USVI-On-Line

We're considering his Jost trip which is mostly sailing and a stop at Sandy Spit. It sounds great but I'd love to hear some feedback. Have any of you gone?

We sailed with him in April and it was the best day of our vacation. He is a wonderful guy and the trip was fantastic.

You can not go wrong.
I am trying to find my trip report and I will cut and paste the part about our day with Clark
FOUND IT!
We met Clark from White Wing in Peter Bay (he was house sitting so everyone got to see Peter Bay,many oohs and aahs and a few grumbles) and headed right for the dinghy. Within 15 minutes we were on our way. It was a glorious day, sun shining, winds blowing, and booze flowing.
We checked in at Great Harbor in no time (less than 15 minutes and headed to Sandy Spit
We snorkeled the reef for a bit but I am a wimpy snorkeler, so I headed back and hung out on the floatie while the rest of the crew checked out the entire reef. Back on board we all had huge sandwiches that Clark had made while we were in the water. He took the veterans out in the dinghy for another snorkle excursion and we all decided it was time to experience Jost. Lisa sailed from Sandy Spit to Jost

We arrived at Ivan's and I hopped behind the bar and filled us all up with rum punches while the crew chatted with Ivan. It was wonderful to be back at my favorite spot in the Caribbean.
We hung out there for a little longer and then made the hike over to Soggy Dollar for more Pain Killers


After several painkillers we walked further down the beach to Seddy's one love. I have known Seddy for years

I told him that my friends needed to see some of his magic, so he put on one of his shows. He is so good, I try so hard to figure out how he does it but he is too good.

It was starting to get late so we headed back to the dinghy and back to the boat. We raised the main sail and Chip said that he had a surprise for me. We sat down on the deck and he handed me a small wrapped box. I was totally confused, it was his birthday trip not mine. I finally opened it to find a second wedding band to match my existing one. I was bawling my eyes out. He said he bought it to thank me for the trip. I got a good guy!
I got to sail all the way back and it was so much fun! I did have a lot of help from Clark as I lost painkiller count after 6 or 7.

We managed to pour ourselves out of the boat and into the dinghy (I was sailing so I did not drink on the way back like the rest of the crew) and made it back to the Villa about 9 and fired up the grill. We had marinated some Chicken, zucchini, and red peppers the night before so we ate a late dinner and went right to bed.
It was a perfect island day!

From Vicki's and Xislandgirl's stories, this is definitely on the agenda for next time!

We were so hoping to go w/ him based on Vicki's experiences alone. Sounds like an AWESOME time. Doesn't look like it will happen because he's not sailing when we are there (November). I'll have to plan that next trip better!

We've been wanting to sail with Clark for a few years now and really just can't pin him down. He does leave for the Summer and is also busy building a home. Another thing that I've found to be a hindrance for us is that he doesn't like to go out anymore with less than 5. We are a party of 4.

I've heard nothing less than rave reviews about Clark and his sail trips and I'm going to keep trying. Maybe we'll luck out next time.

We've been using him for the past 3 years. He's the best. We did the Jost trip one year, but were having so much fun snorkeling and visiting Sandy Spit - we never made it to Jost! That was our choice, though, not his.

We left at 9:00 am that day. He kept us full of painkillers, snacks, and sandwiches; stopped everywhere we asked; showed us how to look for lobsters and caught a 4 pound lobster that he then cooked on the boat for us; dropped us off at Sandy Spit, went back to the boat and made drinks, brought them back to us in the dingy so we could sip them on the beach; caught several fish and sent a large tuna home with us (which he cleaned and fileted for us first) that we grilled for dinner that night. He brought us back in around 8 pm.

He's fantastic.

Thanks guys! Vicki I guess I did read that in your trip report but all of these names/excursions have my head spinning.

I emailed him to see if he'd be willing to take us out. There are only two of us. I assume he'd just pair us up with other groups who want to go???

Yep, based on recommendations I'd like to book him for one of our next trips.

Cheers, RickG

Hawkeye - our prior 2 experiences with him was that it was better to call him than email him.

OK I found my old trip report section from the first trip with Clark in 2005:

Wednesday is the highly anticipated daysail on White Wing out of Coral Bay. We had the boat to ourselves because we had scheduled to do the Jost, Foxys Taboo, Bubbly Pool, and Sandy Spit trip, and for some reason, Clark doesn’t get many takers on that route. But after much deliberation with Clark as we motored out of Coral, we wound up doing the Roadtown, Indians, and Caves trip (which was actually the first choice we made a few months ago before we switched to Jost).

This was based on what he said would make for the best sail and snorkel that day based on the weather, waves, tides, etc. and we were flexible enough to go with it. And he was right. After a 45 min. stop in Roadtown where we shopped while he did customs (my daughter and wife got to steer the boat on the way over – a huge kick), we snorkeled the Indians and the Caves, swung through the harbor on Norman Island around the Willy T., and took the scenic route back to Coral Bay through an area where whales are known to frequent (didn’t see any) and got back as evening fell. (We met Clark in Cruz Bay next day to check back into customs)

Q: “Does this steering wheel turn the sails?” A: (after much laughter) “No honey it turns the rudder”


Another view from White Wing


The sailing was wonderful. The White Wing is a clean, swift boat. And man, can he handle that boat – fun to watch. Clark makes good drinks and sandwiches, plays good music, and is interesting to talk to – turns out he grew up in New Jersey and learned to sail and fish here. And the snorkeling - as we say here in Jersey, fugettaboutit. My daughter exclaimed that she thought the snorkeling was good at Salt Pond the day before, but this “blew it away” (apparently she is already an expert). Depth reader on boat said forty feet and you could see clear down to bottom. Fascinating variety of rock formations and coral at the Indians, more fish at the Caves.

Sun setting on way back to Coral Bay.


Back on shore in the dark, we are deciding between Island Blues and Shipwreck Landing for dinner. Island Blues had given us a maybe better for lunch kind of vibe so went with Shipwreck. Very cool. Had good live music, with various patrons feeling no pain dancing or even singing with the band. Great blackened snapper, Mahi, and some of the best fish and chips I’ve tasted for my daughter. Good bang for buck here.

Also had a blackout while waiting for food (band too loud? Maybe the guitar was turned up to 11). Caused much merriment in and around the bar. The speed with which the generator was fired up restoring power to restaurant gives the impression that this is not an infrequent occurrence.

We have to slow down for our first STJ donkeys on the drive back to Estate Lindholm. All in all, a pretty fantastic day.

(still one of the best vacation days ever.)
JMQ

We went sailing with Bill & Jeri and Karin (Maggy from Sweden) & Kris from the forum in April. We had a fantastic time.

We were suppose to get back at 5 and we were all having such a good time that we didn't get back until 6:30.

He is a true gentleman.

Cpt. Clark will answer email, but only about once a week. Better to call if you have time concerns. I think if there are only 2 of you he can either see if he has other folks who want to go, of if he doesn't, I think he'll take you out alone if you pay a certain amount (4 people maybe?).

Great guys! Thanks for all the input. I'll call him tonight.

Hawkeye Chick - I just pm'd you!
Diane