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SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
#27874
06/28/2014 01:38 PM
06/28/2014 01:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
OP
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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Look to visit the SVIs during upcoming trips and I'm starting the research. I'd love any recommendations or comments!
A quick search here on SVI cruising guides has the following: - A Cruising Guide to Puerto Rico: Including the Spanish Virgin Islands, Stephen Pavlidas - Puerto Rico, the Spanish, U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Donald Street - The Gentleman's Guide to Passages South: The Thornless Path to Windward, Bruce Van Sandt
I also found Frank Virgintino's "A Cruising Guide to Puerto Rico" on freecrusingguides.com. Eva's trip reports on her web site look like a good resource.
Sail2wind mentioned finding the Pavlidas guide helpful. The reviews on Amazon complain about inaccurate GPS waypoints.
On charts, NOAA seems to cover the area pretty well. Are there any other chart provides you would recommend?
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: Kimber]
#27876
06/29/2014 11:17 AM
06/29/2014 11:17 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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Thanks Kimber, I think I can work that in!
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: rundugrun]
#27880
06/30/2014 03:20 PM
06/30/2014 03:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Traveler
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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Van Sandt's book hits suggestions on route given wind within the SVI, but is silent on the upwind return to USVI. We'll probably be look at making a first visit in January during our second week after dropping off crew on STT. I'm a bit worried about returning to St. Thomas if the winds are up in a Beneteau 40. Maybe the weather will cooperate in September and we can give it a test drive then, and go over routes with Kimber.
Any ideas on charts, are the NOAA charts the standard?
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: sail2wind]
#27883
07/01/2014 08:29 AM
07/01/2014 08:29 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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Twanger & sail2wind, that's pretty much what I was thinking giving the prevailing wind. Maybe I'll get lucky with a southerly wind in September. Otherwise, an early departure and the STX tack looks like where it goes.
I'll see what the cruising guides I ordered show. Likely, I'll order a print of the NOAA charts on waterproof paper. We need that for the boat either way.
We've got the Navionics chip on de boat and I have a Garmin handeld, plus the Navionics apps for ipad and iphone. As I noticed in Cane Garden Bay, the charts don't always show all the local features.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: RickG]
#27884
07/01/2014 03:25 PM
07/01/2014 03:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402 St Thomas, USVI
Kimber
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Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
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No bad suggestions given. As you may be aware I make multiple trips every year back from PR to CYOA moving boats after hurricane season on boats as small as 36'. Last year was some of the worst conditions I've encountered taking nearly 11hrs to do the 42 miles on a 40' cat. Typically the worst conditions are from Culebra to Sail Rock. With that in mind, it is only about 10 miles. I've made the trip many times on my previous 31' mono as well. Yes it can be miserable but only for a couple of hours or so. It really depends on the winds. If the forecast is for over 6' seas I don't go unless for a delivery. 6' forecast means 8-12' steep faced waves in the worst area just off Culebra in the shallow water. It sucks, period. You can turn off and sail south which prolongs the agony. I prefer to motor sail about 15 degrees off the wind while trying to go the shortest distance to the lee of St Thomas. Since you will be on a private boat I would aim for Savanah, if not directly into the wind, and then fall off to the south in the lee. I would confirm all the owners are in favor of that. Boats have hit the reefs south of the airport around Flat Cay in the past. That 40' Bene you're on sails and motors well. I would go for shortest route back.
Last edited by Kimber; 07/01/2014 04:43 PM.
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: Kimber]
#27886
07/01/2014 03:39 PM
07/01/2014 03:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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Good stuff, thanks Kimber!
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: sail2wind]
#27889
07/02/2014 11:46 AM
07/02/2014 11:46 AM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100 Maryland
Twanger
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
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sail2wind said: first time we went to Culebra our Raymarine Chartplotter took a crap and we did it the old fashion way. I forgot how much fun it is to actually plot a course. How many times did you run up and down the stairs to the Nav Station? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: sail2wind]
#27891
07/03/2014 09:02 AM
07/03/2014 09:02 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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The Pavlidas and Street guides arrived yesterday. Street is very general. Pavlidas is pretty specific with the caveat of reported bad waypoints. Nothing like what comes from Cruising Guide Publications, a la the Virgin Islands Cruising Guide.
Money would/will be better spent talking to experienced Captains and buying rounds of beers.
I'm thinking September will be about getting Sweet Christine familiar with 'de Life' and January will be blowing hard. SVIs probably won't be on the itinerary until July 2015.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: Twanger]
#27893
07/07/2014 09:26 AM
07/07/2014 09:26 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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I gave all the resources a good read. Without road testing, Frank Virgintino's "A Cruising Guide to Puerto Rico" is better than the Street guide and as good as the Pavlidas book. I'm going to reconcile the two books' Culebra sections and run it past Capt. Jay and Kimber.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
#27894
07/07/2014 09:45 AM
07/07/2014 09:45 AM
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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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I think you mean Ensenada Honda, Dewey is the small harbor where the ferry dock is. Your dead on about it being more difficult then Anegada. Anegada is a piece if cake.
Last edited by sail445; 07/07/2014 09:51 AM.
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: GloluvsBVI]
#27897
07/11/2014 09:57 AM
07/11/2014 09:57 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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We are sailing in September, January and July. It all depends on the weather.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: SVI Crusing Guides and Charts
[Re: GloluvsBVI]
#27899
07/11/2014 10:03 AM
07/11/2014 10:03 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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There are some good suggestions above from the veterans!
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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