Back in July we told you we were looking to charter a boat in the Caribbean and now it’s official. We selected The Moorings, in the British Virgins Islands (BVI’s), and have chartered a 43′ power cat by Aquila with our friends Ben & Maria. The four of us had such a great time on the Star Clipper cruise this year that we couldn’t wait to get back down to the islands.
Scott and I toured this exact boat at the Annapolis Power Boat Show a few years ago. I immediately fell in love with the outdoor bar and galley.
Getting to the BVIs
Let’s start with getting there! We fly from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale, then take Uber down to Miami. Scott and I are staying the night in Miami and fly out the next day to St. Thomas. There are about five ferry service companies that run ferries from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas to Tortola. The key is finding one that leaves close to when we land, but not too close. I’ve reached out to Road Town Fast Ferry for a few questions.
- We want to buy our tickets ahead of time, in case it’s sold out. We land at 11am and the next ferry is at 12pm. Will that be enough time?
- If we buy that ticket and miss the ferry, can we use it for the 4:15pm ferry?
The four of us are staying the first night at the Mariner Inn which is at the marina. It’s not cheap, but it’s way cheaper than sleeping on the boat the night before, which was quoted at $880! We plan on grabbing some provisions at the local grocery store the morning we leave. Normally, boaters can stop at most islands and grab provisions as needed. However, the BVIs were hit by Hurricane Irma two years ago and businesses are still rebuilding, so it’s possible that supplies might be limited on certain islands. If you have feedback on your experience here, please share. We don’t plan on preparing too many meals on the boat, but instead dine out and visit the island spots.
Our first charter
Planning your very first charter is a bit nerve wracking. Mainly because we don’t know the area (while we’ve been to the Caribbean over 10 times, we’ve never been to the BVI’s) and we’ll be on a boat that we’re not familiar with. The Moorings will give us a quick instruction before heading out and some suggested itineraries. We’ve received some advice from others who have chartered with Moorings, so that has been helpful.
One bit of advice I got this week, was to check all the electronics with The Moorings and make sure you know how to turn everything on before leaving the dock. Once we cast off, it’s time to find our mooring balls/anchorage spots. Questions we have are:
- How easy is it to find an available mooring ball? Do you have to leave at dawn to beat the crowds?
- We did find Boatyball.com, which will allow you to reserve a mooring ball the day of. Has anyone used this?
- How do you pump out? Do we dare ask that question? I know some countries will allow you to discharge waste if you are at least two miles from shore, but I can’t imagine this is allowed in the Caribbean?
- Are there plenty of stores and fuel stations along the routes?
Scott and I have never anchored overnight before and know we will be anchoring as well. Our plan is to anchor a few times here in the PNW before we leave, so we get familiar with staying on the hook overnight.
Where do we go in 5 days?
Most cruises are seven days, but we decided to only cruise for five and then spend a few nights on land. With that said, we have been given a list of must sees:
- Virgin Gorda, The Baths
- Anegada
- Jost Van Dyke
- Peter Island
- Norman Island
- Trellis Bay
Anegada, The Baths, Jost Van Dyke are all musts. This itinerary will require us to travel the farthest. If anyone has suggestions or experiences of their own, please share with us.
And if you have any “heads up” advise let us know as well. I just read that we can’t actually boat to The Baths – no boats or dinghies allowed. So you either swim to shore (true??) or approach by land (dock at a nearby resort and take a cab or rent car). Between Ben and I, we’ll have researched our entire trip. Thanks to YouTube, there’s plenty of info out there.
In the end, we’ll be on a boat, with great friends, enjoying turquoise waters and drinking rum cocktails. What’s not to like?!
So many questions
That’s the fun part about planning a trip like this – it’s all new and exciting. Imagine those cruisers who head out permanently? So much to learn and mother nature isn’t always nice. Since we are newbies, we’re looking for all of the advice other cruisers have to offer.
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Cheers, Scott and Ally
#BoatingJourney