Anchorages Near St. Thomas Airport

[s/v Sunsets]

We have friends flying into STT on the 9pm AA flight. By the time they land and get out of the airport, they will probably be pretty tired. I hate to send them out on a big adventure (read long, scary taxi ride) late at night.

Does anyone have a favorite anchorage close to the airport where we could stay the night and then easily dinghy them to the boat after they land?

[ggray]

Sorry, can't help you there.

We use Beef Island, Tortola for that purpose.

[osirissail]

The only two anchorages in Charlotte Amalie are Water Island and Long Bay. Both are an easy 10 min bus/jitney/taxi ride from the airport. Water Island is serviced through Crown Bay Marina in Frenchtown. Long Bay is really downtown Charlotte Amalie and is only a few minutes further. Actually to get to Crown Bay Marina from the airport takes a taxi. To get to downtown only takes a bus ride.
- - Basically it's a question of where you can find a decent anchorage spot. Water Island is usually packed with long term boats of folks working in St Thomas. Long Bay normally has many more anchoring opportunities. If you plan on a marina then Crown Bay is the only reasonable option.

[sailcapt]

Take a look at Brewers Bay. It is right off the side of the runway. The local college is there too. All you have to do is wait by college and a publico (bus/truck) will stop. The ride is only a few bucks and it is easily done. We just wandered the island from this anchorage. It is a nice anchorage as long as the winds are easterly. (BTW, the longest we have ever waited for the bus is less that 15 minutes).

[YACHT TARENTELA]

Stayed at Best Western Emerald Bay a few years ago and noticed a cruising sailor dinghy to shore and her guest walked from the airport. We stayed there and walked to the airport from the hotel as it's next door. Cant remember if they have a dinghy dock or just a waterside patio / deck but it was easily accessable regardless. Hope this helps.

[ub1]

there is a nice bay behind the two holiday inns next to the airrport, have seen boats anchored there, dont have chart in front of me. still a bit of a walk with alot of bags, always taxied to crown bay 10 min right to dinghy dock and they have a nice bar restaurant for tired travelers.

[donradcliffe]

Crown Bay marina wanted $20 to drop off a passenger, even after I spent $100 at their fuel dock. I told them where to put there $20, and went around the corner to the main harbor at Charlotte Amalie, pulled alongside the quay by the road, and my crew was in a taxi in less than a minute. If you are picking up, you can anchor with the other boats on the east side of the harbor, then dinghy over to pick up crew--cell phones would help get you connected. Ask one of the other boats for the best spot to meet.

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by ub1

there is a nice bay behind the two holiday inns next to the airrport, have seen boats anchored there, dont have chart in front of me. still a bit of a walk with alot of bags, always taxied to crown bay 10 min right to dinghy dock and they have a nice bar restaurant for tired travelers.

+1.....

Look at all the boats anchored in this shot

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Crown Bay marina wanted $20 to drop off a passenger, even after I spent $100 at their fuel dock. I told them where to put there $20, and went around the corner to the main harbor at Charlotte Amalie, pulled alongside the quay by the road, and my crew was in a taxi in less than a minute. If you are picking up, you can anchor with the other boats on the east side of the harbor, then dinghy over to pick up crew--cell phones would help get you connected. Ask one of the other boats for the best spot to meet.

Strange! but not unbelievable. I always was able during the daytime to tie up my dinghy at their dinghy dock and walk through the gates to French Town without encountering any guards, etc. But late at night as the OP is talking about getting through the gates could be a monetary problem.
- - Brewers Bay might also be a problem at that time of day getting a bus to go in that "away from town" direction and then dragging their luggage down the beach to a dinghy in the dark. Same with Lindbergh Bay, although walking there is attractive - but walking in the dark on a lonely road in St Thomas might not be the most prudent thing to do. And again you would have to get through the hotels security gates with luggage and no reservations at the hotel. Wandering around on foot after dark in St Thomas is not always a good idea.
- - The simplest way is a taxi for US$6/person to downtown CG Station seawall area where everything is brightly lit up. Or if they are really cheap, the Jitney buses cost a dollar or two per person - but I don't know if they are running at that time of night.
- - Anywhere in the Caribbean, security is a major concern. In this present time of world financial depression, many more people are without jobs and you, your wallet and your dinghy are simple solutions to getting money, etc.

[Tom and Maje]

There is also Flamingo Bay near Water Island.

Maje

[mikefp60]

Brewers Bay. Its right next to the runway. But its not loud at all. Fun watching the planes take off and land. Great holding. White sand bottom. Anchored there many times. Very short cab ride to the airport. No dingy dock at the beach though. Take off your shoes and walk out to the dingy. Done it many times.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Tom and Maje

There is also Flamingo Bay near Water Island.
Maje

Flamingo Bay IS on the southern part of Water Island. And then you have the problem of going through Crown Bay Marina as mentioned by donradcliffe.

Remember the OP stated his guests are arriving on the 21:00 flight which means - if the flight is on time, which is not very likely - that they will be out of the terminal by 22:00 and by the time they get any transportation to anywhere it will be about 23:00. Wandering down roads or beaches at near midnight when you are flight weary and "strangers in a strange place" can be daunting and possibly dangerous.
- - Even the OP leaving their dinghy at night beached to go to the airport to meet the guests or even tied to the seawall downtown is really asking for the opportunity to swim back to the boat.
- - In downtown Charlotte Amalie there is a Holiday Inn (the Windward Passage Hotel) between the Ferry/Customs dock and the downtown shopping area. (Google Earth it to see how convenient it is.) It might be wise for the guests to make reservations there in case the OP gets in trouble and cannot get to the meeting point or the guests are really late due to flight delays, etc.
- - Otherwise the guests are a five minute taxi ride from the airport to a well lighted portion of downtown with a good seawall for the OP to meet them. That seawall is big enough that the OP's boat can come up to it and they can skip any dinghy rides if the winds and waves are not kicking up. But that is a little much as then they would have to go out and anchor again. Anyway, check it all out on Google Earth.

[zeehag]

there was a small anchorage next to the runway with a big wooden schooner in it in 2008 december--- that would be the place--i believe was mentioned above-- is beautiful, quiet except for the airplanes, and right there. isnt really a long walk at all--less than mile,as i recall--or just about. mile.with wheels on luggage isnt a problem..
btw--the 5 minuet taxi rip, er ride, was 60 dollars plus baggage. oops.. have fun.i hope you choose th lil anchorage near the airport runway.

[Auspicious]

I've used Lindbergh Bay to drop people off and pick them up. There is a Best Western on the western side of the bay that is just across the airport parking lot from the terminal building. The chart shows cables coming from the northeast corner of the bay that should be avoided when anchoring.

[Rubikoop]

Well this has been an interesting read!!!

Lindbergh Bay is the place you want to go. There is a dock at the BW Emerald Beach. Buy a drink at the bar and they will generally be OK with use of their dock for as long as it takes to walk over to the aiport (5 minutes) gather your friends and walk back.

If you don't want to do that, you can pull your boat up on the beach and chain it to a tree. No problem walking through either Best Western property or the Island Beachcomber. The beaches are public property and there are no gates.

Brewers is a nicer place to spend the night but access is much tougher to the airport and would really require a taxi.