Roosevelt Roads was a major naval base built in WWII with the capacity of harboring the entire U.S. Atlantic Fleet, if necessary. Greg was stationed their for 9 months in the 1970s, looking out at Vieques every day. Vieques was a bombing range at that time and off limits to even Navy personnel. We look forward to exploring the Spanish Virgin Islands on our return trip, our goal today is St Thomas in the U. S. Virgin Islands. After turning east by Roosevelt Roads our trip was only 45 nm to the east end of St Thomas. Seas were 2 to 4 from the ENE and winds here under 12 knots, and best of all, it was sunny.
We had decided we wanted to stay a couple of days in a marina to clean up the boat, restock and prepare for island hopping. Looking at the cruising guides and Active Captain, none of the marinas in Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook sounded appealing. The only one we found that appeared to be quiet and out of the hustle, was Sapphire Bay Marina. We had called two todays before to find out that they did have a slip but its width was only 18 feet. Our beam is 17' 8", a little too tight. After discussions back and forth over the next day the dock master went to the condominium association to get permission for us to use their old fuel dock which they were no longer using to sell fuel. He had notified us the day before he had received permission.
As we passed Charlotte Amalie we counted 5 cruise ships and were thankful we had a slip in a more peaceful marina. On entering Sapphire Marina the dock master met us by dingy to guide us in and help if necessary, make the hard right turn we and to make just inside the Marina. What a perfect spot. We are the last boat in the Marina next to the entry jetty. We face Pillsbury Sound looking directly at Caneel Bay on St Johns Island out our starboard pilot house windows. Although the project is old and in need or repair, the docks in our area of the Marina are new. This was the perfect place to unwind from our 10 day passage from Florida.
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