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#40629
02/18/2015 11:31 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 129
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 129 |
In our years of heading down to the BVI we've never considered a sail to St. John. This year it's potentially on our radar. In year's past, has anyone done this and did you find it something you would want to do again. Out of 16 of us there will be 8 folks who have never been down before.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 73
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Joined: Jan 2015
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It is our favorite Island. We are making a run to St. John's for two nights. We love it. We did make the run last year and do not regret it. We are staying in Leincaster Bay!
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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How many days will you be on the boat. In a week there is more than enough to cover without taking the time to cross into the US and back. With 16 you may find your time or schedule always strained. With 16 most groups will be spending a lot of time herding the cats off and back onto the boat. Fewer stops with greater offers ashore may be the order of the day/week for a crew of 16. I would make sure I had a kayak or two to allow at least some to get off the boat on their own.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925
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Posts: 925 |
Not a big deal assuming you have the time. Two weeks ago we headed over to pick up a crew member in Cruz that was delayed due to weather. Cleared out of Jost after filling out the required paperwork and cleared in at Cruz. On return we were charged a $1 a foot to get back into the BVI's.
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#40633
02/18/2015 11:45 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
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Joined: Jul 2008
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St John is a must. The beaches on the north shore are beautiful with fifteen dollar moorings if the winds come out of the north then you can go to the east or south side of the island. St John also has has excellent restaurants with service you won't ever find in the BVI.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213 |
Agreed, too many people are missing a fabulous island. St.John has excellent snorkeling and checking in is very easy.
Rick, I thought the BVI gov't put a hold on their stupid $1 per foot rule?
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 162
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 162 |
I am so glad to see this post, it is confirming that we are making the right decision to head over to St. John for the first time next month. We will be on the boat 11 nights and there is just 4 of us, so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to do C&I. There was a great thread a while back that explained all we should need to know about the logistics and with that information in hand we decided to go for it. Now the big question is which anchorages would you recommend and why? I have figured 2 or 3 nights there. We usually do about half and half anchoring VS. mooring while we are in the BVI's and we love to snorkel.
Kim
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
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We charter from the USVI each time...one big reason is a couple of days at St. John. Beautiful and so different that some of BVI
Capndar Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing 3rd generation sailor
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,122
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Ahh ...... St. John is where we first fell in love with the islands. If you eat ashore, try Asolare. It sits above Cruz Bay on the hill. A magical setting with wonderful food.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
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Our favorite anchorages in St.John are Maho/Francis, Leinster, on the south side both Lamshurs and Salt Pond. Salt Pond might have the best snorkel/dive in St.John. If you are over 60 you can U.S Parks Gold Pass and all national parks and the moorings in St.John are 1/2 price, $7.50. There is no anchoring in St.John.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 279
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Posts: 279 |
St. John is beautiful and easy to get to. We have cleared out of Sopers Hole and checked it in JVD. We usually anchor at Caneel Bay / Honeymoon Bay. Its beautiful. go for it.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
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...and Maho Beach from the water. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,963
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St. John is our favorite Virgin Island by a good bit. Cruz Bay is a great village with more than a dozen walkable restaurants. We're not fan of the anchorage near Cruz Bay, so we head up the north shore to Maho/Francis or Leinster Bay to overnight. The north shore beaches are amazing. The south shore bays are usually very sheltered. Kiddel/Grootpan Bay has day use dive/snorkel balls that are great. The National Park publishes their mooring and anchoring guide with specifics on who can anchor and where they can anchor within the National Park boundaries: http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/brochures.htmCheers, RickG
Last edited by RickG; 02/18/2015 03:41 PM.
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925
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sail2wind said: Agreed, too many people are missing a fabulous island. St.John has excellent snorkeling and checking in is very easy.
Rick, I thought the BVI gov't put a hold on their stupid $1 per foot rule? Agreed the hardship of going to St. John <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Apparently that nice Lady at Jost didn't get the memo. Whatever, sure beats playing "Spin the wheel" at Sopers.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925
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When you arrive in the BVI's see if you can purchase the Customs form so you can fill it out on the boat before clearing out. I think the forms a buck and if your picking anyone up in the US the immigration forms .10
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 251
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Without a doubt !! I'd clear just for a Woody's Fish sammich !!
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
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Here is the online mooring guide USVI NPS Mooring Guide, very useful. Evan, looks like they upped the age to 62 for the senior pass; guess who just turned 60 but that's a great idea!
Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 162
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The pictures are giving me a major case of DIF. Wow, beautiful! Thanks for all of the great ideas and for the links to the Mooring Guide and Maps. I now have a loose game plan that includes a fish sammich. This forum and all of you have proven to be invaluable again!
Kim
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 162
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Joined: Sep 2003
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The Nat'l park pass has been age 62 since at least 2008 and I believe quite a few years before that (friends were volunteers at several Nat'l parks in the states). We went to Cruz Bay on 5/28/08 to check in and get Gene's Park Pass. His 62nd birthday was 5/29/08 and the park rangers told us on the 28th to come back the next day when he turned 62 to get the pass. After getting the pass we spent a lot of time in the anchorages of St John.
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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I would try to find the instructor personality that best fits you. https://asa.com/schools/caribbean/
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 138 |
We're headed down in January and chartering with CYOA out of St. Thomas. As always, we will make St. John a priority. Although it gets awfully rolly with the ferry traffic, Caneel Bay is (in addition to the fabulous anchorages already mentioned) a beautiful stop. The resort there makes for a terrific stroll...some nice little shops and some really cool plantation ruins. But our real cant-miss is definitely Leinster. Beautiful, quiet anchorage with terrific snorkeling. Also, a dinghy ride to shore and a short hike take you to the preserved remains of Anaberg. Super cool.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 283
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Posts: 283 |
South shore anchorages are very secluded - loved it. Reminded me of BVI 20 years ago. North shore beaches are great. Hiking trails prob superior to most of BVI. The BVIs are still, by far, my preferred destination but SJ is well worth a trip.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
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love Salt Pond, great snorkel or dive reef
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