Thinking about sailing down to St Croix for a few days in December. Looking for advice on good places to anchor, visit, eat, etc.. I've been looking at my cruising guide and charts but thought I would seek out some local knowledge. Thanks in advance
Terry
SV Let it Go
Voyage 480

I do like Buck Island! I prefer to start from Ram Head, St John. For large cat, from there it's a 4-5 hr reach with 13 kt winds. Landing a dinghy is difficult if there is a ground swell or if winds have been blowing 18+ kts.

Apply in advance for an anchoring permit thru the Natl Park Service website: www.nps.gov/buis/planyourvisit/permits.htm

I received an email approval in a few days (though this was pre-Irma)

Expect only a couple boats anchored overnight (if any) and ~6 day trip boats.

There is a roundtrip hiking trail on the west side of the island starting at the dock that takes you to an overlook platform at a ~200 foot altitude with beautiful views of the coral reefs on the north side of the island. It takes about 1 hr to hike the trail including photo stops.

There is a decent snorkel trail inside the lagoon. Coral was still in good shape post-Irma.

Apply well in advance. For some reason last April, it took multiple telephone calls and e-mail exchanges to get our approval, right up to the day before we anchored, even though we started weeks earlier. There was (is?) only one person who could authorize the permit, and he was frequently unavailable.

After two nights at Buck, we spent two more at St Croix Marine Center. It looked nothing like the web picture in April, with many docks not yet in use. However, they were very accommodating, and the end of a T-dock seemed like a better alternative to searching for an anchorage (no balls anywhere in April).

The marina is an easy 3-4 minute dinghy ride to the Christiansted boardwalk. Lots of good restaurants, a brewery, etc. We loved Fort Christiansvaern, a National Historic Site. Well worth an hour or so your time. Don't miss the "Hamilton" room.

Thanks both of you for the info. I will try for the Buck Island permit.