SVI Sailing Trip advice needed

Hi First post on the USVI and Puerto Rico thread. Posted a bunch on the BVI thread.

Well I have just completed my third cruise in the BVIs and it is time to try something new. I understand that the SVIs are the best kept secret in the sailing world and would like to experience it before it ends up like the BVIs! (bunch of frat bro Power cats with 20 courtesy flags trailing behind....<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />)

Due to costs and ease of getting to San Juan from Ottawa Canada I want to charter out of Puerto del Rey in Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Any recommendations regarding charter companies? Looking to charter a monohull this time with at least 4 cabins (seems like most monohulls in Fajardo are only 3.

Also thinking about getting formally certified in ASA 103, 104. Does anyone know if there is a good captain we could hire or is it best to arrange through the charter company? I know that SailCaribe offers ASA sailing course (101,103,104, 114) but don't know really anything about SailCaribe or the quality of their sailing school/captains.

Thanks for your input in advance.

Cheers!

"I understand that the SVIs are the best kept secret in the sailing world"

This is a quite the stretch. SVI is nothing like BVI in any way and will never be a BVI. I would call SVI cute, inexpensive, not crowded, and very nice. I would buy this cruising guide, very informative https://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Guide-Pu...VMP89AK7FGNJ7HZ
I would check out CYOA for your charter.

It is not that much more expensive or difficult to get to St Thomas than San Juan even from Canada. We have a very nice Beneteau 48 four cabin at CYOA and we can very likely hook you up with an ASA instructor as a skipper as well.

you can not go wrong with Jay and CYOA, top notch company, now that we sold our boat, we would charter from Jay in a minute.

This thread was very helpful to me:

Sailing Information For SVI & St Croix <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

We are chartering out of St Thomas with BVIYC in October. Great bunch of folks, very responsive.

Aarpskier; read that thread and have the free cruising guide. Quite extensive. I will look into flying into st Thomas. In the past the connections and cost have been terrible from Ottawa were I am from. For my June trip to the bvi's we had to go through Syracuse NY. San Juan has a direct flight from TO so is easier and cheaper to get to.

All options are open though.

Sail Caribe or Moorings from Puerto Del Rey.

Puerto Del Rey is a really classy facility BUT give me French Town and CYOA any day. Puerto Del Rey is just to darn crowded for my taste.

Puerto Del Rey is the largest marina in the Caribbean with over 1000 boats. You need a golf cart to get to the marina. When did Moorings make a move to PDR? Last time we were there getting parts at West Marine, only Sail Caribe was there

The Moorings Puerto Rico

Dream yacht charters also has boats out of PDR

Sju is normally far easier and cheaper to reach than STT from Toronto.

SVI is very different than the bvi. It will never be the BVI. Mother Nature has seen to that.

Lots of straight up wind sailing.

Not many restaurants bars marinas or places for water.

Provisioning in fajardo is outstanding. In my view that's the best part of svi,

If I were to go back to svi from st Thomas, I would not go all the way to fajardo.

??? I just checked Delta from YYZ to STT and SJU. DL 2551 leaves YYZ at 6:15 am to ATL. DL 517 goes to STT, arriving at 1:38 pm. DL 559 goes to SJU, arriving at 1:30 pm. Cost to STT looks like its about $250 less than SJU. So, isn't it just as easy, and cheaper, to get to STT? And, you get a free rum shot at STT!

(I must admit I am prejudiced against SJU. Back when AA owned the Caribbean, we made multiple trips through SJU to Canouan, St Lucia and Beef Island. Perhaps the food has improved, but if I never have another chicken quesadilla at SJU, I won't miss it all!)

We have sailed to the SVI three times from St. Thomas with CYOA.
Loved it!

>>you can not go wrong with Jay and CYOA, top notch company, now that we sold our boat, we would charter from Jay in a minute. <<

Agree completely!!

Have not been to SVI yet, but thinking bout it...

Ran into Capt Suzy at my home marina in Galesville MD.
She had just completed a boat transport up from the islands.

She gave a pretty argument about originating a trip to the SVI from San Juan.

SOS Sail Charters San Juan

You can probably get some good info from her.

btw... CYOA is great!

Here's Don Street's argument for starting from STT.
Reach (Don't Beat) Through The Virgin Islands

Just to give an update to the discussion thread. Haven't heard back from CYAO yet on sailing course and captain costs but I think I am now leaning towards getting the certifications through a reputable sailing school.

While there are disadvantages (less flexibility, more rigid itinerary) there are also a lot of advantages - namely one single source of accountability that is responsible for the boat, course, food etc.

I am a little reluctant to do a bareboat and hire a captain even one that is arranged by the charter company. If anything goes wrong there is potential for the Capt to blame the charter company, the charter company to blame the Capt and me left holding the bag!

Current leading candidate is Nautilus Sailing school. They operate out of Puerto del Rey and looks like they get their boats from Sail Caribe. Their itinerary have stops in Culebra and Visques, which is what I am looking for.

Their other sailing location in the Caribbean is in Grenada though. I must say, this option has peaked my interest. In part cause I have never been that far south in the Caribbean and in part cause I know one day I will want to leave the shelter of the virgin islands and sail in the Windward isles.

Anybody on this thread have experience sailing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines? Which would you choose(leaving logistics out of the mix)?

Boy UncleLuff,
you have a few decisions to make, BVI, USVI, SVI... and SVG?

SVG sailing is great. I would recommend a one way charter from ST Lucia or St Vincent down to Grenada.
(see aarp's comments on reaching not beating)
Some long sails on the ends with some short in the middle..

Check out the So. Caribbean forum for lots of info there.

Aah, now you have made things complicated! I have not yet been to the SVI (going in October), but I have been to the Windwards 5 times. If you haven't done St Lucia, Bequia, Mustique, the Tobago Cays, Mayreau, etc, you definitely need to do that at some point, and you will find it very different from the BVI's. When the Moorings still had a base in Canouan, and AA flew in there, it was a convenient jumping off spot (except during the December-January "Christmas winds" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />). Now, I agree with CWoody that a downhill one-way from St Lucia to Grenada is the way to go (although I would overnight at the Pitons, get an early start and sail right on by St Vincent to Bequia). I am sure the Moorings could accommodate your need / desire for a captain.