St. Croix Sailing Adventure Tours with Eighth Flag Charters
One of St. Croix’s newest tours offers a glimpse into the Golden Age of Piracy! St. Croix Sailing Adventure Tours with Stanford Joines, author of The Eighth Flag: Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. PIRATES. is a private tour experience that allows guests to relive the incredible pirate history of St. Croix in Salt River Bay.
Joines has been sailing Caribbean waters and diving pirate shipwrecks for over thirty years. He taught sailing to children on St. Croix during this time, racing in regattas with them throughout the Northern Caribbean. A retired teacher, Joines spent eight years researching St. Croix’s history and learned that pi-racy was a large part of the island’s past. This fascination with piracy in the Caribbean led him to pen his book, The Eighth Flag: Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. PIRATES. This untold story of the Caribbean and the mystery of St. Croix’s Pirate Legacy explores piracy on St. Croix from 1493 to 1750. While seven flags are known to have flown over St. Croix during this time, it is said that pirates, conquistadors, freebooters, buccaneers, and the like ruled the Caribbean and called St. Croix home. Under this eighth flag, they would steal at sea without regard for ‘permission,’ paying no attention to whatever country had ownership. Joines’s company, Eight Flag Charters, has commandeered a vessel that sails with the tide for two-hour adventure tours seven days a week. Aboard Folly, guests get to sail in the wake of Blackbeard, Bellamy, and Black Caesar on the beautiful waters of Salt River Bay found on St. Croix’s north shore. On this customizable private tour, you can omit or include the pirate history, try your hand at sailing or enjoy a relaxing sail out of the bay and into the Caribbean Sea. You can also opt for an intimate sunset cruise with the sound of wind and waves as the soundtrack for your excursion. Water and soft drinks are provided, but guests are free to bring their favorite libations along for the adventure.
Tours are $75 per adult and $45 for children 12 and under, with a $250 minimum to set sail. Book your tour on their website or email stan@stanfordjoines.com to arrange for your private adventure. For more information, visit www.stanfordjoines.org/tours or call 340. 332.2472.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com
Photos courtesy of Eighth Flag Charters
