CHRISTIANSTED, ST CROIX - 17 44.92N 064 42.09W

OOJAH's AWESOME ODYSSEY
Peter & Christene Tanner
Mon 29 Apr 2013 22:31
It's 90 nm from Anguilla to St Croix (pronounced Saint Croy) one of the US Vitgin Islands. We decided to sail overnight which is cooler & makes it easier to time an arrival in daylight. This is essential in the Caribbean with reefs often unmarked, & what little buoyage there is usually unlit & often missing or out of position. Like so many islands out here, after discovery by Columbus late in the 15th century prosperity came from slave labour in the plantations & trading. The 3 main islands in the USVI, St Croix, St Thomas & St Johns were fought over by the British, French, Spanish, Dutch & ended up Danish until 1917 when they were sold to the USA.
Christiansted is delightful with many of the Danish houses surviving from the 18th century but the atmosphere is definitely American; there's a boardwalk along the waterfront with bars & restaurants on one side & recreational boats bobbing around on the other. Behind the boats is a floatplane runway with seaplanes coming & going every hour or so (an air port?).
On Sunday we motored east up a narrow channel inside the reef to St Croix Yacht Club where we thought we might get a nice lunch - the club was very welcoming but it was hamburgers for lunch so we opted for a late brunch overlooking the water while their 5 keel yachts raced round the bay. Such we're their generous portions that dinner was not necessary. The following day we anchored off Buck Island noted for its snorkelling but it was too rough for us. The sea piles onto the reef day & night making a continual roaring sound but we seem secure enough 100 yards back even though we too are shearing this way & that.

Peter & Christene

Blog Entries

2015 2014
Sep 2014 Aug 2014 Jul 2014 Jun 2014 May 2014 Apr 2014 Mar 2014 Feb 2014 Jan 2014
2013
Dec 2013 Nov 2013 May 2013 Apr 2013 Mar 2013 Feb 2013 Jan 2013
2012
Dec 2012 Nov 2012 Oct 2012 Sep 2012 Aug 2012 Jul 2012 Jun 2012