Early December Advise

Greetings, Old Salts!

Just back from a 12 day charter through CYOA (St. Thomas) on a 59-foot Saba cat. Quick plug: I was first in the BVI with my dad in 1986 and all but two of the 20+ trips since have been with CYOA. I just can’t emphasize enough how much we appreciate that outfit. Spectacular people. Top-notch fleet and outstanding service all the way around. You’ve got to give them a chance on your next visit.

Any-hoo, here’s my question. What are your experiences for an early December charter (Dec.4-11 are our possible dates)? We’ve always gone either during late January, February, March or later. More particularly, how are: 1) crowds, 2) weather, and 3) restaurant/beach bar closures? With CYOA, our dates are the lowest seasonal rates of the year. Is there a reason to avoid that time of year?

Would love some feedback.

Shifty.

I have been those dates and good, good, and good.

I go every year at that time. Only had one bad experience where it rained and blew 25 knots all week. Low crowds and everything is open. Visibility for diving is sometimes not that great but workable.

We go almost every year for two weeks starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Crowds low, but everything is open. Pretty sure we were there the same year George was, as I recall that weather experience too. It's usually fine. You probably have a higher chance of catching a couple days of Christmas winds. No reason to avoid.

I should have added that was one bad experience over 30 years!
G

We went the first two weeks of December last year- first December visit and had Christmas winds blowing a hoolie for a week- poor snorkelling visibility, bit of a swell running but great sailing and everything open.

The Christmas winds vary from year to year sometime they start late November, sometimes mid December, sometimes early to late January.
This year we had the regular Christmas winds and some high winds in January and February.

We often go down late November in to December and find the weather to be fine and uncrowded.