sailing and STJ

Travel discussion for St. John
Post Reply
User avatar
lovestj
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:02 pm
Location: Texas

sailing and STJ

Post by lovestj »

We will be in STJ in June, but sailing for the week before. Any suggestions on an itinerary for 5 days in the BVI? Looking for great snorkeling and nice beaches. Been to Jost, Cooper, the Baths.....
Thanks in advance.
RicksFormula
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 1:58 pm
Location: Colleyville, TX

Re: sailing and STJ

Post by RicksFormula »

I would definitely make a stop at Norman Island with The Caves and The Indians for excellent snorkeling and lunch at Pirate's Bight. Also Little Thatch Island (Otter Box Island) has some great coral just off the south end of Tortola.
User avatar
Teresa_Rae
Posts: 2053
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:44 pm
Location: Downstate IL

Re: sailing and STJ

Post by Teresa_Rae »

Hopefully RickG will stop by this thread; he sails in the islands pretty regularly these days (got his own boat a few years ago!). He's posted some sailing trip reports here on the forum, you might want to search for them.
Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
- Mark Twain
User avatar
RickG
Posts: 5396
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:06 pm
Location: Coral Bay, St. John

Re: sailing and STJ

Post by RickG »

Hey, lots to do on a boat! For five days a lot will depend on where you pick up your boat. You can find beaches at Norman, Peter, Cooper, Virgin Gorda, Scrub Island, Tortola and Jost Van Dyke. Anegada is not usually possible on a five day itinerary. Norman and Cooper have great snorkeling, with the wreck of the Rhone a good stop. You need to get to Cooper early in order to get a mooring ball, no anchoring there.

Talk to your charter company or skipper regarding what they recommend. Our favorite itinerary looks like:
1 - Norman Island - Indians, the Caves, Willy T, Pirates Bight
2 - Cooper Island - hit the Rhone on the way, Coppermine Point, Rum Bar
3 - Marina Cay - snorkel Diamond Reef by dinghy, hit the Baths early the next morning
4 - Diamond Cay/Jost Van Dyke - Sandy Spit, Bubbling Pool, Jewel's Punch, Taboo
5 - Great Harbor or Cane Garden Bay - Sandy Cay on the way

Buy a Cruising Guide to see all the possible options. A lot depends if you're going to eat aboard or on land. The BVI$ are getting more expensive to eat on land. We usually get a cocktail, but eat on the boat. Cocktails at Pirates Bight can hit $16.

Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
User avatar
lovestj
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:02 pm
Location: Texas

Re: sailing and STJ

Post by lovestj »

Thanks so much RickG. That is exactly what I needed. We have been going to STJ since 2003 and are looking forward to something new. We have seen the "hot spots" in the BVI, but excited to see something new. We will end up the trip with our normal STJ stay. Can't wait for June to get here.
Thank you again for the great ideas. Very helpful.
Post Reply