USVI-On-Line

We want to rent an Ocean Runner in June. We will have two Captain's so we don't need one and it will just be 4 of us so we don't need a huge boat.

Out friends just want to do some snorkeling and then hit White Bay, so here is my questions.

Do we hit Jost for customs? If so can we pull an Ocean runner up to that dock or should be just go to Tortola?

We have to anchor at Sandy Spit right?

Can we just pick up a mooring at white bay or would you anchor?

How long will it take to get back to Cruz Bay from White Bay assuming that conditions are optimal?


WOW- all these questions. I feel like a newbie.

Xislandgirl wrote: Do we hit Jost for customs? If so can we pull an Ocean runner up to that dock or should be just go to Tortola?

Clear on Jost. Pull up to the dock and raft up if necessary.

Xislandgirl wrote: We have to anchor at Sandy Spit right?

Yes.

Xislandgirl wrote: Can we just pick up a mooring at white bay or would you anchor?

Anchor.

Xislandgirl wrote: How long will it take to get back to Cruz Bay from White Bay assuming that conditions are optimal?

25-30 minutes, tops. You'll probably have the 28' which carries twin 200hp engines.

Leave White Bay at 4:30, go directly to Customs and have the Oceanrunner guys fill up the tank for you instead of waiting at the fuel dock. They charge $20 for that service, but it's worth it.

Ok, I got a pretty good Friday night buzz going, but that sounded like some pretty good insider,[islander] information to me.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program....

X I was going to answer but it looks like verve covered it.
Enjoy,
Jay

Just wondering, why anchor at White Bay and not just pick up a mooring ball (the fee)? Can you stay over night on Jost, assuming you had a place to stay, or must you (custome rules?) return on the same day?

IMO, i almost always think it's faster to clear customs at west end on tortola. the customs desk on jost is on severe island time we've been there waiting before when they were supposed to be open, and they weren't.

definitely anchor at sandy cay/sandy spit and white bay. there are moorings at white bay but they are further up the beach (on the far right as you are coming into white bay).

have fun!

b-as-u-r wrote:Just wondering, why anchor at White Bay and not just pick up a mooring ball (the fee)? Can you stay over night on Jost, assuming you had a place to stay, or must you (custome rules?) return on the same day?

There are moorings available in front of Ivan's in White Bay. Those moorings are honestly best utilized by charter boats that are probably spending the night and have dinghys to go to shore.

With an Oceanrunner you can anchor pretty close to shore anyway and you save a mooring ball for someone who needs it more than you do.

Of course you can stay overnight on Jost, but the OP wanted info on Oceanrunners and they have to be back by 5pm.

gimpiegirl wrote:IMO, i almost always think it's faster to clear customs at west end on tortola. the customs desk on jost is on severe island time we've been there waiting before when they were supposed to be open, and they weren't.

A fluke, trust me. I clear into the BVI through both locations several times A DAY and you are far better off checking in at Jost if that is your final destination.

West End also has ferries arriving throughout the day that supersede any other boat clearances. If you arrive anywhere near a ferry, you will have to wait for them to process the whole boat before they get to you.

Jost doesn't have that issue. Yeah, I showed up there once and found an "out to lunch" sign, but it was 1pm and normally an extremely slow period for Customs anyway.

ditto Verve!

Customs on Jost is much better, they are nicer and its quicker, and you can go to Foxeys when you're done, cause customs makes you work up a thirst.