I didn't go this year (sick), but I went the last 6 times before, and it's always been a hoot! Dunno why it wouldn't've been again! Anyone on the board go?

I read in the NYTimes about places around the world that had quieter New Year's Eves and it was mentioned that Jost had a commemoration in honor of the Asian earthquake and its victims. Anyone attest to this?

I was on STT for New Year's but didn't make it over there. We had a flight out of STT on Saturday at 2:00pm. Was afraid we wouldn't make it back in time. I was told by one of the staff on Captain Nautica that there is about $1,000,000 worth of boat damage done over there every New Year's Eve. I guess the ferry drivers are careless and don't seem to care who the run over!!!!

Heard from one of our large power yachts that went over. They said it was much quieter than usual this year. Due to the disaster in Thailand, etc. I believe most of the celebrations were a bit more subdued this year.

Pamela.

Hello,

Last year I took the 8pm ferry over and there were long lines at customs, this year I took the 6pm and it was much faster. Took like 10 minutes to clear customs. Walked around to the beach and things were getting going. There were a lot of people, seemed like a bit more this year then last year. I noticed quite a bit of Puerto Ricans this year with their boats all lined up on shore (like they do on St. John during long weekends). Went to Foxy's - had some excellent bbq ribs. InnerVision was playing in the back, they didn't charge the $10 they did last year but Foxy's was taking donations to build a public park on Jost. The band was good. Lots of people dancing, drinking... didn't notice many people selling mushrooms or smoking like in the past - doesn't mean they weren't there, didn't look for them but they are usually very obvious along the beach.

Overall was a lot of fun. Better experience this year then last, primarily because last year the ferry experience was negative and put a damper on the night. Headed back to catch the 3am ferry, it didn't show up until 3:30am or thereabouts and then it started POURING down rain. The ferry showed up, it wasn't the regular ferries; it was the fast ferry... really nice. They were playing the movie Perfect Storm on the Plasma TV while it poured rain outside and the waters were rough... seemed like a good choice for a movie! 🙂 They didn't allow people to sit outside because of the rain and water so some people got left behind - but the ferry said they would make another trip to get them. Cleared customs in St. John, got back to St. Thomas around 5:30am.

--Islander

Islander wrote:

> I noticed quite a bit of Puerto Ricans this year with their boats
> all lined up on shore (like they do on St. John during long
> weekends).

Kind of an aside, Islander, but the Park Service has been (thankfully) policing the boats who were going stern to and rafting up on St John. One is not allowed to anchor in a mooring field within the park. If all the moorings are taken up, then you must anchor outside/behind the field. This is going to save St John from becoming what some of the anchorages in the BVI have become!

Off of the soap box now...

While sitting at the Beach Bar on New Year's Eve I heard a number of locals saying they couldn't make it over to Jost this year because of the northerly swells. Apparently there's a contigent who like to [or have to] go over in small boats every year and this year the seas just didn't permit it.

I can tell you that this is the first year in many that I've seen the waves as rough as they were on St. John's north shore beaches, especially Mon - Wed. There was actually some surfing happening at Cinammon Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thanks for the note East Ender!

Richard - a buddy was trying to come back by dinghy (not his dinghy, was grabbing a lift with someone else)... a wave flipped it over; he swam back to shore and figured it wasn't time to leave yet... and stayed at the party, took a ferry back in the am! It was rough that night.

--Islander

My husband and I did the Captain Nautica trip that day. The water at the Indians and Virgin Gorda was terrible. Does anyone think that may have been from the Tsunamis?

Roka: This time of year, when there is a storm in the North Atlantic, it generates a swell. When it finally hits land, it causes conditions such as you noticed. This is why the locals all like summer so much!! 😉

I have to tell you that my husband had on heck of a time in the water that day. He ending up spending most of his time on the boat. She scared me to death when we were trying to swim to the baths. I had to call for the Captain of the boat and he jumped in to get him. TERRIBLE!!!!

I keep hearing about the swells in winter. We wil be there the last half of April. Are the Atlantic storms usually subsiding by then?

You'll be fine by then Dale.