18.18.637N  064.49.953W

 

We decided we had to leave the lovely Maho Bay and headed west past the superb beaches on the NW side of St.John and then South to the anchorage of Christmas Cove on the west side of Great St.James Island.

 

   

 

Cinnamon Bay

 

   

 

Trunk Bay                                                                                                Hawksnest Bay

 

There are some ( free ) moorings here but not well maintained like the ones on St.John; a good anchorage though with a perfect view of Current Cut which has a strong current and all the yachts have to go through! I was surprised to see “Running Tide of Avon” which Maitland and I patched against a jetty at night in Loch Ailort in I think 1994 and then was repaired later at Ardfern!

 

   

 

   

 

In the BVI’s charter yachts dominate and red ensigns are common but in the USVI’s there are very few charter boats and we have only seen one other British boat!

Christmas Cove is invaded daily by tripper boats with a 100 snorkerlers aboard, a flotilla of small self-drive ribs which sometimes makes 3 visits a day and several ‘daysail’ skippered yachts between 25’ and 60’ which bring people out for snorkelling and lunch!

For anybody feeling flush we understand that James Island is up for sale for a cool $40 million !