Jost Van Dyke???

jreynolds · Post by **jreynolds** » August 18, 2008 11:23 pm

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've been lurking at BN for several years and am just getting around to changing that. Here's my question:

I'm planning a Feb trip to Jost Van Dyke. Anyone been there? Recommendations? Stories?

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » August 18, 2008 11:43 pm

viewtopic.php?t=50741

Afternoon Golfer · Post by **Afternoon Golfer** » August 19, 2008 8:50 am

jreynolds wrote:I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've been lurking at BN for several years and am just getting around to changing that. Here's my question:

I'm planning a Feb trip to Jost Van Dyke. Anyone been there? Recommendations? Stories?

If you are looking for an action packed trip Jost is probably not for you. If you want to veg out on an amazing beach this is your spot. My wife and I have been the past 2 years and are heading back the first week of December. We have always stayed at Sandcastle. Not fancy but clean. Good food. Great bar (Soggy Dollar). Amazing beach. Seddy's and Ivan's are an easy walk. No phones or TV at Sandcastle (cell phone works). Easy trip into "town" to go to Foxy's, Corsairs for dinner, etc. Bubbly pool and Sandy Spit defintely worth checking out. Day trip to Tortola is fairly simple. Snorkel trips, boat rentals, etc. Paradise. OPH.

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » August 19, 2008 9:13 am

We took a day trip there during a snorkel trip from St John and my wife and I can't wait to go back. Soggy Dollar/ Sandcastle and Sandy Spit were both great.

lilsalty · Post by **lilsalty** » August 19, 2008 2:21 pm

Loooooove Jost! We too stayed at the Sandcastle (Cottage 3). Soggy Dollar Bar, Seddy's (my FAVORITE. I love Seddy & Raquel!), and Ivan's are all great (especially Ivan's Thursday night BBQ with Ruben Chinnery playing--what a blast!) I also dig Gertrude's for a hot dog (next to Sandcastle/SDB). We also enjoyed Corsair's. We met some people and drove around the island to Foxy's Taboo & Abe's. I want to go back!!!!

Dutch Harbor PH · Post by **Dutch Harbor PH** » August 19, 2008 6:48 pm

Bareboat charter a catamaran.......Hang at the East end at green cay.....foxy's at night, soggy dollar etc......

http://www.conchcharters.com/

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » August 19, 2008 8:17 pm

Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Bareboat charter a catamaran.......Hang at the East end at green cay.....foxy's at night, soggy dollar etc......

http://www.conchcharters.com/

that always looked good to me also. I wonder if they give you a sailing lesson while they are processing you credit card. If not you might end up in Africa

.

Dutch Harbor PH · Post by **Dutch Harbor PH** » August 20, 2008 6:42 pm

CrznDnUS1 wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Bareboat charter a catamaran.......Hang at the East end at green cay.....foxy's at night, soggy dollar etc......

http://www.conchcharters.com/

that always looked good to me also. I wonder if they give you a sailing lesson while they are processing you credit card. If not you might end up in Africa .

No worries....the Trade Winds bolw in from the East......screw up too bad they will find you in Mexico.....

On a serious note though...... You do need to have a sailing "Resume".....though to tell you the truth, I've been sailing for so long, I don't know if they won't charter to you or if they will require a captain to go along with you (technically that is called a crewed charter....or simply a charter....without captain and crew it is a "Bare Boat Charter".......Oh ..hint, hint, I am availble, my rates are really quite reasonable.....

) I know that on the very large cats some operations require that a captain go along with you.....

Note that Conch does a crewed charter....and will teach you sailing as you go.......if you have the $$$$ it is a lot of fun and gives you an amazing sense of freedom....wake up in the AM and you need to decide not which beach to go to, but what beach on what island........

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » August 20, 2008 8:38 pm

jreynolds wrote:I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've been lurking at BN for several years and am just getting around to changing that. Here's my question:

I'm planning a Feb trip to Jost Van Dyke. Anyone been there? Recommendations? Stories?

Sorry, don't know about Van Dyke, but I'm glad you decided to come out of lurk mode!

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » August 21, 2008 8:43 am

Dutch Harbor PH wrote:
CrznDnUS1 wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Bareboat charter a catamaran.......Hang at the East end at green cay.....foxy's at night, soggy dollar etc......

http://www.conchcharters.com/

that always looked good to me also. I wonder if they give you a sailing lesson while they are processing you credit card. If not you might end up in Africa .
No worries....the Trade Winds bolw in from the East......screw up too bad they will find you in Mexico.....

On a serious note though...... You do need to have a sailing "Resume".....though to tell you the truth, I've been sailing for so long, I don't know if they won't charter to you or if they will require a captain to go along with you (technically that is called a crewed charter....or simply a charter....without captain and crew it is a "Bare Boat Charter".......Oh ..hint, hint, I am availble, my rates are really quite reasonable..... ) I know that on the very large cats some operations require that a captain go along with you.....

Note that Conch does a crewed charter....and will teach you sailing as you go.......if you have the $$$$ it is a lot of fun and gives you an amazing sense of freedom....wake up in the AM and you need to decide not which beach to go to, but what beach on what island........

Since chartering came up, I think this is the best way to tour the BVI and USVI. If you haven't sailed you most definitely should have a crewed charter - any responsible charter company will require it. Get captain and cook then it is like being on a mobile all-inclusive. I'm not a fan of cats myself I prefer a monohull. Go with an extra couple and the price is very reasonable. With a captain you will also be able to head up to Anegada, which is one of the highlights of BVI.

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » August 21, 2008 11:40 am

Skibo wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:
CrznDnUS1 wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Bareboat charter a catamaran.......Hang at the East end at green cay.....foxy's at night, soggy dollar etc......

http://www.conchcharters.com/

that always looked good to me also. I wonder if they give you a sailing lesson while they are processing you credit card. If not you might end up in Africa .
No worries....the Trade Winds bolw in from the East......screw up too bad they will find you in Mexico.....

On a serious note though...... You do need to have a sailing "Resume".....though to tell you the truth, I've been sailing for so long, I don't know if they won't charter to you or if they will require a captain to go along with you (technically that is called a crewed charter....or simply a charter....without captain and crew it is a "Bare Boat Charter".......Oh ..hint, hint, I am availble, my rates are really quite reasonable..... ) I know that on the very large cats some operations require that a captain go along with you.....

Note that Conch does a crewed charter....and will teach you sailing as you go.......if you have the $$$$ it is a lot of fun and gives you an amazing sense of freedom....wake up in the AM and you need to decide not which beach to go to, but what beach on what island........
Since chartering came up, I think this is the best way to tour the BVI and USVI. If you haven't sailed you most definitely should have a crewed charter - any responsible charter company will require it. Get captain and cook then it is like being on a mobile all-inclusive. I'm not a fan of cats myself I prefer a monohull. Go with an extra couple and the price is very reasonable. With a captain you will also be able to head up to Anegada, which is one of the highlights of BVI.

Ooh this sounds good. Any rough idea on cost for a week for a group of 7? I won't be splitting it. It will be myself and my college kids/recent grads. I am wondering if this would cost us not much more then renting a villa, we'd save on food, I wouldn't have to worry about the college kids driving in strange places or alcohol/driving and maybe we'd save alot on activities. They could snorkel, tour, party a little, etc.

Afternoon Golfer · Post by **Afternoon Golfer** » August 21, 2008 11:45 am

http://www.moorings.com/

Afternoon Golfer · Post by **Afternoon Golfer** » August 21, 2008 11:45 am

http://www.moorings.com/

Dutch Harbor PH · Post by **Dutch Harbor PH** » August 22, 2008 4:35 am

OceanCityGirl wrote:
Skibo wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:
CrznDnUS1 wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Bareboat charter a catamaran.......Hang at the East end at green cay.....foxy's at night, soggy dollar etc......

http://www.conchcharters.com/

that always looked good to me also. I wonder if they give you a sailing lesson while they are processing you credit card. If not you might end up in Africa .
No worries....the Trade Winds bolw in from the East......screw up too bad they will find you in Mexico.....

On a serious note though...... You do need to have a sailing "Resume".....though to tell you the truth, I've been sailing for so long, I don't know if they won't charter to you or if they will require a captain to go along with you (technically that is called a crewed charter....or simply a charter....without captain and crew it is a "Bare Boat Charter".......Oh ..hint, hint, I am availble, my rates are really quite reasonable..... ) I know that on the very large cats some operations require that a captain go along with you.....

Note that Conch does a crewed charter....and will teach you sailing as you go.......if you have the $$$$ it is a lot of fun and gives you an amazing sense of freedom....wake up in the AM and you need to decide not which beach to go to, but what beach on what island........
Since chartering came up, I think this is the best way to tour the BVI and USVI. If you haven't sailed you most definitely should have a crewed charter - any responsible charter company will require it. Get captain and cook then it is like being on a mobile all-inclusive. I'm not a fan of cats myself I prefer a monohull. Go with an extra couple and the price is very reasonable. With a captain you will also be able to head up to Anegada, which is one of the highlights of BVI.
Ooh this sounds good. Any rough idea on cost for a week for a group of 7? I won't be splitting it. It will be myself and my college kids/recent grads. I am wondering if this would cost us not much more then renting a villa, we'd save on food, I wouldn't have to worry about the college kids driving in strange places or alcohol/driving and maybe we'd save alot on activities. They could snorkel, tour, party a little, etc.

I too used to be a Monohull person (having spent the vast majority of my sailing in Monohulls)...BUT....several years ago, I realized that for comfort, speed, and shallow draft that when it came to cruising, Cats were the way to go.....Granted you won't nessasarily be real comfortable on a long blue water passage.....BUT areound the BVI Cats are awesome!!!!! For a crew of 7 and assuming 2 to a cabin you would need a monohull at least 50' and more like 60' You can have the same number of cabins and still have more living space on a 42-45' cat. PLUS you can anchor up in the shallows (in some places this is the difference between getting to go see a place or not bothering....in particular, the Sea of Abaco in the Bahamas is on average only about 10' deep....there are lots of channels BUT if you want to get to that particular beach a 6' draft monohull just ain't gonna get you there....also, because of the breadth of a cat, you get a nice BIG salon that is above decks AND a huge cockpit to hang out in.....

ANYWAY...I still like mono's, but cat's are way cool....

So prices....(oh, I'm not big on the Moorings, but they do have great fleets of boats....) ....
With 7 AND a crew you are going to need at least a 45' cat...maybe the 47'.....The prices on this list are from www.ConchCharters.com ....remember that these are BAREBOAAT charter prices, you need to call them for a crewed charter...AND add food......A word about food...You can have them provision for you (they do the shopping) while convient, there is usually way more food than you are going to want (if only because you will eat ashore from time to time...dinner at Foxy's or the soggy dollar or at the Virgin Gorda yatch club or...or...or..anyway you get the idea)...you can do you own shoppingat the local grocery store (this is what we do....we get the meat, cheese, initail fruits and vegs, chips snacks, beer, wine and alcohol....then we supplement along the way with the fresh bakery goods on Virgin Gorda, fruits and veg and re-stock beer and wine....There is a delivery baot that will bring you ice, vegs, whatever...you just call them up and tell them where to meet .......anyway....

Leopard 4700 ~ 2002 - AC
$8000 to $6000 for 9 days depending on what season you are in....

SuperTrooper · Post by **SuperTrooper** » August 22, 2008 8:12 am

Check out my thread here for info on crewed charters.

viewtopic.php?t=63945

You can also just google crewed charters. They more people you have the more cost effective the charters become. Still not cheap. Pay close attention to what is included and what is extra. Be sure to ask what the extra charges typically amount to. Don't forget to factor in the crew gratuity.

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » August 22, 2008 8:38 am

Great advice from Dutch Harbor. Moorings and Conch have both been mentioned. In addition check out the brokers that pimp the independents if you want a crewed charter. The indys will give you a much better experience. You are a guest on their boat and they treat you very well, they customize the food to suit your tastes. With the bareboat companies you are getting the "best available captain and/or cook" in a lot of cases.

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » August 22, 2008 12:31 pm

Skibo wrote:Great advice from Dutch Harbor. Moorings and Conch have both been mentioned. In addition check out the brokers that pimp the independents if you want a crewed charter. The indys will give you a much better experience. You are a guest on their boat and they treat you very well, they customize the food to suit your tastes. With the bareboat companies you are getting the "best available captain and/or cook" in a lot of cases.

Any links for independent charters?

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » August 22, 2008 1:31 pm

http://www.stewartyachtcharters.com/ - We used Ellen Stewart once she was great to work with. Tough web site to navigate

http://www.ed-hamilton.com/ better site good group. Never booked directly with them but tried.

http://www.bvicrewedyachts.com/ - this might be a useful site. the front page looks good.

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » August 22, 2008 2:05 pm

i recommend moorings. you can get cheaper, but it rapidly becomes buyer beware.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » August 22, 2008 11:30 pm

I'm proud of Ya"ll, not one mention or rib about the
posters Location..

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Jost Van Dyke???

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