can be done, but more difficult, esp with luggage and in poor seas state.

First light is an issue ….. sunrise on 2/18 is 6:45 am. First light will be earlier ….
We have 2 adult kids leaving 2/16 and 2 more leaving 2/18.
Can we pull a 37’ power cat up to Village Cay to drop off?
I’ve emailed Brandywine Estate to confirm mooring balls. Trying to avoid a big marina for nights before their departure.
Water taxi would be great but economically not feasible for just 2 people

You can most likely find dock space to pull up and drop people off. Someone might not like it. I personally would not bother. Just hover the boat and have someone run them in with the dinghy. I have done it many times. With a powercat you can overnight at Great Harbor on Peter. It’s 4 miles so 15 minutes at 15 knots 20 minutes at 12 knots. You will have enough light. Leave at 6:15 and they will be at the ferry dock before 7 with no issues. Brandywine Bay is not very scenic and noisy. You would save 7 or 8 minutes staying there. It’s just over a quarter of a mile walk from the dingy dock to the ferry dock.

I agree with George. This last Thanksgiving we overnighted at The Bight (Norman), got up at 530am and after dealing with a fouled anchor chain were on our way. Docked at Moorings at 650 and on taxi to ferry at 700. No problems. We had pre-arranged to make sure the taxi was there and waiting. Hovering near Village Cay, dinghy over and walk/taxi to ferry would work too.

Did you snag the same what appeared to be at least a 100 year old anchor chain that I did once?

Husker and GeorgeC1 - I like both those choices. Kids will have minimal bags so dropping them at Village Cay would work for the first 2 leaving. The second 2 leaving depart on the day we return the boat to TMM. Might try the same thing. (we're staying another 3 nights at Scrub so we have time to fill with gas & get the boat back to TMM).

How far in advance would you recommend buying ferry tickets? A few days? A week?

At least a week if you know which boat you want.

Thank you Jason!

Haha, no. We were in about 30 feet of water with lots of chain out and the bridel got all twisted around the chain. If I remember correctly, the wind was light and variable that night....hence the mess we woke up to. Not what we wanted being pressed for time to make the 730am ferry. To top it off we overheated one of the engines and had to back off and putt along at 5kts for the last several miles. Still made the ferry.

Ok, I think I may have cracked the code on getting part of our crew transported to STT.
Dolphin Water taxi makes a few runs a day from Scrub to Red Hook. Cost is $234/pp - includes water taxi, all fees AND taxi to STT. It's more than the ferry but less than a private water taxi for 2. And dropping them at Scrub seems much easier than anywhere else I've seen. From Scrub's website, it looks like Island Time Water taxi does the same. Waiting on rates from them.

We love Island Time - they are wonderful.

There is a place dingy can pull up too Customs dock, just to right of Ferry/Customs dock ... All the way towards shore, just past fence, for easy drop off. Usually some balls near ferry dock to tie onto for a few minutes while dropping off or clearing customs