Can anyone share any of their experience with clearing times if you have chartered in USVI with intention of sailing to BVI? We are still considering all our options and narrowing the list of boats down. Our friends found a boat they wanted me to check on that is through a broker in the USVI and when I spoke with them they said that even in May we could experience delays in clearing out of St John and than again into the BVI...sometimes a few hours or a 1/2 day. They indicated this is why they do suggest that if someone chartering is looking to sail mainly in the BVI that they charter out of BVI. Was surprised to hear this and also do not recall clearing taking a lot of time but we chartered over 5 years ago and I understand it is busier now than it was than. Thanks for any comments.

There is no "clearing out" of the USVI for US citizens. Clearing in at Great Harbor, JVD is usually pretty quick and painless but with the new requirement that ALL passeners present at C&I rather than just the captain I have a feeling you would want to get there at some time the US day boat aren't.

First... fill out all the forms you can in advance. This really speeds things up.

As said above, you don't clear out of the USVI, you just leave.

We clear in and out of the BVI all at one time, and do it at Great Harbor, Jost.

It's typically 15-30 minutes, depending on if someone is in front of us. New rules are that everyone has to show in the BVI, so I have no idea how long that takes.

Cost is around $400 for a 44-50 foot cat with 8 people for a week in the BVI.

We always clear back into the US at Cruz Bay, STJ. This takes a little longer because everyone must appear, and typically you have to pick up a mooring in Western Caneel bay and dingy south around Lind Point. We tie up at the dingy dock near the ferry dock and all walk to customs at the same time. No wandering around in town is allowed until you clear in!!!

Typically we time it to do a little shopping in Mongoose Junction after we check in, get some lunch, and then do the 30-min run to Christmas Cove for a snorkel and last dinner aboard.

Who ever told you that delays for hours or a half day to clear into the BVI and then back into the USVI, is well, how to say this nicely... Terribly mistaken! Day trip boats miraculously manage to leave the USVI every morning, transit to Spanishtown to clear into the BVI, letting the passengers visit the Baths. They depart and stop for lunch at Marina Cay, Cooper or perhaps Norman. Somehow they still have time to hit Jost for a painkiller and then clear back into St John, USVI before 5pm! I suggest you ask whomever is telling stories about hours or a halfday spent handling C&I, how do the Daytrip boats accomplish what I just described in a day. I also encourage you to search the subject right here, it's been covered many times. Above all, enjoy your vacation wherever you choose to start it from.

We clear in and out at least four times per year. I can't comment on recent changes, but the longest it has ever taken me to clear us in is at West End Tortola when it was busy and there were some bad attitudes - 30 minutes. Jost Van Dyke is usually less than 10 minutes. Clearing back into the US is a complete non-problem and we usually walk through in less than 5 minutes.

Caveats:
- Have all of your paper work filled out in advance. Get forms from the broker and all information necessary to fill them out along with any required documentation.
- All people on board are listed as crew.
- For the BVI, each person needs and immigration form and each family needs a customs form.
- For the US, individuals do not need forms as long as they are listed as "crew" in the boat papers.

In Cruz Bay, do not pull up to the customs wharf or your vessel will get damaged. If you draw 5' or less you can anchor in the creek at Cruz Bay outside of the channel. If you draw more than 5' thank you can dinghy in from the moorings at Lindt Point or Caneel Bay.

Cheers, RickG

Thanks everyone. I thought this sounded wrong!
We will have a captain for the trip so I know they will know the ropes so to speak about best places to clear. Jost would be our first day so that is perfect. I asked this mainly because if we are thinking of picking up in STT and the time they indicated was correct that would be enough for me to reconsider a STT pick up. Thanks again...and good point about the day trips...I did not even think about that. Hearing this kind of came as a shock it got in the way of clear thinking.

Done it many times. West End is 1/2 hour (new rules = unknown). Cruz Bay it takes longer to tie up the dingy than going through the process. In fact checking in at Cruz Bay is significantly faster than standing in the C&I line if you get into CA on the ferry.
Really not a consideration when comparing USVI to BVI based charter.

find new broker immediately, obviously they do not know what they are talking about.

I suspect perhaps the broker was looking at a timeline for the entire process. Depending on where you plan to spend the night it could knock half a day off. He may also have been including transit time from the USVI. Usually I try and combine customs with a stop or lunch I would do anyway. The new rule is going to be interesting. I normally have someone hover the boat while I jump in the dinghy and clear in or out. Now you're going to have to find a ball or anchor since no one can remain on the boat. That may not be easy at Westend or Jost depending on the time of day. Last time clearing in at WestEnd we wanted a ball to go have lunch. Nothing came available so we left for lunch at WB. We would have been waiting a long time if everyone had to go into customs.
If the BVI is serious about the rule they should install some customs use only balls in great harbor and Westend.
G

Great info everyone...my blood pressure has come back down.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

"Cost is around $400 for a 44-50 foot cat with 8 people for a week in the BVI." ~ Twanger

Anyone have any idea what 4 people and a cpt on a 39-44 foot cat would approx cost to get into the BVI? When I go over everything with our friends I want to be able to let them know that by chartering in USVI we are trading ferry cost for custom fees and not to look at avoiding ferry as saving $$ per say.
Thanks

The cruising permit costs $4 per day per person for non-BVI based boats. The Parks Trust permit is $50 per week for up to 4 guest, $70 for 5 or 6 and $90 for 7 or 8. There could also be overtime and departure fees depending on the time, phase of the moon, mood of the officer and other indeterminate factors. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

In contrast, the cruising permit for local boats is $2/day/person in season and $.75 in off season. Parks trust fees the same for all. Net, you save about $14 to $25 per person for 7 days chartering local depending on time of year.