A few questions from a returning St. John fan

StJohnMike · Post by **StJohnMike** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:35 am

Hi everybody, I'm headed back to St. John on Thanksgiving and need some advice on a few things:

Does anyone know of a charter that focuses more on sailing than snorkeling? I'll be by myself so I'd need to share a boat with someone if possible. I'd like to go somewhere out of the way like Sandy Spit, I'm kind of obsessed with going there.

Is Noshooz still running? I had heard it isn't anymore.

Does the Westin allow day guests to use their pool and beach?

Has anyone used one of those waterproof bags for your camera? Not one of the good expensive housings but the ones that look like a big Ziploc bag with a lens attached? If so, how well do they work?

Does anyone on island rent Hobie cats?
How much would it cost?

And now, the obligatory booze question,

does anyone have the recipe for a Juicy Fruit? I seem to recall it was equal parts of four different flavored rums on the rocks. Even if that's not the recipe, it does sound good, doesn't it?

Thanks everyone and I'll see you at the Beach Bar Dec. 4th and 9th!

sailorgirl · Post by **sailorgirl** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:53 am

[quote="StJohnMike"]Hi everybody, I'm headed back to St. John on Thanksgiving and need some advice on a few things:

Does anyone know of a charter that focuses more on sailing than snorkeling? I'll be by myself so I'd need to share a boat with someone if possible. I'd like to go somewhere out of the way like Sandy Spit, I'm kind of obsessed with going there.

Try Trisel II, Capt Rusty out of GCB. Its a trimaran. I don't know if he leaves USVI waters though.
1 800 655-7630

Is Noshooz still running? I had heard it isn't anymore.

Does the Westin allow day guests to use their pool and beach?

Last summer we spent a day at the Westin. We just drove in and parked. Used the pool and beach. We had lunch at the beachside resturant and some drinks at the pool bar. No one said a word to us. It might be different during a busy week like Thanksgiving. I understand they might chase you off the lounge chairs by the pool and one the beach.

I asked the guys at the water sports center about a day pass so we could use the "toys" including hobies etc and got conflicting anwsers. To be safe I would call the St. John Westin directly.

Have a great trip

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:03 am

Hi Mike, I know you can rent the Hobie Cats at Cinnamon Bay.

I would not recommend the waterproof bag for your camera. I know in Augie's trip report, he mentioned how he was not able to get any good photos using it, and I have seen negative commentary on the bag from others on this forum, jmq and maybe FlaGeorge...if you can swing it and you really want undertwater photos I would spring for the housing.

I'm not sure on your other questions, sorry!

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:38 am

Hi--I can only answer the Noshooz question. Josh sent us an email last year saying he was leaving and going to sell real estate in FLA. Saw the Noshooz in Cruz Bay last year but I don't think anyone is sailing on it. Too bad because we had fun with him. I don't recommend Captain Rusty. Nice boat but he isn't a very happy guy and it can pull down the mood of the whole day. At least that was our experience.

onthelake · Post by **onthelake** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:51 am

We will also be down after Thanksgiving (Beach Bar on 11/25???) and are looking at Calypso. Has anyone been out with them?

Only Three more weeks .... yeah !!!

Teresa · Post by **Teresa** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:56 am

We called to get a day pass from the Westin and they said, "regretably we do not offer day passes". However some friends stayed there and invited us over. We stayed all day, ate at the beach side restaurant, swam in pool, etc. The general rule on the islands I found is this: If you spend money at their hotel or restaurant, you can swim in their pool, no problem. In fact most bartenders will tell you that. Has anyone else had an issue with that? I will change my ways if so.

Teresa

GQH · Post by **GQH** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:56 pm

We took a ride with Rusty on Trisel II and loved it! As mentioned, the boat is a trimaran that Rusty built himself. The boat was really fast, we had a blast!

SanDiegoMark · Post by **SanDiegoMark** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:00 am

I've sailed a bit in my non-STJ life and I've never met a better sailor that Capt Clark on the White Wing. We go out with him every time we're on island as do all of our friends. The only problem is that he is off island during the really slow season and doesn't get back until right around Thanksgiving. Check him out at http://www.connectionsstjohn.com/Whitewing.htm. You might get lucky!

Verve · Post by **Verve** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:50 am

StJohnMike wrote:Does anyone know of a charter that focuses more on sailing than snorkeling? I'll be by myself so I'd need to share a boat with someone if possible. I'd like to go somewhere out of the way like Sandy Spit, I'm kind of obsessed with going there.

Soma, no question. 40' racing catamaran. Fastest sailboat in the VI. Nils is a world class sailor.

Is Noshooz still running? I had heard it isn't anymore.

Nope. The boat isn't even on island anymore.

Does the Westin allow day guests to use their pool and beach?

As has been suggested, just go and act like you belong there. Non-guests look amazingly just like real guests to the average observer.

Does anyone on island rent Hobie cats?
How much would it cost?

Sail Safaris rents nice hobie cats right in Cruz Bay.

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