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The Paradise Brief — Virgin Islands · Daily USVI/BVI ConditionsGet the daily brief →
✅ Zero cruise ships in port — STT and Road Town both clear today. No ships at Havensight, Crown Bay, or Road Town. Every beach is running its full natural personality. Go anywhere.
⛈️ Scattered showers Saturday — 50% chance. E 20–22 mph, gusts 25 kt in passages. East-facing beaches choppy. Interior showers possible in the afternoon. Not a washout — but plan around it.
The
Paradise Brief
VIRGIN ISLANDS · SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2026 · Updated 6:00 AM AST
7.9Strong
Zero-ship Saturday
Top picks: Magens Bay · Trunk Bay STJ
Today's forecast — Saturday, May 23
87°F
High
78°F
Low tonight
E 20–22
Wind (mph)
50%
Rain chance
10+sm
Visibility
🌦 Scattered Showers
Scattered showers today — 50% chance. East winds 20–22 mph all day. Partly sunny between showers; brief heavy pockets possible. Tonight: scattered showers continue, low around 78°F, east wind 23 mph gusts to 29 mph. Tomorrow (Sunday) improves — scattered showers mainly before noon, mostly sunny afternoon, high 86°F.
Cruise crowd forecast — Saturday, May 23
Zero ships today — STT and Road Town both clear. All beaches unaffected by cruise traffic. Source: WICO FY26 artifact (confirmed) — CruiseDig unavailable this build ⚠️ single-source; zero confirmed by artifact gap (no entry between May 20 and May 24).
Zero STT ships (WICO artifact — CruiseDig unavailable ⚠️) · Zero Road Town ships (Road Town artifact) · No peak crowd window today.
Beaches — St. Thomas
Magens Bay Pick of Day
Water: Calm AM — north-facing, sheltered from E
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Sargassum: North-facing — lower risk
Top pick today — whole bay yours, no cruise pressure · Pick of the Day
Sapphire Beach Caution
Water: Choppy — east-facing, direct E swell & wind
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 2–3 ft
Sargassum: East-facing — elevated risk (SIR v1.5)
No crowds but choppy water + sargassum risk — check on arrival
Coki Point Caution
Water: Some chop — NE pocket, E swell wraps in
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1–2 ft
Sargassum: East-facing — elevated risk
No crowds today — verify sargassum and chop on arrival
Lindquist Beach Caution
Water: Choppy — east-facing ESE exposure
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 2 ft
Sargassum: East-facing — elevated risk
No cruise traffic but exposed — check east end for sargassum
Brewers Bay STT Good
Water: Calm — west-facing, fully sheltered from E
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Sargassum: West-facing — lower risk
Calm, clear, no one there — excellent zero-ship day pick
Secret Harbour Good
Water: Calm — south-facing, sheltered
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Sargassum: South-facing — lower risk
Calm water, no cruise pressure — snorkel all day
Honeymoon Beach Good
Water: Calm — protected west cove
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Rip current: Low
Great zero-ship day — take the water taxi over
Hull Bay Caution
Water: Rougher — north-facing with E swell wrap
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 2–3 ft — surf break active
Sargassum: North-facing — lower risk
Surfers will like it — swimmers use caution
Beaches — St. John
Trunk Bay Pick of Day
Water: Moderate — north-facing, some E swell wrap
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1–2 ft
Sargassum: North-facing — lower risk
Zero ship day — no midday rush, go anytime · Pick of the Day
Cinnamon Bay Good
Water: Calm — north bay
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Rip current: Low
Calm and uncrowded — ideal for families
Hawksnest Good
Water: Calm — partially sheltered north
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Sargassum: Lower risk — north-facing
Good snorkeling alternative — less visited
Maho Bay Good
Water: Calm — headland shelter
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Rip current: Low
Turtles frequent here — excellent spot today
Salt Pond Good
Water: Clear — south shore
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Sargassum: South-facing — lower risk
Remote south-shore escape — all clear today
Lameshur Bay Good
Water: Clear — south-facing
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft
Rip current: Low
Remote, calm, uncrowded — park entrance fee applies
Beaches — BVI
The Baths Yellow flag
Water: Some surge — south approach swell
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 2–3 ft approach (est)
Sargassum: Lower risk — west-facing approach
Yellow flag confirmed by Capt Dave · dinghy landing manageable · verify at Spring Bay
Cane Garden Bay Good
Water: Calm — north bay, sheltered from E
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1–2 ft
Sargassum: NE-facing — watch / caution
No Road Town ships — uncrowded midday, great call today
White Bay JVD Good
Water: Calm — south-facing cove
Crowds: None 🟢
Surf: 1 ft inside cove
Sargassum: Lower risk — west-facing
Soggy Dollar available — calm anchorage today
Anegada, BVI — Remote Island · Zero cruise ships · Full-day commitment from STT
Loblolly Bay Good
Water: Calm — north-facing, protected
Crowds: None 🟢
Sargassum: North-facing — lower risk
Snorkel: Reef offshore — excellent visibility
Primary Anegada snorkel destination — go here first
Verify sargassum and surf on arrival — exposed today
East End Caution
Water: Rough — east-facing, no shelter
Crowds: None 🟢
Sargassum: East-facing — elevated risk
Horseshoe Reef: Nearby — approach hazard
Remote, exposed, not for casual visitors — see Captain's tab
Anegada is a full-day commitment from STT — not a quick day trip. Horseshoe Reef surrounds the island; approach via the marked channel south of Setting Point only. E-facing shores (Keel Point, East End) directly exposed to the Atlantic sargassum corridor during peak season.
2026 confirmed record sargassum season. USF SaWS unavailable at build time — not re-verified today. Standing seasonal advisory active. NOAA SIR v1.5 (last confirmed April 29) flagged medium-to-high inundation risk for eastern USVI coastlines. East-facing shores across USVI, BVI, and Anegada remain at elevated risk.
Elevated risk East-facing: Sapphire, Coki, Lindquist, Vessup (STT) Drunk Bay, Friis, Haulover, John's Folly (STJ) Keel Point, East End (Anegada)
Watch NE-facing: Lindquist east end, Jumbie (STT) Cane Garden Bay (BVI) Trunk Bay east end (STJ)
Zero cruise ships means Magens is yours all day. No midday rush, no tour buses, calm north-facing water, lower sargassum risk. Go at 10 AM like it's a Tuesday. Top STT call.
Trunk Bay STJ — pick of the day
Zero ship day means no ferry-spillover crowd surge. North-facing, calm water, snorkel trail intact. Take the early ferry over and have the bay to yourself through the morning.
East-facing beaches — check sargassum first
Sapphire, Coki, Lindquist, and Keel Point (Anegada) all face east into the sargassum corridor. No cruise crowds today but water may be choppy and sargassum risk elevated. Verify on arrival.
Scattered showers — plan for brief breaks
50% chance all day. Interior and elevated terrain get hit first. Beach conditions will be intermittent — not a washout but bring a waterproof layer for the bag.
Capt's Read — Saturday, May 23
This is the kind of Saturday you circle on the calendar. Zero ships at STT, zero ships at Road Town — every beach from Magens to Cane Garden running on natural traffic only. Two picks today: Magens Bay and Trunk Bay STJ. Magens because it's calm, uncrowded, lower sargassum exposure, and there's no reason not to go at any hour. Trunk Bay because a zero-ship Saturday is exactly when you want to cross to STJ — no ferry-spillover crowd surge, snorkel trail to yourself through the morning. The east wind is up at 20–22 mph and passages are honest at 5–6 ft, so it's not a flat lake out there, but the sheltered north-facing beaches are going to be excellent. Scattered showers at 50% — not staying home weather, just pack a towel for the bag. Sargassum ground truth not available today, standing advisory applies; check east-facing shores on arrival before committing to the water.
Marine conditions — Saturday, May 23 (NDBC FZCA52 fresh — issued 4:18 PM AST Fri May 22, ~13.5 hrs at brief time)
Wind
SpeedE 15–20 kt (gusts 25 kt)
Guststo 25 kt
METAR obsTIST: E 7 kt @ 0153Z May 23 (confirmed)
NWS forecastE 20–22 mph Sat
Swell & sea state
Open seas5–6 ft, occ. 8 ft (FZCA52)
Wave periodE 6 ft @ 7 sec
Secondary swellNE 1 ft @ 12 sec
AMZ711 advisorySmall craft exercise caution
Tide curve — Charlotte Amalie NOAA 9751639 via fishingreminder
Four tidal events today. Daytime LW at 10:58 AM (0.13 ft) — Current Cut ebb peaks mid-morning. Plan E-bound transits before 9 AM or hold until 1–2 PM as flood establishes. Afternoon HW at 3:52 PM (0.23 ft) — minor but present. Evening LW 7:51 PM.
Source: NOAA 9751639 via fishingreminder (confirmed live May 22) · Setting Point (Anegada) harmonic +50 min: LW ~11:48 AM · HW ~4:42 PM · LW ~8:41 PM
Valid passport + HIKCR form + cruising permit required. Complete BVI passages before 1600 to clear customs with margin.
Passage routing
STT → STJ (Pillsbury Sound)
Sheltered from E trade — 1–2 ft seas. Current Cut LW at 10:58 AM — ebb peaks mid-morning. E-bound: transit before 9 AM or hold until 1–2 PM as flood establishes. W-bound favorable all day.
STJ → BVI (Drake)
E 15–20 kt, 5–6 ft seas occasionally 8 ft (FZCA52). Small craft exercise caution advisory (AMZ711). Capable vessels — not a rough day, but it's an active passage. Depart early; clear BVI customs before 4 PM.
Sunday outlook
Scattered showers mainly before noon, then mostly sunny. High 86°F, E 20–22 mph gusts 28 mph. Improving through the day — better afternoon window than Saturday. Seas similar.
Today's picks & avoid — on the water
Pillsbury Sound — best local cruising
Protected by island geometry. Under 2 ft all day, comfortable for any size boat. Best routing option if not making a BVI passage.
Current Cut — avoid E-bound 9 AM–1 PM
LW 10:58 AM drives ebb through mid-morning. E-bound: transit before 9 AM or hold until 1–2 PM when flood establishes. W-bound favorable all day.
Anegada Passage — active at 5–6 ft
Committed passage conditions. FZCA52 fresh (4:18 PM yesterday). Seas occ. 8 ft. Horseshoe Reef approach requires south channel — no exceptions. See Captain's tab.
Zero ships — no harbor congestion today
No cruise traffic at Havensight or Crown Bay — Charlotte Amalie harbor is running clean. Excellent day for vessel maneuvering in the harbor area.
On the Water — Saturday, May 23
The FZCA52 came in fresh last evening — 4:18 PM AST Friday — so the sea state call is well within the confidence window. E 15–20 kt with gusts to 25, seas 5 to 6 feet occasionally 8 in the passages and offshore, E 6 feet at 7 seconds. The Small Craft Exercise Caution advisory (AMZ711) is in effect and appropriate for today. Pillsbury Sound stays sheltered and comfortable, as it always does on an east-wind day. Tides: four events today. LW 10:58 AM is the key daytime call — Current Cut ebb peaks mid-morning, so E-bound transits need to be done before 9 AM or held until 1–2 PM when the flood establishes. Afternoon HW comes in minor at 3:52 PM (0.23 ft), evening LW at 7:51 PM. BVI work is doable — the Drake and the Anegada Passage are active but not extreme — just plan for a lively ride and have WX-1 on before departure. Complete BVI customs before 1600.
Marine conditions — NWS San Juan (FZCA52 fresh — issued 4:18 PM AST Fri May 22)
15–20 kt
Wind (FZCA52)
25 kt
Gusts
E
Wind direction
5–6 ft
Sig wave ht
E 7 sec
Wave period
NE 1 ft
Secondary swell
1017.7 mb
SLP (METAR conf.)
83°F
Water temp (est)
TIST METAR @ 0153Z May 23: E 7 kt, 10SM CLR, 27.2°C/81°F, SLP 1017.7 mb (confirmed via aviationweather.gov — ~8 hrs old at brief time). TIST TAF parse error — TAF not available this build.
NWS forecast — Saturday + outlook
Wind forecast
Saturday daytimeE 20–22 mph
Saturday nightE 23 mph, gusts 29 mph
SundayE 20–22 mph, gusts 28 mph
Monday (Memorial Day)E 22 mph, gusts 28 mph
Sea state (FZCA52 Saturday)
Open seas5–6 ft, occ. 8 ft
Wave periodE 6 ft @ 7 sec
AMZ711 advisorySmall craft exercise caution
Mon/Tue outlookSCA possible — stronger winds expected
Navigation
Visibility10+ sm (METAR confirmed)
Under showersScattered — AM and PM
Surface current~0.3 kt W (est)
Magnetic var.13°W
Sunrise / set0542 / 1850
Tides — Charlotte Amalie (NOAA 9751639)
HW early AM (past)3:05 AM · 0.75 ft
LW daytime10:58 AM · 0.13 ft
HW afternoon3:52 PM · 0.23 ft
LW evening7:51 PM · 0.16 ft
Setting Point +50 minLW ~11:48 AM · HW ~4:42 PM
NWS AFD synopsis NDBC FZCA52 · issued 4:18 PM AST Fri May 22 · fresh at brief time
✅ Marine forecast fresh. Strong surface high pressure over the central Atlantic driving moderate to fresh easterly winds across regional waters through next week. Choppy seas up to 6 feet persisting across offshore waters and passages — small craft exercise caution. Stronger winds and rougher seas expected by Monday — Small Craft Advisory conditions possible across offshore Atlantic waters Monday and Tuesday. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms possible near western Puerto Rico coastal waters. Trades remain steady through the weekend.
TIST METAR confirmed SLP 1017.7 mb at 0153Z May 23. Strong central Atlantic high pressure in command — pressure steady and slightly elevated. NWS synopsis projects this pattern holding through the weekend before stronger winds and higher seas develop Monday-Tuesday as the high strengthens further.
Source: TIST METAR via aviationweather.gov + NWS AFD trend (FZCA52 fresh). Steady-to-rising pattern consistent with strong central Atlantic high. Trades forecast to intensify by Mon–Tue.
Watch items today
1⚠️ Horseshoe Reef, Anegada — largest reef in the Caribbean outside the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Approach from the south via the marked channel at Setting Point only. Do not approach from the east or north under any conditions. Today: FZCA52 Anegada Passage seas 5–6 ft occ. 8 ft, E 15–20 kt. Short-period E swell at 7 sec can make channel markers difficult to read. USCG D7 notices: none found at build time. Contact: Anegada Reef Hotel VHF 16. → See Captain's Briefing for Horseshoe Reef detail.
2Current Cut tide timing — LW 10:58 AM (0.13 ft). Ebb peaks mid-morning. E-bound transits: complete before 0900 or hold until 1400–1500 as flood establishes. W-bound favorable all day. Setting Point (Anegada) harmonic: LW ~11:48 AM · HW ~4:42 PM · LW ~8:41 PM.
3Monday–Tuesday escalation watch. NWS AFD (fresh May 22) flags stronger winds and rough seas by Monday — Small Craft Advisory conditions possible in offshore Atlantic waters. Plan any multi-day passages with this in mind. If making Anegada, consider staying through Tuesday rather than returning Monday.
4Sargassum propeller fouling and anchor drag risk in shallow east-facing anchorages. 2026 record season active. East-facing bays — set scope deep or use mooring balls. Monitor overnight at anchor. Anegada east-facing shallows at elevated risk.
5BVI customs: complete passage before 1600 at West End (JVD) or Road Town. Zero cruise ships in Road Town today — no dock congestion expected at Road Town.
6TIST TAF parse error at build time — TAF not available. Wind forecast drawn from NWS MapClick (E 20–22 mph) and METAR obs (E 7 kt confirmed). FAA airport status parse error — STT airport ❌ unverified. No known aviation disruption at build time.
VHF & communications
Ch 16
Hailing / distress
WX-1
NOAA wx · 0500/1100/1700/2300
Ch 68
BVI marina working
USCG District 7 — Safety & Navigation
No active USCG notices affecting USVI/BVI waters confirmed at build time
Clear
Sea turtle boater protocol NOAA STAR / DPNR
🐢 Nesting season active (May–October). Slow to idle in shallows. Do not anchor on sea grass. If you strike or entangle a turtle: stop engines immediately, do not remove gear, call the STAR hotline: 1-888-774-STAR (7827). Night: no white lights on beach — red lights only if necessary.
Captain's Briefing — Saturday, May 23
Pressure is sitting at 1017.7 mb — confirmed live from the METAR — and the NWS AFD is telling a consistent story: strong central Atlantic high is in control, trades holding steady through the weekend, then strengthening Monday into Tuesday with Small Craft Advisory conditions possible offshore. That Monday escalation is the planning note for anyone doing multi-day work. FZCA52 came in fresh yesterday afternoon, which is a cleaner marine picture than we often get. Sea state is honest — 5 to 6 feet occasionally 8 in the passages, E 6 feet at 7 seconds. Not a rough day, but it is an active one. Tides are a four-event day: HW came and went at 3:05 AM (0.75 ft), LW hits at 10:58 AM (0.13 ft) — that's the key Current Cut timing. E-bound needs to be done before 0900 or held until 1400–1500. Afternoon HW is minor at 3:52 PM (0.23 ft), evening LW at 7:51 PM. Setting Point harmonic LW ~11:48 AM. The FZCA52 Saturday night call is E 15–20 kt gusts 25, seas 5–6 ft occasionally 8. Horseshoe Reef approach remains Watch Item 1 every build — south channel via Setting Point, no exceptions, particularly with short-period E swell today that can obscure markers. TIST TAF and FAA airport status both parse errors — treat those as unverified. Zero ships today means the harbor is clean and BVI customs at Road Town will have no competition for dock time.
STT Cyril E. King — Check-In & Customs Delay · Saturday, May 23
Today's Customs Load
🔴 Heavy
Est. 45–75 min peak wait
Saturday is one of the two heaviest customs volume days at STT alongside Sunday. End-of-week leisure departures concentrate. Plan accordingly — do not cut it close.
Arrive at Airport
Plan 2.5 hours before departure today.
Saturday peak volume. No road closures or special events affecting airport access. Standard routing. No jetways at STT — tarmac boarding.
Mo
Light
Tu
Light
We
Lightest
Th
Moderate
Fr
Heavy
Sa ◀
Heavy
Su
Heavy
Saturday highlighted ◀ · Peak departure volume day · Plan 2.5 hours before any flight departure
Today's scheduled departures — STT mainland
~TimeDestinationCarrier
~8:30aCharlotte (CLT)American
~9:00aMiami (MIA)American
~10:00aAtlanta (ATL)Delta
~11:30aNew York JFKDelta / JetBlue
~12:30pNewark (EWR)United
~2:00pBoston (BOS)JetBlue
~3:00pFort Lauderdale (FLL)JetBlue / AA
Typical Saturday pattern — approximate times, no specific flight numbers. Confirm with your airline. FAA live feed unavailable today (parse error) — no ground stop data. No known disruptions at build time.
EIS — Beef Island, BVI
StatusNormal operations (est)
Customs wait~30 min typical
NoteConfirm schedule with airline directly
Infrastructure — daily confirmed
Power (WAPA) No confirmed district-wide outage today. Routine monitoring ongoing.
No advisory
Ferry — Cruz Bay to Red Hook
On schedule
USVI ↔ BVI ferries
Operating
Tropical activity No systems in the Atlantic basin. Hurricane season underway — next significant pattern check Sun.
2026 record sargassum season — advisory active. USF SaWS not re-verified today. Last confirmed data: NOAA SIR v1.5 (April 29, 2026). East-facing shores across USVI, BVI, and Anegada at elevated risk. Water entry through sargassum mats is not harmful, but jellyfish live in mats — watch for stings. Verify on arrival at any east-facing beach.
Events today
No major events reported today — no local intel provided. Standard Saturday.
Today's picks & avoid — travel
Saturday customs — Heavy day at STT
Saturday is peak volume alongside Sunday. Plan 2.5 hours before any flight. If your flight is before 10 AM, be at the airport by 7:30 AM at the latest.
Zero ships — all beaches clear of cruise crowds
No cruise traffic anywhere today. Every beach is running natural load only — biggest benefit for day visitors traveling to resort-side beaches.
Scattered showers — plan for brief weather
50% chance Saturday. Interior roads and elevated terrain (mountain routes on STJ) may get brief heavy rain. STT airport visibility fine — 10+ sm confirmed this morning.
Memorial Day weekend — book ferries early
Monday–Tuesday seas escalating (SCA possible). If BVI-bound for the long weekend, consider making the crossing today or tomorrow before conditions tighten.
Ferry conditions — Saturday, May 23
🔵 STT / STJ ↔ Cruz Bay — On schedule
Cruz Bay ↔ Red Hook: Ferries depart every 30–60 min. Last ferry Red Hook → Cruz Bay approximately 10–11 PM. Flat and sheltered — Pillsbury Sound under 2 ft.
Cruz Bay ↔ Charlotte Amalie: Less frequent — check posted schedule. Smooth crossing today.
STJ crossings smooth — Pillsbury Sound sheltered from E trade.
🟢 STT / STJ ↔ Tortola BVI — Operating
Road Town Fast Ferry: Charlotte Amalie → Road Town ~2 hrs. E 15–20 kt, seas 5–6 ft — expect an active crossing. Not suitable for those prone to seasickness.
Native Son: Red Hook / Charlotte Amalie → West End (Soper's Hole). Running normally — confirm at dock.
Speedy's: Running. Confirm times at dock. Also operates STT/STJ → Anegada service (confirm schedule directly).
Smith's Ferry: Charlotte Amalie → Road Town. Running normally.
Passport required. BVI customs West End and Road Town open 8am–4pm. Seas 5–6 ft — active crossing. Confirm with operator before boarding. Zero ships at Road Town today — docks clear.
Know before you board
🎒 Luggage: Most ferries allow bags — large bags go on deck or bow.
💳 Payment: Cash preferred. Bring $20 bills — some docks don't take cards.
🌊 Today's conditions: E 15–20 kt, seas 5–6 ft open Atlantic (FZCA52 fresh). BVI crossings active — not flat. STJ ferries smooth in sheltered water.
⏰ Road Town dock clear: Zero cruise ships today — no competition for Road Town dock space. Smoother arrival.
🛂 BVI customs hours: West End and Road Town open 8am–4pm. Do not arrive after 4pm.
⚠️ All schedules are typical patterns — always confirm at the dock. Paradise Brief is not responsible for missed ferries.
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The Paradise Brief is for informational purposes only. Conditions data sourced from NOAA, NWS, USCG Navigation Center, and other public sources — not guaranteed accurate or complete. Always exercise your own judgment and verify conditions before making decisions about water activities or travel.