Itineraries leaving from the USVI

Thanks to our friends at CYOA Yacht Charters for putting together some great itineraries.

St. Thomas

U.S. Customs & Immigration offices are located in Charlotte Amalie at the ferry terminal on the waterfront (about a 10 minute walk from CYOA's base).

Marinas:

NO PUBLIC MOORINGS

ST THOMAS IS HOME OF CYOA YACHT CHARTERS and a great jumping off point to the U.S. and British Virgins. Our base in Frenchtown is near excellent gourmet restaurants, pub-style eateries and downtown Charlotte Amalie world class duty-free shopping. Spend a night on the dock or anchored nearby to enjoy the sights and lights of our busy Caribbean port. Some of the largest cruise ships Romantic sunsetsin the world, the wildest party boats, and most elegant mega-yachts are part of the picturesque harbor.

If you need some last minute supplies, Crown Bay Marina is close by and has a full gourmet grocery, marine store, Cingular cell phone office, a secretarial office, and beauty salon. You don't have to worry if you "forgot something" - St Thomas has everything from trail mix to rib eye steaks, and bikinis to gold watches.

Water Island, the "4th Virgin", is in our neighborhood and has a pleasant anchorage at Honeymoon Bay, There's a quiet swimming beach and for the athletes, this island is great for walking, jogging and running, since there is no commercial traffic and only small paved roads.

Great St. James

NO MARINAS

NO PUBLIC MOORINGS

PLAN A FIRST OR LAST NIGHT stop in Christmas Cove. It is a short distance from our base and has pleasant swimming and snorkeling. It's a great location for a sunrise breakfast or sunset cocktails in the cockpit of your own boat. Sunbathe in the company of nature's favorites.

St. John

U.S. Customs & Immigration offices are located in Cruz Bay, directly across the channel from the National Park Headquarters.

NO MARINAS

Dinghy fuel available at Caneel Bay dock in Cruz Bay

PUBLIC MOORINGS: Caneel Bay, Hawksnest, Maho Bay, Francis Bay, Leinster Bay, Salt Pond, Great Lameshur, Little Lameshur

MOST OF ST JOHN IS NATIONAL PARK. There are excellent anchorages on the North and South sides of the island. Cruz Bay has a U.S. Customs & Immigration office for clearance purposes, and Cruz Bay has some of the best shops in the Caribbean (Be sure to visit Mongoose Junction, especially if you like artistic and exotic things). There is a variety of restaurants from fancy gourmet to ethic mix, Italian, Tex Mex, Pizza and pubs galore. Take your pick. On a busy might you may need reservations at some places - if you didn't plan ahead, just wander down the small streets to the next place. The town is tiny and most places are no more than a block off the waterfront.

Leinster Bay is a well protected anchorage with great snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay. The Annaberg Ruins are of historical and cultural interest. Caneel, Maho, and Francis Bays are also beautiful spots on the north side as long as the north swell is not up. On the south side, visit Salt Pond or Lameshur Bays, Hurricane Hole, or Coral Bay (where very laid back locals and funky bars are what 's up). You sense island time here, so kick back and go with the flow...as a matter of fact go with the flow throughout the islands. You are on vacation and island time is a real ting mon!

Jost Van Dyke

BVI Customs & Immigration offices are located in Great Harbor near the public dock.

NO MARINAS

PUBLIC MOORINGS: Little Harbor

IT IS EASY TO CLEAR BVI CUSTOMS and Immigration at Great Harbor. The office is located right on the beach and a short walk down a sandy path brings you to Foxy's Bar. Around the next bend you'll find Little Harbor. Dine and dance, eat lobster at Harris' Place or Sydney's.

Snorkel and swim at Green Cay or Sandy Cay right off Jost. These little islands are the ones you dream about (paradise found) with white sands and a few palms for shade, and a perfect lunch stop on your way to Cane Garden Bay or points further east.

Tortola

BVI Customs & Immigration offices are located in West End at the ferry terminal.

MARINAS:

PUBLIC MOORINGS: Cane Garden Bay, Fat Hogs Bay, Trellis Bay, West End, Marina Cay

THIS IS THE LARGEST BVI ISLAND and Roadtown is the main town. You'll find several good grocery stores and a few shops with unique merchandise.

West End Tortola is the place to clear in and out of BVI Customs & Immigration if not doing so on Jost Van Dyke. There's a marina with many shops, Pusser's Restaurant, and the Jolly Roger pub is nearby.

On the south side, you may spend a night in Fat Hogs Bay. There's a good grocery store, a marine store, dive shop and a great eaterie called Eclipse at Penn's Landing Marina. On the north side of the island, a stop at Cane Garden Bay is always fun, and if you are here for full moon and want a wild evening out, the Bomba Shack is the spot (take a taxi from Cane Garden Bay).

Heading east you'll pass Guana Island, and Monkey Point (a great lunch and snorkel spot). Plan to spend a night at Trellis Bay and dine at Da Loose Mongoose (Sunday is BBQ and music night) or the famous Last Resort (every night is a show that is unique with full buffet dinner - check in on the VHF or go ashore to make a reservation and confirm the time. There is only one seating). If you don't stop in Trellis Bay, head to Marina Cay where there is a lively Pusser's Restaurant, or just across on Scrub Island you'll find quieter dining at Donovan's Reef.

Virgin Gorda

MARINAS:

Limited facilities:

PUBLIC MOORINGS: Spanishtown / North Sound - Bitter End / Prickly Pear / Mosquito

A NIGHT IN A MARINA to refresh the crew, provisions, water supply etc. may be a good thing. Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor is a lovely facility with shops, casual dining in the marina, or tasty dinners just up the street at Chez Bamboo (Monica is a great chef and there is music some nights too).

Explore the Baths! It is best to start at the marina and take a short taxi ride or hike (about 2 miles) to The Baths for a swim and snorkel. When the north swell is up or the tradewinds are strong, you won't be comfortable on a mooring and you may swamp your dinghy trying to go ashore.

North Sound is a for-sure stop. Eat and drink at the Bitter End, Saba Rock, or the low key Fat Virgins at Biras Creek (with a name like that, how can you pass it up). Explore the area by dinghy and visit the Sand Box on Prickly Pear. If you want to try windsurfing, this is an ideal location. Top off your provisions, water, or dinghy fuel at the Bitter End or Saba Rock Dock.

Cooper Island, Salt Island, Ginger Island

Cooper Island

NO MARINAS

PUBLIC MOORINGS: Machioneel Bay

MANCHIONEEL BAY is home of the Cooper Island Beach Club, casual dining, and a great beach to hang out on. Be sure to plan an early arrival. This is a popular anchorage and the moorings are taken early. There is limited space for safe anchoring.

Salt Island

NO MARINAS

NO PUBLIC MOORINGS

THE WRECK OF THE RHONE lies off Salt Island and has been a favorite of divers for decades. Many dive shops in the BVI offer "Rendezvous Diving". This means you schedule a dive with them and they meet your boat at the designated anchorage, gear and all. If you are only planning a few dives during your charter, this is the way to go. No extra gear to find storage room for below and no worrying about having enough water to rinse it off, and no need to plan your trip around shops and fill stations. Give Blue Waters Divers in Tortola a call on the radio and plan ahead. Salt Island is well known for "salt". You'll find it in several shops throughout the BVI, and it is truly a unique and natural souvenir.

Ginger Island

NO MARINAS

NO PUBLIC MOORINGS

Ginger Island does not have any marinas or suitable anchorages. It is the last of the larger islands in the chain before reaching Round rock, Fallen Jeruselam and the Baths on Virgin Gorda.

Peter Island

MARINAS: Peter Island Yacht Club

PUBLIC MOORINGS: Great Harbor

PETER ISLAND YACHT CLUB offers slips, water, ice, fuel and elegant dining!. This is one of the few establishments in the Virgins that has a dress code and requires a jacket for gents and reservations. If the weather is right, anchoring off Deadman's Bay on a calm day is spectacular and a perfect spot for dinner aboard your own boat. Great Harbor is also a beautiful spot.

Norman Island

NO MARINAS

PUBLIC MOORINGS: The Bight

RUMORED TO BE THE "TREASURE ISLAND" of Robinson Cruscoe fame, The Bight is a favorite stopover. Wine and dine at the William Thornton floating restaurant for steaks, fish and rotis, and sometimes a wild time. Or, visit Billy Bones another popular shoreside watering hole, where you'll find everyone who isn't at the Willy T.

Snorkel the caves on Norman, a unique spot and favorite of pelicans. The Indians (a great day-time stop) not too far away, offer great snorkeling and diving. You'll see some spectacular views of St John from this location and a dramatic view up the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

ABOUT PUBLIC MOORINGS:

Moorings in the USVI are in National Park Waters. The mooring program here is fairly recent. At the present time, there are no fees for their use. We expect fees to be implemented soon. Check with our staff during your chart checkout for an update.

Moorings in the BVI are $20/night. MOST PUBLIC MOORINGS ARE LABELED "MOOR-SEACURE"***. This is the name of the company that installed these moorings. (Moorings without the MOOR-SEACURE label are private, and should not be picked up.) The fees are collected by local businesses (usually restaurants). The name of the business handling the moorings is usually painted on the mooring ball itself. It is best to check in with the establishment on shore and pay your fee. In some bays, a representative from the establishment will dinghy out to the boats in the anchorage and collect fees.

***Note: at The Bight on Norman Island, public moorings are not by Moor-Seacure. There are conical shaped markers for moorings managed by Billy Bones, and round markers for moorings managed a different company (may not be labeled).