An excellent daysail-The Independence

[Tiffofirechick]

An excellent suggestion for a daysail in St. Thomas: The Independence.

 

We had booked High Pockets and due to a technical problem, the wonderful Capt. Kathleen didn't want us to miss out on a good day and was able to book us on the Independence with Capt. Pat.

 

Let me tell you what, we had an amazing day-EXCELLENT customer service-if I drank as much as I was offered I'd still be floating away. After we got things sorted out, Capt. Pat met us with a big smile and an easy dingy ride. We got a brief orientation about how things would work for the day, and then it was all about us. What we wanted to do, what we wanted to drink, etc... BOY, did we get a great lesson on which island was what, the history. The ship is just beautiful-and Capt. Pat knows where to go to snorkle. She has all the snorkle toys and gear that you could want. Our crew for the day was Bill, who actually crews on High Pockets, and he gave us an escorted snorkling tour(s). We actually opted out on the last snorkling tour because we were having such a good time on the boat and talking with Capt. Pat. Lunch, was awesome and it was waiting for us when we came back from our first snorkling trip. A vegetarian who doesn't like tomatos? No problem. She gave us the salad dressing recipe and we've made several batches already!!! The boat is in great shape with good changing facilities. The best part though, is just using the sails and gliding back to the dock, while sitting on the padded mats up front. Capt. Pat is very conscious about getting you back to the dock when you say you want to be there... in fact she will have you back at whatever time you say.

 

What ever you do in St. Thomas, book a Daysail!!! A bit about the private daysail captains... they all work together and help each other out. When we were standing at the flagpole waiting for our ship, we met the other captains who met us with a friendly Hello! and told us what a great day we'd be having. If you schedule a daysail through the ships, the ships take their "cut" of the funds and really mess over the private business people trying to make a living. It is VERY easy to get a taxi to American Yacht Harbor and back. I can see why people tend to "swear their allegiance" to one boat or the other and use them everytime they go back. For one, we can't wait to go back... and for two, we will use Capt. Pat.

 

You can find the Independence @ http://www.independence44.us