Reefer Madness

It is illegal here, just like in the United States. Do some people smoke it? Sure. Do people get arrested for it? Yes. Almost every Monday in the paper, under the Police Blotter, there will be someone that got in trouble for something else and got caught with some on their person. Do you see people on the beach smoking it? Yes, on certain beaches, sometimes. Can you buy it from someone on a beach? Yes, certain ones have people that make their entire living selling it there. Is it advisable? No. If, after living here for a couple weeks, you elect to partake in such activities, ask some of your new friends, bartenders, co-workers, etc., and someone will be able to steer you in the direction you should go to avoid getting into trouble. (as an active member in AA, if you ever need the Narcotics Anonymous number, feel free to e-mail me at limin@surfvi.com. For those of you that are reading this and DON'T approve....Before you jump all over me, go back and read what I wrote. I gave this person all of the information they asked for, told them it was inadvisable, and even gave them contact info if they wanted help. Just trying to be helpful!)

Thanks,Marty

I appreciate the great info and don't worry about the non-approvers,I dought they would do you harm. You certainly seem to have a pulse on the place. What do you know about learning how to sail? How much and how long it takes,do you need a license?

You might want to check this link before getting too excited about toking up in the USVI.

Learning how to sail is as much art as it is science, and you can learn something new every day of your life. Getting the mechanics of sailing down is not difficult - I picked it up in under a week, sailing 3-meters off Isle of Shoals (Maine/New Hampsire border) when I was 17. Sailing a large sloop is the same idea but much much more complicated. I'd want to spend a couple of weeks or a month living aboard a larger boat, crewing for a summer even, before I tackled sailboat ownership.

You do not need a license to operate a boat unless you're going to take people for hire. However, taking a US Power Squadron course is a good idea. You learn quite a bit about the "rules of the road", emergency procedures, e. It's not expensive, the information is invaluable, you'll also get a break on your insurance if you can prove you took the course. They're usually taught by retired Coasties and merchant mariners.

I'd recommend Chapman's "Piloting" or the "Annapolis Book of Seamanship" if you want a very broad-based introduction to boating & yachting. Crewing for a summer on a decent sized boat is definitely the way to go. It's definitely the "jump in and swim" method.

pot is extremely easy to get here. easier than at home in the states for sure. not much good stuff though unless you find a rasta with some homegrown. hope this helps.

Do most employers prescreen for drugs? Don't get me wrong I'm not a complete pot head. I just like to burn a bowl once in a while.

Also how difficult is to find a job crewing on a boat with no prior experience and what might something like this pay?

I crewed on a sailboat in my youth. It was a private employer who paid a cash stipend and couldn't be bothered with things like drug screening. This was 15 years ago but I think I made $2K that summer. It might sound good to a high school student but when you think about it, you're basically always working from sunup to sundown. I think I figured it out and it worked out to about $1.50/hr!

The majority of charterboat and private yacht owners absolutely require that their employees undergo random drug testing.

Several larger island corporations also do the same.

Some of the larger (with more than, say, 10 employees) boat excursions will require their employees to have a drug screening once per year, some do a pre-screen, while others don't bother. It just depends on the owner and on their CGI requirements. No experience isn't usually a problem. As far as pay goes, figure anywhere from $50 to $100 per day. If you find one that pays only $50 per day, you will probably be make good money in tips, as well, whereas, if you find one that pays in the $100 range, the tips will probably be very low, or nonexistant.

It's a Coast Guard requirement you take a drug test even on 6pac charters. There also is ongoing random drug testing so just because you pass once doesn't mean you won't get caught eventually. You'll lose your job and you won't be able to crew or get a captain's licence ever.
You'll probably at least need rudimentary sailing skills. Lots of people would like to crew and lots of people know how to sail here.
Good luck.

You will have no problem finding reef on stt. go to pourmans (warehouse) or Coki beach anyday of the week.

Please Do NOT partake in any of the harder drugs on stt, there is some bad stuff going around. so keep your nose clean.

DO go to Bomba Shack on Tortola and drink some natural shroom tea on full moon party night.