Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

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

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

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

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

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

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

We go down a couple of times a year so we have gotten good at doing it
on the cheap. Also as skipper I try to optimize the logistics to avoid
undue hassles and ease the transition to island time.

The ferry is about $45 round trip from the waterfront at Charlotte
Amelee to West End or Road Town and takes about 45 minutes. Taxi from
the airport to the ferry dock is about $8/head. From the arrival of the
afternoon Delta flight to the last ferry is just enough time to have
your first Heinie at the ferry dock bar, count heads and bags and start
adjusting your biological clock.

We have chartered from most of the operations but have settled on BVI
Yacht Charters in Road harbor so we take the ferry all the way to Road
Town. That saves about $10/head in taxi fees and one baggage movement.
You have to get off at West End to clear customs and then get back on
the ferry. (Remind the crew that you are going through as you get off.)
It is about a 4 block walk from the Road town ferry dock to the marina.

We do our own provisioning and bring frozen steaks, ham and other cold
cuts, cheeses and a few other things that are overly expensive down
there. Pack it all in a 44 quart cooler with extra insulation and Blue
Ice. You pay a 10% duty on what ever you say the value is. Bobby's is
a very good grocery about a block away and is open until 9 PM. Prices
are about 20% higher than US. We usually get to the boat about 5 PM.
The provisioning crew divides up the supply list and heads for Bobby's
while the rest square away the boat. The menus and grocery list is made
up before hand and consist mostly of of booze, beer, breads, paper
goods, fresh veggies and breakfast foods. After "speed shopping" at
Bobby's the provision crew hijacks a couple of grocery carts temporarily
for the trip back to the boat. By 7 PM we are squared away and headed
up the hill to the C&F for the best BBQ ribs in the Caribbean. Usually
we are underway by 9 AM. (Unless it is Festival time and I get waylaid
on the way back from the C&F by $1 shots of Johnny Walker Black. :-)

As for St. John, we generally clear out of West End (C&I is upstairs
over the ferry dock and takes about 10 minutes) and sail to the customs
dock at Cruz bay. The US side takes a bit longer and try not to get
there on Sunday when they charge overtime. The charge is determined by
how many boats check in that day and you will get a bill a couple of
months later. If it is a slow day you can get hit for $100 or more.
You don't have to clear out of the USVI but you do have to check back in
to BVI. West End is the best place to do it. The Road Town office is
in Government Building and along hot walk from nowhere.

We have used the Moorings, SunSail, Conch, TMM, North South and a couple
of others but have been happiest with BVIYC. Of all the second market
opperations they maintain the best fleet. The herd mentality of the
Moorings is a complete turn off for me. BVIYC does individual briefings
and checkouts and is just more personal in their attitude. They also
have a wider variety of boats. When I go down with my son and his
college buddies we go for speed and when it is a family trip we go for
comfort.

Hope this helps

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

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

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

Thanks again Glenn,
A hard copy of your message is going into the sailing folder right now.
I'm hoping to put together a trip this Nov. I'll give BVIYC a shout and see
if they have any boats available. Since Nov is still lowish season, should
be do-able.
So far as speed vs. comfort, I'm old and need all the comfort I can get.
Ray

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
...
We go down a couple of times a year so we have gotten good at doing it
on the cheap. Also as skipper I try to optimize the logistics to avoid
undue hassles and ease the transition to island time.

The ferry is about $45 round trip from the waterfront at Charlotte
Amelee to West End or Road Town and takes about 45 minutes. Taxi from
the airport to the ferry dock is about $8/head. From the arrival of the
afternoon Delta flight to the last ferry is just enough time to have
your first Heinie at the ferry dock bar, count heads and bags and start
adjusting your biological clock.

We have chartered from most of the operations but have settled on BVI
Yacht Charters in Road harbor so we take the ferry all the way to Road
Town. That saves about $10/head in taxi fees and one baggage movement.
You have to get off at West End to clear customs and then get back on
the ferry. (Remind the crew that you are going through as you get off.)
It is about a 4 block walk from the Road town ferry dock to the marina.

We do our own provisioning and bring frozen steaks, ham and other cold
cuts, cheeses and a few other things that are overly expensive down
there. Pack it all in a 44 quart cooler with extra insulation and Blue
Ice. You pay a 10% duty on what ever you say the value is. Bobby's is
a very good grocery about a block away and is open until 9 PM. Prices
are about 20% higher than US. We usually get to the boat about 5 PM.
The provisioning crew divides up the supply list and heads for Bobby's
while the rest square away the boat. The menus and grocery list is made
up before hand and consist mostly of of booze, beer, breads, paper
goods, fresh veggies and breakfast foods. After "speed shopping" at
Bobby's the provision crew hijacks a couple of grocery carts temporarily
for the trip back to the boat. By 7 PM we are squared away and headed
up the hill to the C&F for the best BBQ ribs in the Caribbean. Usually
we are underway by 9 AM. (Unless it is Festival time and I get waylaid
on the way back from the C&F by $1 shots of Johnny Walker Black. :-)

As for St. John, we generally clear out of West End (C&I is upstairs
over the ferry dock and takes about 10 minutes) and sail to the customs
dock at Cruz bay. The US side takes a bit longer and try not to get
there on Sunday when they charge overtime. The charge is determined by
how many boats check in that day and you will get a bill a couple of
months later. If it is a slow day you can get hit for $100 or more.
You don't have to clear out of the USVI but you do have to check back in
to BVI. West End is the best place to do it. The Road Town office is
in Government Building and along hot walk from nowhere.

We have used the Moorings, SunSail, Conch, TMM, North South and a couple
of others but have been happiest with BVIYC. Of all the second market
opperations they maintain the best fleet. The herd mentality of the
Moorings is a complete turn off for me. BVIYC does individual briefings
and checkouts and is just more personal in their attitude. They also
have a wider variety of boats. When I go down with my son and his
college buddies we go for speed and when it is a family trip we go for
comfort.

Hope this helps

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

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

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

I'll start out by saying that I hold Glenn and his comments in the
highest regard. In this case I have a different opinion.

I've been chartering in the BVI for over 20 years, sometimes three times
in a year, more usually once.

I'm not big on the ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola. Your bags do come
off the ferry and go through customs in West End even if you continue to
Road Town. Pain. And I don't like being separated from my gear. From my
area, the cost of flying to San Juan and changing planes for Beef Island
is only a few dollars more than flying to St. Thomas plus cabs and
ferries AND it gets me on the pier a couple hours earlier.

I do like The Moorings best. I came to that conclusion many years ago
when The Moorings and Sunsail were first rate and the other operations
lagged far behind. I haven't experimented, but I do have friends who
have different opinions. I have heard good things about TMM, BVIYC, and
a little operation in Fat Hogs Bay the name of which escapes me at the
moment. See www.traveltalkonline.com. I'm a good customer of The
Moorings (Abacos and BVI) and in the BVI the desk crew, most of the boat
briefers, and some of the dock crew recognize me as a regular (not the
same as remembering me by name, but not bad). I haven't been asked to do
a chart brief in years and the boat briefs have been at my convenience.
All this goes to say that I am not objective. I LIKE chartering from them.

I rarely see an irate customer at the customer service desk. Allowing
for island time, discrepancies are fixed pretty quickly. With "evening
starts" (move aboard in the evening and finish all formalities), I'm
usually away from the pier between 8 and 9 without any stress and with a
good breakfast under everyone's belt.

In the last two years, I've been out on a 3800, a 322, and 4700. Every
trip was precious. Not sure when I'll be out next, but I'm looking
forward to it already.

dave

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

Thanks Dave,
Good point about the ferry. It probably won't be $45 per head more to fly
into Beef Island. Of course we'll have to catch a cab to Road Town but
basically a break even.
Main thing is so far it's 2 to 0 for BVI vs. St. Thomas.
Ray


"Dave Skolnick" wrote in message
news:FaP3b.12169$j26.4576@lakeread02...
I'll start out by saying that I hold Glenn and his comments in the
highest regard. In this case I have a different opinion.

I've been chartering in the BVI for over 20 years, sometimes three times
in a year, more usually once.

I'm not big on the ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola. Your bags do come
off the ferry and go through customs in West End even if you continue to
Road Town. Pain. And I don't like being separated from my gear. From my
area, the cost of flying to San Juan and changing planes for Beef Island
is only a few dollars more than flying to St. Thomas plus cabs and
ferries AND it gets me on the pier a couple hours earlier.

I do like The Moorings best. I came to that conclusion many years ago
when The Moorings and Sunsail were first rate and the other operations
lagged far behind. I haven't experimented, but I do have friends who
have different opinions. I have heard good things about TMM, BVIYC, and
a little operation in Fat Hogs Bay the name of which escapes me at the
moment. See www.traveltalkonline.com. I'm a good customer of The
Moorings (Abacos and BVI) and in the BVI the desk crew, most of the boat
briefers, and some of the dock crew recognize me as a regular (not the
same as remembering me by name, but not bad). I haven't been asked to do
a chart brief in years and the boat briefs have been at my convenience.
All this goes to say that I am not objective. I LIKE chartering from them.

I rarely see an irate customer at the customer service desk. Allowing
for island time, discrepancies are fixed pretty quickly. With "evening
starts" (move aboard in the evening and finish all formalities), I'm
usually away from the pier between 8 and 9 without any stress and with a
good breakfast under everyone's belt.

In the last two years, I've been out on a 3800, a 322, and 4700. Every
trip was precious. Not sure when I'll be out next, but I'm looking
forward to it already.

dave

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

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!

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

I would prefer flying into Beef Island but I am a cheap SOB. From
Atlanta the only way to do that is American to Miami (probably my least
favorite airport) then to San Juan (second least favorite) and finaly
American Eagle to Beef Island. The cost is usually about $100/head more
and when you are sheparding 4 or 5 college boys who scatter to the four
winds everytime they get off the plane looking for the bar or smoking
area the extra stop overs can be a nightmare for the skipper.

Delta flys direct Atlanta to St. Thomas. Total time in transit airport
to boat is about half. (6 hours vs 11 hours) (Did you ever try to get
5 other people together and on the road at 4AM.) Delta does fly direct
into SJU but the connection to American Eagle is not good and the cross
line fare is even higher.

Your bags do come off the ferry at West End to clear customs but they
are reloaded and make the run up to Road Town with you. You are in sight
of them all the time. The only bad part is hauling a cooler, a duffle
full of SCUBA gear and all the regular gear from the Road Town ferry
dock to the boat. When the whole family goes we get a taxi at about
$4/head but when I have I have the college crew I make them pay their
dues and hoof it. :-)

The Mooring is OK if you are willing to pay an extra grand and don't
mind getting briefed in a classroom with 20 other skippers and then
trying to race them all to the first anchrage. When we are preping a
boat at Moorings maintenance base in Baugers Bay for delivery back to
the States it is fun to watch the Saturday and Sunday afternoon stampeed
of Moorings boats. Everybody sets sail in mid harbor with the wind just
off the port bow and then the Trades hit them beam on just past Scotch
Bank and everybody gets knocked on their side. You see some real
interesting sail handling. :-) I think a lot of them motor from that
point on, especially in the "Christmas Winds".

For a first timer the Moorings may be worth the premium but I prefer to
travel my own path. Moorings boats are always in first class condition.
Even the old ones I crew on to bring back to Ft. Lauderdale are in
good shape but while the second market boats are a usually little older,
with only a few very notable exceptions are well maintained and
generally run 20 to 25% less.

You do have to be a little more careful about checking out the current
situation in the second market. A few years back North South had a big
problem with maintenance but seems to have corrected the situation. Our
charter with Conch in '96 was a real adventure. BVIYC and TMM have been
most consistent IMHO.



BF wrote:
Thanks Dave,
Good point about the ferry. It probably won't be $45 per head more to fly
into Beef Island. Of course we'll have to catch a cab to Road Town but
basically a break even.
Main thing is so far it's 2 to 0 for BVI vs. St. Thomas.
Ray


"Dave Skolnick" wrote in message
news:FaP3b.12169$j26.4576@lakeread02...

I'll start out by saying that I hold Glenn and his comments in the
highest regard. In this case I have a different opinion.

I've been chartering in the BVI for over 20 years, sometimes three times
in a year, more usually once.

I'm not big on the ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola. Your bags do come
off the ferry and go through customs in West End even if you continue to
Road Town. Pain. And I don't like being separated from my gear. From my
area, the cost of flying to San Juan and changing planes for Beef Island
is only a few dollars more than flying to St. Thomas plus cabs and
ferries AND it gets me on the pier a couple hours earlier.

I do like The Moorings best. I came to that conclusion many years ago
when The Moorings and Sunsail were first rate and the other operations
lagged far behind. I haven't experimented, but I do have friends who
have different opinions. I have heard good things about TMM, BVIYC, and
a little operation in Fat Hogs Bay the name of which escapes me at the
moment. See www.traveltalkonline.com. I'm a good customer of The
Moorings (Abacos and BVI) and in the BVI the desk crew, most of the boat
briefers, and some of the dock crew recognize me as a regular (not the
same as remembering me by name, but not bad). I haven't been asked to do
a chart brief in years and the boat briefs have been at my convenience.
All this goes to say that I am not objective. I LIKE chartering from them.

I rarely see an irate customer at the customer service desk. Allowing
for island time, discrepancies are fixed pretty quickly. With "evening
starts" (move aboard in the evening and finish all formalities), I'm
usually away from the pier between 8 and 9 without any stress and with a
good breakfast under everyone's belt.

In the last two years, I've been out on a 3800, a 322, and 4700. Every
trip was precious. Not sure when I'll be out next, but I'm looking
forward to it already.

dave






--
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

Bareboat Charter USVI vw BVI
 

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