Bohemian Sailors

Coral Bay St. John USVI

For a moment in time Coral Bay was the home of sailors who are visionaries and hippies and drug smugglers. I have never come across a group of sailors with this level of mad sailing skills unless I was at an America’s Cup race or a Whitbread/Volvo race.

There are few places in the world were time and circumstances create a legendary moment. You might think of Hemingway in Paris with Gertrude Stein, Picasso, and many notables. Maybe the 80’s in the village and the punk scene. Phuket beach action and culture.  

That piece of time is rare. Most of us just read about it or hear about it. Woodstock was a happening and the people who traveled through Haight Ashbury, the Monterey Jazz Festival, Vietnam War protests, Rock and roll, Earth Day, civil rights revolution and out the other side opted for a different life; a life of truth and peace far away from mass commercialism, suburbs, two cars, gray suits and the grind of the modern life. ‘Life” in quotes because it is a life less desired, but submissiveness required. Those few brave souls who realized early on in their lives that one is all they get found a life in Coral Bay. I was lucky enough to be a part of a little recognized but profoundly significant community experience. It wasn’t a political movement. Nothing of real value came from it other than those who shared the space and time. I was on the periphery and maybe because of the slight distance I was able to gain a perspective on what was happening. The very coolness, nobility, honesty of purpose lasted a brief moment in time before the principles scattered to the far ends of the earth a small group created the first resorts in Costa Rica.  

The one thing we can be sure of is things change. Coral Bay is no different than any other port except the change came a little slower than most. Coral Bay is located on the eastern end of St. John USVI. It is more a protected anchorage than port. In the network further east on the island is Hurricane Hole. A series of inlets and fingers give hurricane hole almost a perfect 360-degree protection from the ocean and the low-slung hills and towering mountains north protect it from gale force winds. Hurricane Hole is without a doubt the best place to take cover when the storms come. 

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