Hey Blu, CYOA does barebone charters for qualified people... you can check their website here http://www.cyoacharters.com/

Thakns Count. Interesting that their homepage has misinformation about passport rules.

"Effective January 1st, 2007 you must have a machine readable passport to re-enter the USVI and the mainland US after sailing in the BVI.
Birth Certificates will no longer be accepted."

I don't know about CYOA but VIP - Compass Point Marina/Benner Bay - provides charts and interestingly the chart doesn't show anything west of Charlotte Amalie (of course, it's been a few years since we chartered from VIP so maybe they've updated and expanded the chart.....but I doubt it. BVI is so much better at attracting bareboats. BVI provides more facilities and they cater more to the industry. USVI could do a lot more!). Honeymoon/Water Island is a nice overnight mooring. There are mooring balls there but don't hook one as they are all private. You'll have to anchor.

Blu - Don't forget if you need an OLD deckhand (ODH) or a "hood ornament" a.k.a. bartender with a yellow cowboy hat to help out on your charter 🙂

I'd be glad to stand on the bow, and yell at everyone to get out of the way!

Blu, if you do make this happen and you come 'round to Honeymoon Beach/Water Island, a good day of the week to do it is Saturday. Heidi has the grill on Saturday "day" and she's got her gourmet meal served on Saturday night.

Blu,
Buy a boat. You live in a good area to get a good price. My sister and dude bought a great deal of a boat in Ananpollis. Flew up there and road it home to Punta Gorda, FL.

Hire someone like I told you about, what my sister "Captain" does and enjoy the float down from Philly to the Virgin Islands! Hands on is the best way to learn. You will know your boat inside and out and know how to navigate the intercoastal down and the Carribean waters. I'm not sure what the going rate is, but they charge $100/day for two people to help you navigate and relocate your ship. You could hire someone to take it down with you and you and your mate would be ready to bring it back. Or dry dock it somewhere, like the Keys and fly down to use it whenever you want. There are many, many options.

Our family are boat people and there are so many options.

EL: Blu is a regular visitor and I don't think she's interested in buying a boat right now. Anyway, having a boat here is a money-sucker proposition for most but that's a whole 'nother story! Cheers!

EaglesLanded:

$100./day sounds low....we charge $150./day (NJ) plus expenses and return flights.

F.I.

Thanks everyone. Ok LLBL, you can ornate the hood with your yellow hat. Dream, you can sit with LLBL, but please don't yell at the other boats to get out of the way. If we're that close and you have to tell them to get out of the way, we've got bigger problems.

FBI, I'm still not sure how comfortable I would be about anchoring and then going to bed.

EL, you must think I'm retired and rich. 😉 How long would it take to sail a boat from Annapolis to STT - and back again? Can I do that over my vacation time from work? I'd love to do it, but it sounds very time-consuming.

Then there's Geoff. Let's not forget that he's Jamaican (read: VERY laid back). At one point in our certification last weekend, Geoff was on the port jibsheet and I was on the starboard sheet. We're on a starboard tack - so Geoff is controlling our momentum. Someone else was on the tiller and we had a 4th on the main.

It was REALLY hot - blazing sun and we were baking on deck - and we were due for lunch and getting cranky cus we kept losing our wind and sitting in irons -and we had to catch this one buoy waaaaay across the bay, before we could have any lunch.

Plus, this was the second day and we'd spent the previous overnight on the boat, docked next to what must have been Tony Soprano's boat - I swear! ....and Tony had a "few" friends over....and they yelled everything to each other (even though they were sitting right next to one another) and every sentences started with "Yo!", and contained at least 2 F bombs. This was not limited to the men. The "ladies" were the loudest. And I guess they didn't have a head on that mega-yacht because they kept urinating off the bow. Luckily, around 11pm, Tony's wife yelled for everybody to shut the F*#% up! Adter about 10 of those, they quieted down a bit. This was in a marina in Northern NJ...so you understand. Yes, the husband's naem was really Tony! And, the wife's brother was really Joey! I am not making this up. This is in Bay Head, NJ - an extremely nice seaside town, despite this experience.

Ok, so back to the boat the next day - I am not sure what Geoff was thinking, but he released the jib so it was just flapping in the wind...and he turned around to face the stern, put his feet up, kicked back and closed his eyes. The Captain/Instructor kind of yelled at him to pay attention or we'd never get anywhere. I was embarrassed. WTH was he doing?

Later, in the car, I asked what he was thinking. He put on his Jamaican accent and said "mon, I was tinking it was too hot! I was too tired of all that tacking. And NOOOOO Red Stripe??! I need to have a cool dip the da wahtah - and a rest now and den" We had a good laugh about that. But, I will not be making any passages with Geoff anytime soon!

Blu,
How many days are you looking for. A lot of the charter companies have a minimum number of days. As for reefs, moorings etc. If you have basic navigation skills and pay attention to the charts St Thomas/St John and the surrounding area will be a blast. There aren't a lot of places that you can pick up a mooring for an overnight so you will have to get a little more comfortable with overnight anchoring. There are National Park Moorings that you can overnight on in Caneel Bay on St John. I would second the recommendation for Water Island/Honeymoon this is an easy anchorage with a great little beach, one of the best kept secrets on St Thomas. I would also highly recommend Great St James and Christmas cove, great snorkeling. As you know St John speaks for itself, some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. I would also spend a day or two going to Jost/ Sandy Spit and Key etc. Its an easy trip over from St John or Red Hook and customs is no big deal. I would have to get my Soggy Dollar fix.
As for charter companies, I have used Bajor Yacht Charters in St Thomas. Sandra Bajor is broker and knows the local boats. You can reach her at 800-524-8292.
http://www.elenavimercati.com/bajor/
Good luck and enjoy your trip.
Jay

Thanks Captain Jay! Good advice. I'm taking notes. We're a ways away from any charter.....got this little trip to Thailand to plan and execute for next Spring. After that, I'm ready to charter.

Blu,

You are one funny lady, I laughed till the tears ran down my face. I 'll come and take pictures of those two on the front of the boat.
I grew up in N.J. and you picked a great area for lessons, but the people in Bay Head take their sailing very seriously, I'm sure I have met Tony and Joey a few times and you are right on the money