USVI-On-Line

Of my many visits to the Virgin Islands, I have never visited Virgin Gorda and the Baths. In January, I am visiting with 8 women and we are planning a day trip. Is it correct to say that you can not take a "sail" or catamaran to Virgin Gorda because of the distance? Is there anyone who does it one way?

Anyone have any ideas for options? I'm trying to tie the two together with a stop at the Indians or Norman Island for snorkeling. Is motor our only option? I love the wonderful day of sailing... many of these women have never done that before but to see the Baths could be awesome, too.

Thoughts?

Virgin Gorda is a bit far to try as a daysail on a sailboat, but you could definitely do it on a power boat (check out "Bad Kitty," I think they take groups the size of yours).

A sailboat could definitely take you to the Indians & Caves. If you choose to sail, consider the Indians, Caves & Jost Van Dyke for the day. Jost is one of those places that your friends will talk about forever!

The ferry is also a good option. You can take a short taxi ride from the ferry wharf to the Baths. Lunch at Mad Dogs or Top of the Baths and then one of the many taxis back to the ferry.

The current ferry schedule is Thursday and Sundays.

Cheers, RickG

You may have to default to motoring to the Baths. I don’t recall seeing one way sailing options to the BVIs discussed here. Have you searched that?

Obviously, daysailing from Coral Bay up to VG makes more sense than Cruz Bay and is probably only do-able under the following conditions: if the wind is right, and if the Captain is willing to check you back into customs the next day in Cruz Bay, so you don’t have to race back against the customs clock. The only one I know that used to do this was Captain Clark on White Wing, but he doesn’t daysail anymore.

We were lucky enough to do this in 2005. Indeed, moving with the wind back down Drakes Passage to Coral Bay as the sun was setting was pretty magical, and gives me a good excuse to post this fav photo here yet again.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmq/8802461/" title="BVI daysail sunset2 by jmq, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/8/880246 ... 42a6_z.jpg" width="640" height="478" alt="BVI daysail sunset2"></a>

I'm sure that was a day you will never forget! Sounds like a dream day. I will search out of Coral Bay for such a day.

A trick that Capt. Jay and Deb showed us, the Local Boater Option Card. More on their blog at:

http://livedelifeusvi.blogspot.com/2011 ... -card.html

Cheers, RickG