USVI to BVI Charter?

Hi TTOL Friends:

We are planning our two annual BVI charters. I noticed that the former CYOA at Frenchtown USVI (right by ferry dock) has been taken over by a new outfit.

In addition, Compass Point Marina is hosting a charter company.

Has anyone used either or both of these companies to pick the boat up in USVI and cruise BVI? There is now an app that allows one to check in through BVI Customs without leaving the boat?

During covid I chartered with DYC out of Compass Pointe. There is a supermarket right there, the Dive Bar at the marina, and the location is shorter distance to BVI.

I also chartered with the old CYOA- just one time. Never went back because it was the mythical nightmare charter- indifferent staff and truly crummy boat. The end of the CYOA charter experience was to refuel at the cruise ship terminal (yes, really), and take staff for a check back in ride on the boat. Try doing that with three young, hot, tired kids at the end of a week long charter.

I think getting off the plane at STT and starting the charter in either Charlotte Amalie or Compass Pointe sounds great in theory- avoid the STT to BVI transfer. I am wondering how it works out in practice.

If anyone has done it recently, appreciate your thoughts.

Best-

JAM
Annapolis, Md

DYC has been a hot mess both in the USVI and BVI. Don’t know if things have improved. Virgin Island Yacht Charters was in Compass Point. I absolutely can not recommend them. Send me a PM if you want info.

Really surprised about CYOA. Jay runs a great shop and this is not a typical experience.

If you do end up doing USVI to BVI make sure the boat you charter has all permits and paperwork in place to enter BVI. Not all do. I’d charter from the BVI.

We just completed a crewed charter that started in STT but cruised the BVI, and it was simple with the captain doing the paperwork ahead of time and waiting in line for us while we stayed on the boat for an hour. The fees for my wife and I were $256 to Customs and $78 to the BVI Ports Authority.

After hearing three groups hating their go-fast center console private water taxis, I'm glad we didn't go that route.

Waypoints took over CYOA and Captain Jay (a TTOL member here ) is still involved and the new acquisition is a wonderful improvement, Waypoints is an awesome boutique charter company with top notch customer service, we just used them 2 weeks ago from their Nanny Cay base so I highly recommend them based on most recent experience. Plus I know Jay and he is a great human! and industry professional as MIDiver also mentioned above.

I have the heard many good things about Capt Jay.

How long does it take to motor from say JVD Great Harbor around to Charotte Amalie?

That's about 18 NM

Yes, Jay is a great guy.

About 3.5 hours motoring from JVD to CA.

They don’t come much better

We chartered with CYOA several years ago and had a very good experience. Although, we felt like we lost a couple of our "charter" days on the trip to the BVI and back to CA. We have since chartered out of the BVI. While the ferry, water taxi, or plane does add cost and some inconvenience, we feel like we have more charter time chartering out of Tortola.


Just my 2 cents

You can always enjoy some USVI stops !!

Amen to that, LocalSailer! St. John, in particular, has several spectacular anchorages.

Sorry to hear about your negative experience, Bvicatter. We chartered with CYOA countless times for 35 years and were big fans. Though we chartered with 3 or 4 other outfits from time to time, no one else compared.
We chartered this winter with Waypoints (CYOA's successor) and were exceedingly pleased. We've already booked a boat for next year out of their St. Thomas base. Looking forward to seeing Jay and company.

On our last trip a couple weeks ago, we did just the opposite. We wanted to do some amazing hikes this trip and haven't sailed to St John since 2019. We started out in the BVI, sailed to Jost Van Dyke and checked out at Customes. They now use the apt Sailclear which make checking out very easy. Total fees for the 4 of us, $15. We spent the afternoon at White bay and headed for St. John at 7 AM the next mooring. Using ROAM, we checked into the USVI while moored in Leinster Bay. After being cleared which only took about 20 minutes we hiked over to the sugar mill ruins and then to the Murphy house. Next morning the girls hiked the trail to Coral Bay while my friend Bob and I sailed around St John to Coral Bay. We met up and had a great lunch at "Skinny Legs" before spending the night at Great Lamisher Bay. Since I have a "senior pass" to the national parks, mooring fees were only $13. Next morning we sailed over to Reef Bay and hiked to the sugar mill and on to the Petroglyphs. This is a must trail to hike. After that, we sailed over to Christmas Bay for pizza that evening from the pizza boat, Pizza PI. It's fun taking the dingy for carry out. Next morning we returned to Great Harbor and checked in again using the Sailclear apt. Spent that day at Norman, hiking and snorkeling the Indians before heading back to Fat Hog Bay the next day. We go down 5 or 6 times a year so it's fun to mix it up now and than. Heading back in 2 weeks for a 2 week sail with "the guys". Looking forward to spending a few days in Anegada this time.

Thanks for all the love.

It would be interesting to know which boat you were on at CYOA and how many years ago. A lot in the industry has changed, including the boats, the equipment and their age. Our current fleet at Waypoints, both in Saint Thomas and Nanny Cay are very nice, newer well equipped boats.

I am always amazed by the comment "we lost a couple charter days" leaving from Saint Thomas. I always have looked at it the other way. Our base is ten minutes from the baggage claim at the Saint Thomas airport. You can get to Saint Thomas typically either direct or one connection flight depending on where you are coming from. No hotels, no ferries, on a sailboat within an hour of landing. If you order provisions ahead of time you can be in an anchorage two hours after landing. Yes the customs fees are higher, they are about what you would pay for a ferry and taxis going from Saint Thomas to Tortola and back.

Then there is Saint John, one of the nicest islands in the Caribbean. If you truly want more time on charter then do ten days and spend them sailing, including a few days in the USVI you wont' regret it.

Feel free to reach out jay.pennington@waypoints.com

Not many places would post a boss man personal E-mail --- excellent service !

Well Done Jay.

We are looking forward to our 10 day charter in November out of Waypoints in STT. We have used CYOA multiple times in the past and have always had great service and the boats were well maintained. Last trip was in 2021 and we stayed around STT and St. John. Fantastic trip! There was plenty to do in USVI. I agree with Capt Jay that the location to get to Waypoints base in STT is very convienent. Doing a sleep aboard the day before charter is a great way to checkout the boat and systems. The sail over to ST John and beyond is a great way to decompress and start the vacation. Cheers.

Rob