The containers were on private property (at Latitude 18) in St Thomas where we often ate and drank. Nice sandy beach 100' away where we set up. The hotel/condo where
we stayed in 2003 (short walk to the yacht club just down the beach) to my understanding is usually between $200. -$700. a night. I believe we paid $149. The containers were a hike but we sailed the boats around to the condo beach.
We arrived Tues or Weds. in St. Thomas. From the airport you have to expect to pay $15. each way for a cab/van ride. Doesn't matter how many people in the van. it's $15. each, no exception. We didn't rent a car in St Thomas
but someone should consider it. We set up boats on Wed or Thursday and sailed around to the club. The entry fee for the three day Rolex Regatta in 2005 was $175. prior to a certain date and $50. more after that. You can register on-line. We sailed the regatta which was a lot tamer than anything we had at Curacao and then sailed around for a day. We then sailed over to Tortola and went snorkling, sailing and stuff for a few days. Davis hauled our gear over on a friends sailboat and took care of Customs duties for us. I forget what the customs fees were but think $15. each. Davis was out on the course throughout the entire two events on the sailboat with our extra people, cameras and drinks. Not sure if he is doing that again or if he is racing.
The entry fee for the three day BVI Regatta is $200. for beach cats. We race out of Nanny Cay. The restaurant and lounge right there at the race hdgtrs had a beach made for us in 2003 and let us use their showers and hose. We did rent three cars there ($356. each for 6 days) and had
designated drivers. We got together at several of the island restaurants during the week. 9 of us stayed at a large guest house on the other side of the island. Beautiful place with room for more people but a long haul up
steep and windy roads. $296./person for 6 nights. Several stayed in a nearby motel but still needed a car. Organizers are looking into closer, large places for us. I suggested big multihulls right in the harbor. We
sailed back to St Thomas on Monday and took the boats apart and loaded them into the container. Davis checked us out through Custom in Tortola again. There was an added expense of a large cab/van to haul equipment and suitcases back and forth to Davis' sailboat that I don't want to forget.
The container expenses averaged out to $203. per boat (6 boats -we expect to have 10 but then Customs costs and stuff go up too). That included Customs fees, water and gatorade, locks, wood for the framework, logos for the sails
(we flew Tropical Shipping logos since they handled the shipping cost), flares for each boat purchased down there, trucking costs and a Miami Yacht Club fee. We keep it as inexpensive as possible.
