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 ASA106
Virgin Islands Advanced Coastal Training Cruise
Explores the US and Spanish Virgin Islands

The itinerary will challenge our advanced students, while exploring exotic unspoiled ports in the US and Spanish Virgin Islands.  The route includes a non-stop 200-mile open water cruise in the Caribbean Sea, landfall in the Spanish Virgin Islands, and the challenges of navigating through unmarked reefs.  This training cruise is designed for intermediate level sailors who wish to take advanced coastal cruises of their own and, eventually, ocean passages. It is a stepping stone learning experience intended to prepare sailors for advanced blue water cruises in a real world learning environment under the guidance of a seasoned professional Captain. Some may take this cruise to learn if ocean sailing is something they want to pursue as a future objective, and others are just ready for a challenging sailing trip beyond their normal cruising grounds. 

As with all of our training cruises, students travel and arrive the day before at our home port in the Virgin Islands, Crown Bay Marina, on the Island of St Thomas, and get settled aboard the yacht. We'll then begin cruise planning discussions that evening over a tropical meal at Tickles Dockside Pub.

The next day we'll undertake pre-departure preparations including a complete inspection of the yacht; safety inspections; review of boat systems and gear; checking the mast, sails and rigging aloft; engine, mechanical and electrical systems checks; navigation and route planning; weather reception and analysis; crew underway assignments; food provisioning; watchkeeping schedules; and more. This very busy day will conclude with dinner ashore and a good night's sleep in preparation for the forthcoming cruise.

On the second day, after breakfast aboard and receipt of weather forecasts, we'll depart port and get underway the short distance to the leeward side of Water Island where we'll conduct refresher sail handling, crew overboard and emergency drills remaining cognizant of nearby Porpoise Rocks, Flat Cays and Saba Island. We'll then round Water Island turning east to windward, and sail close hauled to Christmas Cove on Great St James Island. This will require that we plan our tacks to clear Capella Island and Frenchman's Cay and pay particular attention to Calf Rocks guarding the entrance to Christmas Cove where we'll take a mooring for the night; or, if full, we'll continue on to another harbor on St John Island. Snorkeling here is a particular delight where you may be accompanied by a few sea turtles that seem to habituate this delightful bay. 

Next morning we'll depart for our challenging 200 mile ocean cruise in the Caribbean Sea, heading southeast, probably close hauled or beam reaching, toward Saba Bank, and a pre-determined turning point designed to keep us off of the bank and it's increased wave action and ensnarling fish nets. This point is 70 miles from St James, and we can expect to arrive there after sunset, so vigilance and good watchkeeping will be essential. Here, in the wee hours of the night, we'll turn west and sail downwind on a course of west by south toward a pre-selected waypoint, to bring us well south of the island of St Croix. It should be full daylight, and possibly afternoon, when we reach this waypoint 80 miles from our previous turn. Here, we'll turn north onto a close hauled or beam reach heading, and set our course for landfall on Isla de Culebra in the Spanish Virgin Islands laying to the east of Puerto Rico.  

Culebra has a delightful bay and anchorage and a small tropical fishing village. We'll spend a day and overnight here for R & R and touring ashore. Swimming and snorkeling are in order, as are sun bathing and relaxing after the long ocean passage. If time in our schedule permits, we'll take a trip to Isla de Vieques, a half day's sail away, and enter Esperanza or Isabel Segunda harbors to taste a little more of local flavor. During this time in the Spanish Virgins, we'll have ample opportunity to practice classic coastal navigation techniques so often rusty in these days of digital electronics and GPS.

After this rest, we'll be well prepared for the 25 mile beat to windward back to St Thomas. If time permits, we may make an overnight anchorage in either Brewers Bay or Lindbergh Bay for a last evening of peaceful relaxation and swapping of sea stories with our shipmates. Or, we may choose to sail straight to Crown Bay Marina for dinner ashore and return to modern life. 

Student Feedback

"Jochen was terrific - an excellent instructor and captain, very attentive to the crew and preparing us very well for the voyage and the 106 test, with a good balance of patience, humor, and command, and a great guy to be with.  He was a huge part of the trip's success - I learned an enormous amount and had a great time!  And the crew got along and worked very well together - an altogether enjoyable week."

~Jim Barber, ASA 106 Graduate September 2008