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Re: BVI vs USVI charter
[Re: Sherlock222]
#224722
04/14/2020 09:38 PM
04/14/2020 09:38 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 464 Charlotte, NC
DEL
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 464
Charlotte, NC
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In the past 14 months, I (and my crews) have flown through STT to do four charters out of TMM. No disruptions to our plans related to the ferries. This is not to say that everything went perfectly smooth every time. Smith's will book you on their ferry and allow you to use one of their competitors if you can't make theirs or they mess up. More fun than sailing up "seasick alley" from Charlotte Amalie.
Douglas E. Linton
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Re: BVI vs USVI charter
[Re: Sherlock222]
#224978
04/17/2020 02:55 PM
04/17/2020 02:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969 Middleburg, VA
cwoody
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
Middleburg, VA
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Hey Sherlock,
Starting your BVI charter from St Thomas vs the BVI is a great option. Advantages and disadvantages to both. You just need to weigh the time saved by not taking the ferry to the extra cost of clearing your boat and crew into the BVI from St Thomas. For a St Thomas charter, We added a couple of days front and back end for sailing around St John.
In 2017 we paid about $450 in sailing fees for a crew of seven on a CYOA Beneteau 48 for 7 days in the BVI. In 2019 we paid about $1000 in sailing fees for a crew of seven on a BVIYC Helia 44 for 7 days in the BVI. These fees seem to be a cash cow for BVI government so expect them to increase even more once this Covid closing is lifted. Pretty sure sailing fees for a BVI originating charter are about 25% of these amounts.
This this year in June...(NOT!!!) ,,, Next year in January we are going originate our charter in the BVI again.
Chuck W.
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Re: BVI vs USVI charter
[Re: lisajctx]
#225082
04/18/2020 12:14 PM
04/18/2020 12:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347 USVI
LocalSailor
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
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This allows us to have time for extra provisioning
The only downside for us with chartering from St. Thomas is the provisioning both food and alcohol
Edited your post and asking what is the downside of provisioning in STT
Last edited by LocalSailor; 04/18/2020 12:16 PM. Reason: brevity
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Re: BVI vs USVI charter
[Re: lisajctx]
#225202
04/20/2020 09:05 AM
04/20/2020 09:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277 Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
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I am not sure why you would have an issue with provisioning in St Thomas? Ther are multiple companies that will provision for you in advance. There are also multiple grocery stores. Even big-box warehouse stores for large groups.
As for the customs fees. This, unfortunately, is a pay me now or pay me later. That money is gone whether you charter in the USVI or the BVI. Us based boats pay $16 a day, BVI boas pay $6 a day. So seven days on a USVI based boat will cost you $70 more per person per week. The Ferry is a $90 round trip. The environmental and security fees are the same whether you ride the Ferry or a USVI based boat. You will pay slightly more in Park Fees and the port fee regardless. Your other option is to fly into Beef Island. This will normally be even more expensive than the ferry.
None of these costs include a night in a hotel on one end or the other if the schedule doesn't work out. Let alone that lost time. Then there is St John. The Crown Jewel of the Caribbean. Most BVI boats never get to spend any time there. The value of getting off the plane and onto your boat in under an hour is hard to monetize.
Last edited by CaptainJay; 04/20/2020 09:08 AM.
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