Anchorage· St Thomas· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Santa Maria Bay
18° 22.0′ N · 64° 59.8′ W · approximate
A deep, rarely used bight on St. Thomas's rugged northwest coast, between the Brass Islands and the West End, with fair shelter from the trades but a reputation for rolling.
Practical
Position approximate: mid-bay seaward of the OpenStreetMap 'Santa Maria Bay' label, checked to be in the water about 270 m offshore. Coast Pilot: the bay, 2.5 miles east of Botany Bay, has depths of 20 ft or more and is a fair shelter, but it is seldom used because of rollers. Daytime stop only in settled weather; untenable in winter northerly ground swell. Not on the DPNR designated-anchorage list (Noonsite 2018), so check with DPNR before staying overnight. No services ashore.
Best for
A quiet lunch stop on a calm day on the north shore
Season
Calm summer days; avoid Nov to Apr northerly swell
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).