Dufour 41 Seabreeze Smile
2023 Seabreeze Smile — Dufour 41 mono with gen, AC and watermaker
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The Virgins, Without the Customs Run.
Same trade winds, less traffic, no border clearance — and a national park most charterers haven't sailed.
Overview
The USVI is the charter destination most people overlook because the BVI is right next door. Same trade winds, similar mooring fields, the same kind of Caribbean cruising — but you don't have to clear customs (you're in the U.S.), the anchorages are emptier in season, and the Virgin Islands National Park covers two-thirds of St. John. That last part is the difference. St. John doesn't have the development that crowds the BVI, and Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay are quieter than anything you'll find around Tortola in February.
What's hard: less inventory than the BVI. Fewer beach bars to anchor in front of (which is a feature for some, a bug for others). St. Croix is a long sail south and most 7-day charters don't reach it.
Best for charterers who've done the BVI and want the same cruising without the crowds. Sailors who want a national-park-style trip with the option to cross to the BVI mid-week if they want.
Quick Facts
- Best months
- December – May. Hurricane season June–November.
- Sailing conditions
- Trades 15–22 knots from the E most of winter.
- Water temperature
- 76–82°F seasonal range.
- Typical trip length
- 7-day most-booked.
- Cruising character
- Mooring-heavy, similar to BVI but quieter. National-park-protected anchorages.
- Customs
- None — you're in the U.S. Bring passport for the BVI crossing if you make one.
- Currency
- US Dollar.
Sample Itineraries
All depart and return from the charter base. Distances are approximate nautical miles.
7-Day Classic
- Day 1 — St. Thomas (Compass Point) → Christmas Cove (Great St. James). ~3nm E. Short first hop. Pizza Pi — the floating pizza boat — is anchored here. Mooring or anchor.
- Day 2 — Christmas Cove → Cruz Bay (St. John). ~6nm E. Mooring in Caneel Bay or anchor outside Cruz Bay. Walk into town for groceries and the Mongoose Junction shops.
- Day 3 — Cruz Bay → Maho Bay. ~3nm N. National park mooring field. Snorkel turtle grass — sea turtles graze here.
- Day 4 — Maho Bay → Leinster Bay. ~2nm E. Park mooring. The Annaberg sugar plantation ruins are a 15-minute walk uphill — colonial-era stone mills preserved by the park service.
- Day 5 — Leinster Bay → Coral Bay. ~5nm E around the east end. Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant — boaty-divey, cheap food, strong drinks.
- Day 6 — Coral Bay → Salt Pond Bay. ~3nm S. Park mooring. Hike to Ram Head — the dramatic cliff that's the southernmost point of St. John.
- Day 7 — Salt Pond → St. Thomas. ~12nm W. Return sail back to Compass Point.
Available Yachts in U.S. Virgin Islands
Anchorages Worth Planning Around
Maho Bay (St. John)
Inside the Virgin Islands National Park.
Why stop here: Inside the Virgin Islands National Park. The mooring field is set up for protected snorkeling — sea turtles graze the turtle grass, and the water clarity is steady because there's no development draining into the bay.
Holding & approach: National Park moorings only — no anchoring. First-come basis; fills by early afternoon in season.
What to do: Snorkel for turtles in the morning. Walk the Maho Bay trail to the ruins. Sunset at the bay is the calmest in the USVI.
Getting There
- Airport
- Cyril E. King International (STT), St. Thomas. Direct flights from major U.S. East Coast hubs (MIA, JFK, BOS, ATL, CLT, FLL). No passport needed for U.S. travelers.
- Charter Bases
- Dream Yacht Charter — Compass Point Marina, St. Thomas (south side, ~15 min from STT).Waypoints — Frenchtown Marina, St. Thomas.
- Airport Transfer
- ~15 minutes from STT to Compass Point Marina by taxi. Frenchtown Marina is also on St. Thomas.
- Customs & Check-in
- None — domestic travel for U.S. citizens. Bring passport if you plan to clear into the BVI mid-week.
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