Together with Saint John, it forms one of the districts of the USVI. We are relatively new to sailing. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. [5], Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World. But you're headed through The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos - that's a tropical paradise, right? Never treat Islanders as servants, or tourist attractions. The Antilles refers to all the Caribbean islands but does not include Bahamas, which are part of the Lucayan Archipelago. With relatively cheap air travel and the American embargo on Cuba, the numbers of visitors greatly increased. Sasker van Heringawei 16E Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. The latter usually operate only between high-traffic points, e.g., cruise-ship terminals at Havensight and Crown Bay and downtown Charlotte Amalie. You will be approached by "boat boys" in Soufrire, though they are not as organized as those in Dominica they can still be helpful. St. Thomas, thirteen miles long by four miles wide, encompasses a little over 31 square miles. Like all resort and vacation destinations, it pays to shop for the best deals. The highest point is Mount Sage on Tortola in the BVI, which is 1,710 feet high. Saint Thomas's fine natural harbor became known as "Taphus" for the drinking establishments located nearby. Many heading down island from the BVIs leave from Virgin Gorda, as it is the furthest island to the east. Of the three islands, St. Thomas is the middle island in terms of size. Puerto Rico - United States Virgin Islands vv. If your cruising speed on the rhumb line is different or youre tacking back and forth all over the place, adjust times accordingly. Two-thirds of the island is a National Park, and its 5,500 protected acres are crisscrossed by dozens of spectacular hiking trails with panoramic views and diverse flora and fauna. The arc of Caribbean islands begins off the coast of Florida and extends all the way to South America. At six knots that would take about ten and a half days. All times are based on an average speed made good on the plotted course of 5, 6, or 7 knots. Your flight direction from Orlando, FL to Saint Thomas is Southeast (120 degrees from North). Saint Thomas (Danish: Sankt Thomas) is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, one of the three largest of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. The extra miles to avoid sailing against the trades are worth it, and the key to what makes this quicker passage possible. Need more shuttle/tram drivers. If you insist on everything being done at a fast pace, you may want to stick with a Florida vacation instead. St. John encompasses 20 square miles of beautiful scenery. We have received no reports of travel restrictions in U.S. Virgin Islands. If you press, you can do it in less than a month but you may run into some unpleasant conditions if you push the schedule. There are relatively no flat areas on St. Thomas. Sasker van Heringawei 16E Knowing the sailing seasons around the world help you to plan your trip well. A touch pool with sea stars, couch, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers and sea urchins. Virgin Islands is 1h ahead of Florida. There are 10 airlines flying into STT: Spirit Airlines. Sheltered harbors aren't as common as you'd like, nor are ports with marinas and supplies. The Safari Taxi System on St. Thomas allows riders to hop on and hop off whenever they please for just a few dollars per ride (think of a colectivo in Mexico). Dont rush things have patience and consider your time here as a chance to relax and enjoy a nice breather. Best Months to Visit. And if you have time, you can make the Thorny Path the journey and destination. However, the other islands are close enough together that you can clear out of Tortola and only add a few more hours travel time to St. Martin. The general approach to sailing the Thorny Path is to make short hops, day sails, and overnight passages between close destinations. Located in the Northeastern area of the Caribbean Sea, St. Thomas is part of the Leeward Islands enjoying both a wonderful and reliable weather in the winter months. St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been revitalized in recent years. Those who appreciate fine art and a good shopping experience will be happy to know that visitors can exit St. Thomas with $1,600 in duty-free goods which is double that of most destinations. Of those, only Martinique is a French overseas territory, the rest are all independent countries. Mon-Sat. If it's blank on arrival/to, there's only a single island destination in that country. [10] The first slave ships arrived in 1673, and St. Thomas became a slave market. Often referred to as "The People Ferry", this is the cheapest, easiest, most popular, and shortest route from St. Thomas to Cruz Bay. You will find a table for each major island or island group and distances to common passages from that island. 9034 GD Marsum The answer depends on you - your skill level, your tolerance for discomfort and pounding your boat, how much you like offshore sailing, and how much time you have. The major town of Pointe--Pitre is an important shipping harbor and less popular with sailing visitors. Distance from Virgin Islands to Florida is 1989.07 kilometers . St. Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States, which means that US citizens can travel there without a passport just as they would when traveling between states in the mainland. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing The Safari Taxis follow a loop passing Red Hook, Charlotte Amalie, and the island's resort-heavy East End. St. Croixs highest peak, Mount Eagle, is 1,088 feet high. The two islands are maybe 6 miles apart at their closest points. Passenger ships dock and anchor in Long Bay, near Charlotte Amalie. Contact us I am a first time boat owner so forgive me if I dont know the lingo. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. - Wikipedia. Every hour, one of the ferries departs Red Hook, St. Thomas, and the other Cruz Bay, St. John, crossing each other along the way. A few days after celebrating the 60th year of free elections in the Virgin Islands, the V.I. Butyou can't sail straight from Miami to St. Thomas, because there are a lot of islands in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos in the way. It has plenty of anchorage space, its protected, and most marine services. Plenty of sunscreen and insect repellant are also musts. So when you do your own plots, you will get different numbers if you choose more careful routes, stay closer to shorelines, or plot more exact departure and arrival points. ? Men should pack several pairs of shorts, t-shirts and perhaps a polo shirt or two as well as one pair of slacks for going out at night, while women might bring a few cute sundresses, a wrap skirt, shorts, tank tops and other casual attire. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. In 1917, Saint Thomas was purchased (along with Saint Croix and Saint John) by the United States for $25 million in gold ($529 million today),[18] as part of a defensive strategy to maintain control over the Caribbean and the Panama Canal during the First World War. The Friday schedule leaves St. Thomas at 8 a.m. and St. Croix at 4 p.m. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. The U.S. Department of the Interior took over administrative duties in 1931. Or if you're a full-time cruiser, a lifestyle. The most notable is that you can make the entire trip with no really long offshore passages. At six knots that would take about ten and a half days. Recommended Fly Orlando Sanford to London Fly from Orlando Sanford (SFB) to London (YXU) 3h 28m $276 - $649 Cheapest There are a couple of reasons. I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content. There are thousands of islands in the Caribbean, and over forty with major populations. Your travel time can differ by up to 2h 42m. Cheap plane tickets may be available from different airlines at different times and with unique terms. Most people dont know exactly where it isso we thought wed help clear that up. Thank you, Thanks great write up Leaving Early April from Tampa Fl to St Thomas, Im preparing to head to Dominican republic in about a week The Virgin Islands are divided between the United States and the United Kingdom; so you have the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Travel times between the USVI and British Virgin Islands can be quite short, and you must clear in and out every time you move between the USVI and BVI. Along with surrounding minor islands, it is one of three county-equivalents in the USVI. The islands are not known for great facilities for visiting yachts, though the sailing there is lovely. I am wanting to bring my 37 ft Chris Craft to the Virgin Islands. The United States granted citizenship to the residents in 1927. Cape Air and American Airlines offer non-stop flights between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas during the off season. I-65 is not without risk, since you're offshore, and depending when you sail you may face serious offshore storms or even hurricanes. It established the Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasadim, the second oldest synagogue in the United States. Spirit Airlines and JetBlue can get you from Florida to Saint Thomas Island in just under 2h 36m. Look for most of the cruising community in the southern bays and harbors. Many people get to Georgetown and stop, because the trades get more insistent and the stops further apart. That's where you find most of the small island nations and territories you can sail between in less than a day. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com Routes between the ABCs are included for completeness, as it is possible to charter there and a stop on the way across to Panama is common. VIRGIN ISLANDS to ST. LUCIA 1929 LINDBERGH Flown FAM6 . The island has an irregular shape with many bays and peninsulas. Also, once you hit the trade winds, the sailing becomes upwind and much less comfortable. There are gaps between islands where you'd be pressed to take a shoal draft boat, so you have to take less direct routes and pick your way through the shallows by the color of the water. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. There are no airports on St. John so you must fly to St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport (code STT) and travel from there. Every two weeks leaving on a Sunday at 1:00pm, there is a fast ferry between Fajardo in Puerto Rico and St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. ? [4], The island was originally settled around 1500 BC by the Ciboney people. When speaking with locals the conversation should always begin with a greeting such as Good morning, Good afternoon, or Good night. There is no direct connection from Florida to Virgin Islands. Need to go back to the gas golf carts. You can hop a ride on a safari by sticking out your arm when you see it approaching. St Thomas is one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean and the most popular of the U.S. Virgin Islands Cruise Ports. The average price for connecting flights from Jacksonville, Florida to St Thomas Island is $228. St. Thomas has a beautiful natural harbor and many protected bays. Miami International Airport - Cyril E. King Airport 1107 Miles 1781 Kilometers 962 Nautical miles 2 h 35 min Flight duration 1 h Time difference 157 kg This info was very helpful Thanks. Full home rule was achieved in 1970. The Netherlands ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Maybe a follow up article on the options returning from virgins or points south back to Florida or other ports along the east coast? In 1954, passage of the U.S. Virgin Islands Organic Act officially granted territorial status to the three islands, and allowed for the formation of a local senate with politics dominated by the American Republican and Democratic parties. Ships dock at Havensight Pier. The highest point is Crown Mountain at 1,556 feet. It is located just half a mile from St. Thomas south side. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status in United States, please check government recommendations. [Note: The distance between cities in U.S. Virgin Islands distance chart below is straight line distance (may be called as flying or air distance) between the two locations in U.S. Virgin Islands . And an Underwater Observatory Tower that goes down 20 feet under the ocean with windows for looking and watching ocean life in its natural habit. If you have a couple of months to explore and gunkhole in the Bahamas on the way down or you don't like long offshore trips, you may have the time to make the Thorny Path a little less prickly. On a straight-line course, the rhumb line distance from Miami to St. Thomas is a little over 950 nautical miles (nm). However, you can take the line 112 bus to E 25 St & 11 Av Hialeah, take the walk to Metrorail Transfer Station, take the train to Miami Airport Station, take the walk to Airport Station, take the tram to Miami Intl Airport Ground Level, take the walk to Miami airport, fly to Beef Island, take the walk to Beef Island Airport, take the ferry to Peter Island, then take the ferry to Virgin Islands.