Ray, I missed your original post. The one other reason I know that
someone might want to charter out of BVI instead of St. Thomas, besides
the various companies, is consideration of one's crew.

I took my honeymoon sailing out of St. Thomas. My wife's interest in
sailing ended with the first day's waves. You could only tell if there
were other boats out there by looking for the tops of their masts.

Even though the sailing the rest of the trip in the BVIs was easy (as
soon as we entered the protected waters), she lost it during that first
day (and dreaded our return). The sailing in the protected waters out
of Tortola is almost always easier on one's crew.

Harlan

In article , BF
wrote:

Thanks Glenn,
Hadn't even thought about the water taxi to Road Town. How far is it from
the airport, can you walk with bags and stuff or should I plan on a taxi to
the ferry?
I assume one clears into BVI at the ferry terminal. Do you normally clear in
and out of US when sailing back into US waters. Don't need to sail back to
St. Thomas but I'd hate to miss St. Johns.
Mind if I ask which charter company you prefer?
Again thanks for the information.
Ray

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
...
You shuda checked out of the BVI and into the USVI but that is water
under the keel.

There are some minor differences. I prefer to charter out of BVI
because there are more choices in operators and boats. Also you are
closer to where you will end up. Also less hassle clearing in and out
of the BVI on the ferry than a bareboat. IMHO the taxi ride from the
airport to Red Hook is much less pleasant than the ferry to West End
(and not much less expensive). Self provisioning in Road Town is a
little more expensive than at Red Hook unless you want to take the Taxi
back into Charlotte Amalee but a lot more convenient.

We cleared into Cruz Bay last August with no difference from pre-9/11
but the airport was a good bit tighter. We did get hit for $25 by C&I
for Sunday overtime.

In general I just find it easier to transition to "Island Time" on
Tortola than St. Thomas.

BF wrote:
The only time I've bareboated in the Virgin Islands, I chartered out of
Red
Hook and cleared into BVI at Yost Van Dyke. It was a very simple and no
hassle process. After cruising for a week, we dropped the boat off back
in
Red Hook and cleared back into the US at the airport on our way home.
Perhaps not 100% kosher but given "island time" probably acceptable.
(this
was all pre 9/11)

I'm curious if:

1. Things have changed in the time past
2. Experiences of US residents chartering out of BVI instead of USVI

The above two queries boil down to:
All else things being equal, why would a US citizen / resident charter
out
of BVI or USVI or vice versa?

R




--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com




--
Tro respond, obviously drop the nospam!

Harlan Lachman wrote:
Ray, I missed your original post. The one other reason I know that
someone might want to charter out of BVI instead of St. Thomas, besides
the various companies, is consideration of one's crew.

I took my honeymoon sailing out of St. Thomas. My wife's interest in
sailing ended with the first day's waves. You could only tell if there
were other boats out there by looking for the tops of their masts.

Even though the sailing the rest of the trip in the BVIs was easy (as
soon as we entered the protected waters), she lost it during that first
day (and dreaded our return). The sailing in the protected waters out
of Tortola is almost always easier on one's crew.


In a Northerly swell it can get pretty rambunctious between Red Hook and
Tortola. Everything is relative though. Once we were coming out of JVD
in route to West End with a Northerly swell but the Trades had veered
ESE making steep 8-10' bumps and we were hard on the wind. About half
way we came up on a little two man sea kayak. The guy in front was
paddling away but the guy in back was talking on a cell phone. We
hailed them to see if they needed help. The reply cam back "We'll be
fine if I can just make the crew get off the phone and start paddling!"

Turned out the front paddler had circumnavigated Austrailia in a Kayak
and written a book about it. The guy on the phone was his publisher.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com