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CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
#83060
01/20/2016 12:03 AM
01/20/2016 12:03 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10 Colorado
Smully
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10
Colorado
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Hi, frequent reader not a frequent poster....Thanks for all the great reading and tips!
We have booked our 6th charter for the first week of May. We usually use Voyage (for groups) or TMM (for monohulls for just the two of us). This time we are using CYOA out of STT. The reviews are mostly positive so we're looking forward to another blissful sailing vacation. We will be arriving on a Saturday morning, doing our briefing that day, sleeping in the marina in St. Thomas that night, and heading out Sunday morning. We do have a few questions about coming out of STT though....
We plan to provision ourselves, and will shop at the Pueblo Market on Saturday after our briefing. Anyone been there recently? We don't need gourmet, but want to shop for the basics and booze without much hassle.
Will this work for clearing customs on JVD or the West End? Or will we get grief for bringing food/produce in from the USVI on our boat?
We once flew into STT and took a private water taxi (Ocean Dreams) over to Sopers Hole. I recall we had to take our (packed) luggage into customs for inspection. We are arriving in STT on a Saturday and plan to clear customs in BVI the following morning (Sunday). Should we just keep our bags packed and expect to have to take our luggage off the boat and into the customs office? Again, what about food?
Anyone know what the latest fees are for entry and exit? When using a private water taxi, the "fees" were slightly more expensive (assuming they took some off the top). Everything on line is conflicting!
We're taking Island Sister, a Hunter 46'. I'd love to hear if anyone has sailed her. We're not worried, and our only challenge (?) will be getting used to the furling main, as we've always had a stack pack.
Hope to meet you there!! Cheers! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
Jeff and J from Colorado
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: Smully]
#83065
01/20/2016 09:25 AM
01/20/2016 09:25 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 198 SW Florida
CptCook
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 198
SW Florida
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The Hunter / Seldeen furling main is a breeze, in fact easy, if you keep one rule in mind....keep the sail flat / tight as you furl / unfurl. What this looks like is some combination of easing the topping lift,hardening up the main sheet..... keep the boom at least 90 degrees to the mast. Keep slight back pressure on the outhaul as you furl, sometimes easier with 2 people, or the helmsperson tailing. I am sure Cpt Jay will give you good lessons. Nothing to worry about at all. Have fun!
"Be a Traveler, not a tourist!"
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: DorothyGale]
#83067
01/20/2016 10:09 AM
01/20/2016 10:09 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969 NC, USA
capndar
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
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I echo most of what was said above. Never had a problem checking in/out at Jost. This is the only POE I have used in BVI.
I think we budget $200 for fees in the BVI incl Nat Park fee...
We prefer Cost U Less, but we always have a rental car
On the furling main, I agree - "Keep slight back pressure on the outhaul as you furl, sometimes easier with 2 people, or the helmsperson tailing."
And Capn Jay will get you well sorted out before you depart.
Have a BIG time! We already have our fall CYOA reservation in.
Capndar Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing 3rd generation sailor
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: Smully]
#83070
01/20/2016 03:27 PM
01/20/2016 03:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
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My experience is that the customs and other fees coming into BVI about offset what you saved avoiding the ferry from STT to BVI. It's a wash.
With regard to the furling main.... Once you get the hang of it - what angle you need to the wind and a little tension on the outhaul - it works great. The CYOA guys will take you on a check out cruise in the harbor and will show you how it's done and let you practice it until you get comfortable. It seems a little fiddly at first - definitely a little bit of a learning curve. I believe all three of CYOA's new mono hulls - which includes mine - all have traditional mains. Probably to avoid some of the fiddly factor?
Life's short - sail more!
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: agrimsrud]
#83071
01/20/2016 03:34 PM
01/20/2016 03:34 PM
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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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agrimsrud said: My experience is that the customs and other fees coming into BVI about offset what you saved avoiding the ferry from STT to BVI. It's a wash.
With regard to the furling main.... Once you get the hang of it - what angle you need to the wind and a little tension on the outhaul - it works great. The CYOA guys will take you on a check out cruise in the harbor and will show you how it's done and let you practice it until you get comfortable. It seems a little fiddly at first - definitely a little bit of a learning curve. I believe all three of CYOA's new mono hulls - which includes mine - all have traditional mains. Probably to avoid some of the fiddly factor? Yes a little tension and patience goes a long way on the roller furling mains. Put it away nice and it will play nice. It is easier with two people on lines and one on the helm but can be done done with two people. As for the new mono hulls they all have traditional mains. They are easier to maintain and they sail better. Not to derail the thread but congratulations on the new boat Anders. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by CaptainJay; 01/20/2016 04:22 PM.
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: CaptainJay]
#83072
01/20/2016 08:09 PM
01/20/2016 08:09 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
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CaptainJay said: Not to derail the thread but congratulations on the new boat Anders. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Woo-hoo! Let the adventure begin!
Life's short - sail more!
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: Twanger]
#83073
01/20/2016 09:58 PM
01/20/2016 09:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55 NC
GoneSailing
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
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Great advice with all of the comments and I have a couple more data points to add.
First CYOA are great folks. We chartered with them a few times and I think they are good people with a great location.
A couple of years ago we bought our own boat and we keep it at Sapphire Beach in the winter so we make the trek to the BVI's several times every season. Since we are on the east side of the island it is an easy reach right up to Jost and as others have said that is a great place to check in.
Having said that I will say that recently, Jost has gotten a bit more tense than in times past. For example I checked in 3 weeks ago and I was quizzed several times if we are a private vessel. They were looking at the passenger list and saw a different last name for two of our passengers. When I explained that the two people were my wife's parents and that "trust me they don't pay to be on the boat" obviously meant as a joke but he didn't crack a smile. Ok maybe my timing is off but usually I can get them to lighten and smile. Not really the case recently.
Next example is from Christmas week (again at Jost) when I got asked a few times as to how much food I had on board. Puzzled, I asked him what he meant and he asked how much was the food worth? I explained that we had between $100 and $200 worth of food and he finally accepted that as an answer.
Now I want to be very clear. I think checking in and out of the BVI and the USVI is still very easy and should not be a concern to people. I have always been treated well and the folks seem to want to do their jobs well on both sides of the borders. It is a tough job and I think we as travelers should slow down and be empathetic to what they deal with on a daily basis.
If you are going to go in and out a couple of times a season ask to buy their forms. it is like a dime for the personal immigration form and 50 cents for the boat form. It allows you to fill the forms out on board and take you time.
Capt Jay if you are reading this you should provide these forms to your customers it would be a cheap but really nice touch. Same with the US forms that are free. Show your customers how to fill them out so that the "mystery" is debunked.
Last thought (I promise). When coming back to the US it seems to be getting easier most of the time. However, just like the BVI there are inconsistencies. Sometimes I am asked about any garbage on board coming in from the BVI. I have always subscribed to confess up front. If I have a bag of trash I bring it with me and if asked I tell them I have it. They then have an agent look at the bag ask questions and dispose of it for us. I do try not to come back in with trash but sometimes cant help. The other one that happened recently was that in November I was charged a $6.66 fee for entering the US but the last three times since then I wasn't charged at all. Not sure why but I think what it tells me is there are inconsistencies no matter the country. What has always worked for me is to be candid relaxed and honest. The rest seems to work out.
Enjoy your trip.
Be Happy or Leave
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: GoneSailing]
#83074
01/21/2016 06:15 AM
01/21/2016 06:15 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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GoneSailing said:
Capt Jay if you are reading this you should provide these forms to your customers it would be a cheap but really nice touch. Same with the US forms that are free. Show your customers how to fill them out so that the "mystery" is debunked.
Enjoy your trip. We do provide the forms for both the US and BVI customs forms to all of our customers. We also have filled out examples in the general information book on board each boat. The examples are filled in with that boats data so it is basically a copy and add crew data for the clients.
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: CaptainJay]
#83075
01/21/2016 09:51 AM
01/21/2016 09:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969 NC, USA
capndar
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
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CYOA does provide the forms and a 'guide' to completing them. Very helpful. I think Island yachts does as well, and this greatly facilitates the check in process.
Capndar Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing 3rd generation sailor
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Re: CYOA Charter out of STT vs. BVI customs...???
[Re: sail2wind]
#83077
01/21/2016 10:30 AM
01/21/2016 10:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55 NC
GoneSailing
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
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sail2wind said: " It is a tough job" seriously, they do nothing but sit around all day and sometimes they are rude and sometimes they are nice, but tough job? Watching the idiot travelers that they have to put up with is why I would say it is a tough job. I was in a customs line in South America and listened a US redneck yelling at an agent because the customs agent couldn't understand HIS version of English. After traveling internationally for the last 20 years I have watched travelers become more and more rude to the public servants that are trying to do their job for their own country. I think travelers forget that they are guests in the visiting country and that they have no right to critize the processes and practices of that country. If we don't agree then we should vote with our feet and don't go there.
Be Happy or Leave
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