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USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
#239012
11/05/2020 03:10 PM
11/05/2020 03:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 46 Annapolis, Md
bviicatter
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 46
Annapolis, Md
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Hi TTOL Friends- hope everyone is well as can be.
We switched from BVI to USVI on Owners Time charter. We were on a 2019 Lagoon 40 Blue Iris out of Compass Point. The short version: go for it! We had a great trip!
More Details: Two families with total 4 kids, two Dads, wives elected to pass on this experiment. We have chartered/owned cats in BVI, Martinique, St. Lucia, about 30 charters since 2000
Entry/Exit: flew BWI to STT, cost about $400 per person. Note that there is no cruising tax, or exit fees. No clearing in or out. We had to get covid test five days before trip and fill out USVI entry portal questions. On arrival, it took 15 minutes to get temperature check and voila! off we went.
Provisioning: the supermarket near Compass Point Marina (walking distance) had a good selection of quality foods at reasonable prices.
Marina: Compass Point is comparable imo to Hodges Creek on Tortola. It is no Scrub Island. Marina staff are helpful and friendly. Only two heads on the grounds. Cluttered, long walk to boat out the pier. Decent restaurant bar on site (the Dive Bar) and small sundries store. Stand up boards can be rented at charter office. Internet by ALGlink surfworkplay There are still trashed boats off the marina. The place is serviceable and that is what we needed. Kudos to DYC for making a quick business decision to get their fleet up and running for benefit of locals, boat owners, and charterers.
Cruising: Best part. We spent our week circumnavigating St. John. It is probably like BVI was 25 years ago. Maho, Leincester, Coral Harbor, Great St. James, Lamshur, Caneel- all these bays are unspoiled most with no shore bomba shacks. The natural beauty is on par with BVIs. The fact that St John is undeveloped could be a plus for some cruisers. Snorkeling wonderful. Easy to snag mooring balls with self service drop boxes. Cruising guide tells how many balls per bay.
On Land: good trails and lots of historic sites, such as Annaberg Plantation. Cruz Bay for water and groceries, Coral Bay for Taco Boat- believe it or not, the Taco Boat is one of the best meals and values we have experienced in years of cruising. Try the ahi tacos!
Biggest Downer: cruising past Mary Point towards Great Thatch and seeing White Harbor, Great Harbor, and Little Harbor JVD empty. Not a single sail to be seen in BVI waters. Large barge anchored S/W corner Great Thatch to chase any charter boats that dare try to edge too close to BVI waters. That was a sobering and sad sight. A reminder that covid is real and will hurt and kill. That said- BVI has a policy that is strangling tourism to the death point to protect against covid.
Charter Service: our generator went down. After checking strainer, intakes, everything I could think of, we called for tech support. Melray was there in three hours on a fast rib. Courteous, professional, and efficient. Ran down a burnt wire, installed a fuse, briefed skipper, and departed. GREAT SERVICE, thank you Melray and Compass Point charter operations staff!
Return to base: no stress. Scooby and crew came aboard, put the boat on the fuel dock and into the slip. Boat debrief and off we went to Tickles and then airport.
Final Verdict: I love BVIs! I am saddened by the dislocation caused by covid! This USVI cruise was an eye opener for me. USVIs are easier in and out, less expensive for everything, and the places we cruised (St John) scenically beautiful, well custodianed, and just plain neat. We enjoyed the access to on land trails and historic sites. The beaches (Maho) are like a picture postcard. We will charter USVIs again, and I suspect USVI will become the new popular cruising grounds. The situation will flip, where USVI will be the secret gem. People eventually will again flock to BVIs- and cruisers wanting peaceful anchorages and unspoiled beauty will be mooring at Christmas Bay on Great St James and similar.
With Aloha!
JAM Annapolis, Md
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Re: USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
[Re: bviicatter]
#239020
11/05/2020 04:53 PM
11/05/2020 04:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852
Central Florida!
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Hi, bvicatter, since this trip was actually in the USVI, could you also post the report in the USVI forum? Thanks.
Carol Hill
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Re: USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
[Re: bviicatter]
#239071
11/06/2020 01:18 PM
11/06/2020 01:18 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
sail445
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
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Hi JP- I second what Rush just wrote. For a real sail head down to St. Croix. Here in Annapolis many sailors get friends, food, and refreshments and spend a day on the boat. Just leaving the pier is an adventure. Yes less point to point sailing on the USVI trip but still on a boat, with flippie floppies! From St Croix you can run to Culebra in the SVI and then a short beat back to STT.
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Re: USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
[Re: jphart]
#239075
11/06/2020 02:47 PM
11/06/2020 02:47 PM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
cyclingdoc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
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Sounds like a lot of dink and dunking around St Johns. If and when on a sailboat - cat or mono - I always try and maximize time with those white floppy things up on that tall stick On a sailboat!
Where is the sailing in a St Johns sailing trip? I’ll mirror what others have said. We‘ve done many trips to the islands and actually just returned from one. We sail most of our trip. Plenty of sailing to be done in the USVI without even leaving st Thomas and St. John. Say you charter from CYOA in Charlotte Amalie. You could sail around buck island then up to north shore St. John, caneel . 20 miles Sail from caneel up to maho. Maybe 5-10 miles if you sail north and over. Maho to coral bay. 15-20 miles. Coral to lameshur. Maybe 10 at most. Then lameshur around to caneel or maho. 15-20 miles Then caneel to magens. 20+ Then magens around west side of st Thomas to airport area. 25+ miles. Water island to Xmas cove for pizza. 10-15 miles Then Xmas cove back around buck to base. 10-15 miles. Stay a night or two at your more favorite spots. Easy 7-10 nights. Just examples. These aren’t map distances but more so sailing distances. Granted we’ve done a 25-40 mile day tacking our way from Jost to Norman or cooper. Or running from anegada back down to white bay but most aren’t doing that. Have fun. It’s what you make of it. Cheers! EDIT: not an itinerary, just ideas on sailing distances in case there were any doubters about sailing around the USVI.
Last edited by cyclingdoc; 11/06/2020 07:33 PM.
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Re: USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
[Re: Breeze]
#239083
11/06/2020 05:51 PM
11/06/2020 05:51 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 795 Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 795
Kannapolis, NC
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Vacations don't need a daily itinerary, or any demand other than enjoy the day. Perfect reply!!
Go Irish!!
Bill
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Re: USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
[Re: bviicatter]
#239167
11/07/2020 09:38 PM
11/07/2020 09:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 674 Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
caribbeangirl13
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 674
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
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Thank you for posting this! We are going for 10 days around Thanksgiving and are super excited to explore JUST the USVI. Yes, love the BVI but honestly it is kind of nice to figure out a new itinerary and new places to visit and it is SO nice to be able to fly into and provision in St. Thomas.
Sue s/v Ripple Leopard 40
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Re: USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
[Re: Andiamo]
#239255
11/09/2020 11:54 AM
11/09/2020 11:54 AM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
cyclingdoc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
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How busy were the anchorages? We’re heading down on Dec 5th, curious if we’ll need to plan on grabbing a mooring early in the day or if we can comfortably come into the anchorages later in the afternoon without worrying availability. not busy. maybe salt pond or little lameshur you might want to be careful with but otherwise moorings abound everywhere. but you always have a bailout at great lameshur.
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Re: USVI October 25- Nov 3 2020 Trip Report
[Re: Andiamo]
#239421
11/10/2020 09:08 PM
11/10/2020 09:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 674 Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
caribbeangirl13
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 674
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
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Cost U Less is awesome! It is kind of like a Costco and alcohol is VERY cheap. Food Center is right near Compass Point where you can also shop or get the things you couldn't get at Cost U Less.
Sue s/v Ripple Leopard 40
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