bwhealy
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Mar 23, 2010, 7:56 AM
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Cruising the Virgin Islands
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If you’ve been thinking that you missed your chance to get south for the winter and do some Caribbean cruising, you couldn’t be more wrong. With lower air fares and cheaper charter agreements in the early and late spring, and into the summer, now is the time, more than ever to book your vacation. There is a plethora of charter companies in the Virgin Islands, offering both mono-hulls and catamarans and both captained and non-captained options. Cruising is also relatively hassle free as United States residents are able to come and go as they please in the U.S.V.I. without the need of a passport. As a former resident of St. Thomas, I would strongly urge every sailor at some point in their life, to book a bare boat charter in the Virgin Islands.
For most American cruisers, I would recommend beginning your vacation from St. Thomas, either from downtown Charlotte Amalie or from Red Hook on the east end of the island. Although average temperatures in the U.S.V.I. during the winter are in the 80s, make sure to bring some sailing gear, as passing rain squalls are a daily occurrence. Once you’ve made your selection on which charter company to use, it’s time to plan your trip. Several companies will provide you with a pre-planned itinerary or an option to plan your own route. With literally thousands of unbelievably gorgeous spots to visit in the V.I., this can be somewhat overwhelming, so here are a few options to consider.
If your itinerary has you setting off from St. Thomas, you may want to spend some time in Charlotte Amalie, the capitol of the small island territory, before you cast off. The city offers hundreds of shops and restaurants and a rich history of the island chain, dating back to the early Dutch sugar cane plantation days. While downtown, a short 15 or so minute cab ride will take you to the highest point on the island, and in all of the U.S.V.I., known as Mountain Top. Mountain Top offers remarkable views of the U.S. and British Virgins, as well as a notorious concoction known as the banana daiquiri.
A short sail east from Charlotte Amalie will take you to St. Thomas’ eastern town of Red Hook. Red Hook is a very quaint boaters’ town and a jump-off point to St. John and the B.V.I. While in the east end, you should take the opportunity to check out the St. Thomas Yacht Club in Cowpet Bay. The club generally welcomes all cruisers with some sort of yacht club affiliation with open arms. Dockage is very limited, so I would recommend anchoring in beautiful and very sheltered Christmas Cove for the night if you plan on enjoying the club or Red Hook’s night life. Also well worth checking out is Linquist Beach. Linquist is a very quiet spot and I personally think it is the most beautiful beach on the entire island.
From Red Hook, a nice cruise across gorgeous Pilsbury Sound will bring you to St. John and its pristine national park. St. John is by far the most beautiful of the U.S.V.I. and possesses several breath-taking beaches and bays. Beginning from Cruz Bay, the island’s urban center, a sail east across the northern shore will take you to the most popular spots in the area. Relax at Hawksnest Beach in Caneel Bay or explore the underwater snorkel tour at Trunk Bay. Maho Bay is a very popular destination for an overnight stay, as it’s sheltered from the southeast Trade Winds and provides easy access to the Sir Francis Drake Channel. One location not to be missed is Waterlemon Cay in Leinster Bay. The hundreds of basket-ball sized starfish all over the tiny cay make it absolutely worth the swim. St. John offers almost an unlimited amount of cruising destinations and attractions but because much of the island is a national park, small anchoring or mooring fees may apply.
With its unparalleled natural beauty and pristine sailing conditions, the U.S.V.I. is by far the most ideal location for American cruisers. The dependable southeastern Trade Winds make the sailing a blast and the hospitable and friendly atmosphere on shore provide for a truly relaxing vacation. With airline and charter prices declining, now’s the time to leave your cold weather sailing gear at home and head south!
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