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First time UVI charter #276094
02/21/2022 06:51 PM
02/21/2022 06:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 6
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fiatspyder72 Offline OP
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fiatspyder72  Offline OP
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Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and new to chartering in the USVI. We have a 40' cat chartered for April 1-11 out of St. Thomas and 3 of us can captain. We are planning on sailing St. Thomas, St. John, SVI then St. Croix, and back to St. Thomas. I have found some itineraries that look good but am looking for suggestions for those experienced in these waters.

One thing I have not been able to find is locations to refill dive tanks. 3 of us are diving and will be renting tanks but want to refill several times along the way.

I know this is a big open-ended question so thank you in advance. thanks

BVI Sponsors
Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276137
02/22/2022 10:19 AM
02/22/2022 10:19 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
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RickG  Offline
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St. John, USVI
Low Key Cruz Bay, Busy Bee Coral Bay on St. John. There is a dive shop in Ensenada Honda Culebra for refills.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: First time UVI charter [Re: RickG] #276223
02/22/2022 09:26 PM
02/22/2022 09:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 6
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fiatspyder72 Offline OP
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fiatspyder72  Offline OP
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Thank you RickG smile

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276225
02/22/2022 09:48 PM
02/22/2022 09:48 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
BaardJ Offline
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BaardJ  Offline
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It's a packed agenda to fit STT, STJ, STX, and SVI into a 10 day charter. Will you be off the dock by early afternoon on April 1st? I'm calling that Day 1. Who are you chartering with?

Day 1 - St John north shore (Scott Beach, Francis/Maho, Hawksnest, or Leinster)
Day 2 - St John south shore (1st choice - Salt Pond Bay, 2nd - Little Lameshur, 3rd - Great Lameshur)
Day 3 - Dawn sail to Buck Island (~5 hr). Late afternoon sail to Christiansted
Day 4 - Rent car from Centerline Car Rentals near waterfront boardwalk and tour St Croix (Point Udall is a highlight). Walking tour of Fort Christiansted. Instead of driving tour, you could head to the numerous dive sites around STX. If back to boat by ~2pm, you could sail to Frederiksted (16nm, ~2.5 hr). The pier there is an excellent nightime dive.
Day 5 - Dawn sail to Ensenada Honda, Culebra (49nm from Christiansted, 6am~1pm.43nm from Frederiksted ). Clear in via CBP ROAM app (confirm your boat has the CBP User Fee Decal for 2022). Taxi to Playa Flamenco
Day 6 - Early AM to Bahia Tortuga, Culebrita (7nm, 1hr). Late afternoon - overnight at Bahia Tortuga or move to Bahia de Almodovar (4nm, 40min)
Day 7 - Early AM to Magens Bay (19nm from Bahia Tortuga, 23nm from Bahia de Almodovar, 3~4 hrs)
Day 8 - St John, Lind Point or Honeymoon Beach - dinghy ro Cruz Bay for sightseeing, shopping at Mongoose Junction, visit NPS museum, lunch.
Day 9 - St John north or south shore
Day 10 - St John to STT marina

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276278
02/23/2022 11:08 AM
02/23/2022 11:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,423
Miramichi NB Canada
Sandsailsun Offline
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Sandsailsun  Offline
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Miramichi NB Canada
Following …we are looking at a SVI sail this time as well . Interested in all advice . Arriving STT March 10th . Will be on private vessel and have a month so not limited by time.


Kim

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276301
02/23/2022 01:56 PM
02/23/2022 01:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
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RickG  Offline
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Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
Given enough time, I like the St. Thomas, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. John loop. It avoids the (almost always) upwind motor from Culebra to St. Thomas. The sail from Viques to Fredericksted is about 8 hours and is a close reach, unless the winds are north like they are this week or from the south in the summer. We did this route once and we liked it. Another time, we had to skip St. Croix due to thunderstorms on the way and schedules.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: First time UVI charter [Re: BaardJ] #276304
02/23/2022 02:40 PM
02/23/2022 02:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 6
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fiatspyder72 Offline OP
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fiatspyder72  Offline OP
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Thank you BaardJ for all the advice! We have chartered with AYOC/Waypoints.

Any advice on filling dive tanks? I've been told by one company I just have to call around and hope they can refill us when we are close to their shops.

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: RickG] #276305
02/23/2022 02:42 PM
02/23/2022 02:42 PM
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Posts: 6
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fiatspyder72 Offline OP
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fiatspyder72  Offline OP
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Thank you Rickg. That is the Itinerary AYOC suggested to have the best winds. I greatly appreciate all the advice from everyone:)

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: BaardJ] #276316
02/23/2022 05:51 PM
02/23/2022 05:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Maria_and_Steve  Offline
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Colorado and Sailing the World
Scott Beach - usually known as Caneel Bay???

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #276317
02/23/2022 05:54 PM
02/23/2022 05:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,423
Miramichi NB Canada
Sandsailsun Offline
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Sandsailsun  Offline
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Miramichi NB Canada
Originally Posted by Maria_and_Steve
Scott Beach - usually known as Caneel Bay???


Really interested in the history of why it’s called Scott beach …. Our last name being Scott directly from Scotland a few centuries ago


Kim

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276331
02/23/2022 09:19 PM
02/23/2022 09:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 139
Houston, TX
Matt W Online content
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Matt W  Online Content
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Houston, TX
An added benefit of going from St Thomas (or St John) to Culebra first is that you can veer south a bit and fish a good section of the South drop.

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276337
02/23/2022 10:08 PM
02/23/2022 10:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 6
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fiatspyder72 Offline OP
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fiatspyder72  Offline OP
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Where is a good place to reprovision? We will stalk up on St. Thomas but will need to get more food at some point. We have 7 on board. We plan on eating about half the dinners and some lunches when visiting the islands. we will most likely go from STT to SVI to ST. Croix then St. John.

Last edited by fiatspyder72; 02/23/2022 10:09 PM.
Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276358
02/24/2022 08:34 AM
02/24/2022 08:34 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
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RickG  Offline
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St. John, USVI
Milka's Grocery on the canal between Ensenada Honda and the ferry dock, with a dinghy dock. There are a couple of other options, but they have a meat counter with good lean beef. I would skip Fajardo, but they have big box stores and our favorite Ralph's Food Warehouse.

On Vieques in Esperanza, Colmado Lydia and the Green Store are a short walk. Family Market in Isabel Segundo is the largest grocery on Vieques.

Christiansted and Frederiksted each have multiple walkable options. The bigger stores require a taxi or car.

For Coral Bay St. John, check out the Coral Bay Cruising Guide - https://www.cbycstj.org/coral-bay-cruising-guide
Cruz Bay St. John has the Dolphin Market walkable and Starfish Market that is better for a taxi.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276386
02/24/2022 12:20 PM
02/24/2022 12:20 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
BaardJ Offline
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BaardJ  Offline
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There is a dive shop at the Christiansted waterfront. Dive Experience -https://divexp.com/. They always seem busy anytime I've walked by.

I see a couple advertised near the Fredriksted waterfront. Cane Bay Dive Shop - https://www.canebayscuba.com/ and Adventures in Diving STX - https://www.adventuresindivingstx.com/. Give them a call regarding tank refills.

Re: First time UVI charter [Re: fiatspyder72] #276936
03/02/2022 10:00 AM
03/02/2022 10:00 AM
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Posts: 6
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fiatspyder72 Offline OP
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fiatspyder72  Offline OP
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Thank you, RickG and BaardJ for all the tips and advice it is greatly appreciated!!


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