St. John - South Shore Bays

[RickG]

Originally Posted by SailSC

Ok last question. We want to visit the South Shore Bays and then end the trip at the North Shore so we are close to Red Hook to return the boat. Would you recommend circumnavigating or doubling back in order to get to Francis Bay from the Salt Pond Bay Area? The chart distance seems about the same either way.

Winds are going to dictate the easiest sail. If the winds are from the east then it will be easier to sail clockwise west and northeast. If you don't mind running the engine a bit then continuing around Rams Head and East End is fine.

Cheers, RickG

[SailSC]

Thanks, that's about what I thought. I'm inclined to go around Ram's Head and make a lunch stop at Water Lemon on the way to Francis Bay. I don't mind running the motor a bit. Thanks again for all the good advice, we have done BVI several times but this is the first time to sail around St. John.

[Outlaw7]

Love Christmas Cove. In the late 80's it was our home aboard "Bonaventure".
Wife worked at the yacht Club, my shop "seaTek" was at Independant Boatyard.
The kids went to St Peter and Paul and caught the bus in Red Hook. It was great!

[Nalu]

Originally Posted by RickG

Hi Cuvee!

Salt Pond is great with decent diving and good snorkeling.

We love Great Lameshur with access to the former Tektite Project snorkeling, National Park Service dinghy dock, trash dropoff and hiking trails. Little Lameshure is a short walk and has moorings, but is less protected.

Off of Rams Head, near Salt Pond, are day moorings with access to the cobble beach and the Rams Head hiking trail.

Off of Reef Bay there are day moorings to access the Reef Bay Plantation ruins. We usually do the long hike from Lameshure.

NPS moorings are $26 per night, $13 with the Geezer pass.

We also love Hansen Bay in Coral Bay. No moorings, anchoring is free. Great beach and snorkeling around Pelican Rock. There is more beach activity here and my buddy Steve does kayak/beach catamaran rentals here. But, it is outside the national park and very nice.

Hurricane Hole has great day moorings. Inside Hurricane Hole, Princess Bay has great mangrove snorkeling.

Coral Bay Harbor has access to the dinghy dock at Skinny Legs with Indigo Grill across the street. You can walk to the other restaurants about half a mile or tie up to a dinghy line across from Cocoloba Plaza and wade in. Aqua Bistro in Cocoloba is a great restaurant. There is a Skippers Brit Pub and Oasis short walkable. My buddy Steve runs the pub quiz at Skippers on Thursdays.

Cheers, RickG

Hi Rick,
You had any experience with Coral Bay in June ? Just wondered if the south east winds get in and if it's rolly to anchor. Maybe Salt or Lameshure would be a better overnight option..Cheers Nalu.