St John Long Weekend

DAY 1 · American Yacht Harbor (Red Hook)

Photo: Smallbones · CC0

Arrive 10:00 am · leave 11:00 am

A marina village at the east end of St Thomas and the usual starting point for St John charters. Do your last provisioning, fuel and paperwork here before you leave. Ferries run in and out of the bay all day, so expect wakes near the pier.

• 9:00 amChart briefing and provisioningBuy ice, water and the first dinners, and ask the base about park mooring rules.

1.5 NM · about 15 mto Christmas Cove (Great St James)

Christmas Cove (Great St James)

Photo: Clinton & Charles Robertson · CC BY 2.0

Arrive 11:30 am · leave 2:00 pm

A sheltered cove between Great St James and a small cay, a short motor from Red Hook. It is a good first snorkel, with turtles over the seagrass and fish along the cay. Anchor on sand only, never on seagrass, and check any mooring ball before you trust it.

• 12:00 pmSnorkel along the cayCalm water makes this an easy first swim for children.
• 1:00 pmLunch at Pizza PiA floating pizzeria anchored in the cove; dinghy or swim over.

6.5 NM · about 1 h 5 mto Maho Bay Moorings

Maho Bay Moorings

AI image

Arrive 4:00 pm

A calm, shallow bay on St John's north shore where green turtles graze under the boats. Park moorings are first come, first served and paid at a pay station or by app. Water gets murky when a north swell is running.

• 4:30 pmSwim with the turtlesKeep your distance, never touch or chase them, and stay off the seagrass.
• 6:00 pmSundowners ashoreDinghy to the beach bar across the road.

0.5 NM · about 5 mto Francis Bay Moorings & Anchorage

DAY 2 · Francis Bay Moorings & Anchorage

AI image

Arrive 10:30 am

A short hop round the point from Maho, this is the north shore's biggest and calmest park bay, tucked behind Whistling Cay. It has a long mooring field and plenty of room. Use a mooring first and anchor only in sand if they are all taken.

• 12:00 pmFrancis Bay Trail and salt pondAn easy half-hour loop on a boardwalk to a pond full of herons and pelicans.
• 3:00 pmAfternoon snorkel and beach timeLand the dinghy away from swimmers.

3 NM · about 30 mto Caneel Bay Moorings

DAY 3 · Caneel Bay Moorings

Photo: Fred Hsu · CC BY-SA 3.0

Arrive 9:30 am · leave 12:30 pm

The park mooring field closest to Cruz Bay, and a pleasant lunch stop on the way home. Pick up a park mooring; private buoys restrict much of the bay and some balls are reserved. Dinghy to Honeymoon Beach for a swim and lunch ashore.

• 10:30 amSwim at Honeymoon BeachTether the dinghy; the beach is a short ride from the moorings.

4.5 NM · about 45 mto American Yacht Harbor (Red Hook)

American Yacht Harbor (Red Hook)

Photo: Smallbones · CC0

Arrive 2:30 pm

Back where you started. Call the marina on the radio before you come in and allow time to refuel and clean the boat before check-in. Ferries cross the approach, so keep a lookout.