How would you plan your perfect day at sea??

Travel discussion for St. John
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cypressgirl
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Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
Location: houston

How would you plan your perfect day at sea??

Post by cypressgirl »

I'm trying to decide what the best day at sea would be for me and my 3 girlfriends. They are all first timers to STJ and we will probably only get one chance to get out on the water. I have done the BVI trips with Limos, NH2, and Breakaway. I have taken numerous day sails that have all been great. But I have never rented a boat and captain for a day and I'm thinking that would be fun. So, if that is what we decide to do, what would you who have done this recommend for an itenerary? I think White Bay is a must, and I have never been to the Willy T. But other than that, I really don't know what the best plan would be. Also, can anyone recommend a company and a particular captain?

We're not traveling until the end of July, but planning is half the fun.
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LandLockedBeachLover
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Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:16 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Post by LandLockedBeachLover »

Having done this twice before (I would highly recommend renting a captained powerboat for the day, by the way), I would suggest the following ideas, not necessarily in order:

St. John - start off at Waterlemon for some great snorkeling
Baths in Virgin Gorda - a must. You can search this site for more information
Jost Van Dyke - Check in with customs here. Go to Foxy's as well as Soggy Dollar Bar on White Bay. Great place for lunch & afternoon Painkillers & limin' time!
Willie T's - If you have time, it might be fun for a group of "fun-loving" gals :wink: ! Perhaps AFTER the painkillers & bushwackers.

This is all a collective $500 well-spent, IMHO!
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LandLockedBeachLover
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Location: St. Louis, MO

Post by LandLockedBeachLover »

Oh, and I forgot to suggest a company. I have used Nauti Nymph in Red Hook, STT two times. Not sure if they can pick you up in STJ or not.
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ccasebolt
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Location: Boxborough, MA

Post by ccasebolt »

Nauti Nymph is also located on St. John (at the Westin). I highly recommend Captain Nate. He was our captain last July and knows the area very well. I recommend an agenda something like: Waterlemon, White Bay JVD, Great Bay JVD (Nate will clear customs while you have lunch at Foxy's), Sandy Spit (Little Jost), the Caves & Willie T (Norman Island). Or you could head to the Baths directly from JVD - it may be tougt to do both.
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Maryanne
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Location: Massachusetts

Post by Maryanne »

We would highly recommend a local STJ company, Ocean Runner. We've used them twice a trip for many years. They are right down on the beach by the ferry dock and they have good boats and good captains.

If you want to go to Virgin Gorda, it can be a rough ride in a small boat and it will take up most of your day. For the most fun packed into a day, try this kind of itinerary:

Check in at the West End, Tortola, for customs as early as possible. Then head over to the Indians or Caves on Norman Island for a snorkel... By then it gets close to refreshment time---a rum punch and maybe a roti on the Willy T. Four women at the Willy T will have a few laughs, even if it's quiet there that day.

Then you can cruise over toward Jost. Anchor off Sandy Spit and swim to shore. It's always spectacularly beautiful there. Even if it's cloudy everywhere else, the sun seems to shine on that little island! (My avatar is a picture I took of Sandy Spit on an otherwise cloudy/rainy day).

From there you can head over to Jost. At least stop into Great Harbor to see the little town (this is where Foxy's is) if you've never been there. Then, if you've never been to White Bay, you can anchor up, and motor over there for your last adventure of the day.

That pretty much makes for a very full, very fun day. It will take about a half hour to get back to Cruz Bay.

Alternately.....there are quite a few other places along the coast of Jost that are there for the discovering....

...and the west side of Tortola has some interesting places to explore, including Smuggler's Cove. Lunch at Cane Garden Bay can be good. Sometimes if the Francis Drake Channel is really rough, we forego Norman Island and just do Tortola/Jost.

Have fun.
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wontongirl
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Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:19 pm

Post by wontongirl »

Check this out
www.caribbean-vibe.com Jordan is the captain and Shannah is the firstmate. We just love these kids. Jordan knows every nook and cranny in the caribbean and will show you some neat stuff. I would snorkel the cave at Norman Island, maybe the Indians. Go to Sandy spit( where Corona commercial was filmed, and smugglers Cove and have a drink with Steven. This is truly one of the prettiest beaches. Over to Jost to Foxy's and Soggy Dollar. You may not have time for everything but just spend however much time you want at each place and move on. That is the beauty of not being with a larger boat with a set itinerary. JOrdan will talk with you and come up with the best day to do just what you want. You will love them! There are so many moe options. Get him to suggest a few itineraries. Willie T has settled down quite a bit. Im not sure how much fun it is now. Tell him the people from Arkansas sent you.( we're the ones that had him come up with fun names for the color of the water.) You just had to be there. We had too much beer! There are more blues and greens than in a box of crayola 64!
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