Is the Pillsbury Sound rough? What to expect on the crossing
Usually mild, and short. The Red Hook to Cruz Bay passenger ferry takes about 15 minutes. NOAA's Coast Pilot describes Pillsbury Sound as an excellent roadstead, but says the area can become quite rough.
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Sound · US Virgin Islands · Reputation among passengers: mixed: commonly reported as uncomfortable in the wrong conditions.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Roughness summarises typical reported conditions for this crossing, not a forecast for any given sailing.
Trade-wind chop in a small sound
In the Nausea Index table of the 121 sea crossings we cover, the Pillsbury Sound is rated manageable, one of 81 in that band, with 40 rated higher. Full table: the roughest sea crossings, ranked.
Key facts
- The Pillsbury Sound is a sound, and passenger reports place it in the moderate roughness band.
- The mechanism behind that reputation: Trade-wind chop in a small sound.
- Conditions are reported roughest in December.
- The calmest months are usually May and October.
Why does the Pillsbury Sound get rough?
Pillsbury Sound is the water between St. Thomas, St. John and the cays on its north side, about 2 miles from east to west and 1.5 miles from north to south, with depths of 41 to 111 feet and a current that reaches 2 knots. Trade winds blow almost without exception from the east, and the Coast Pilot says wind speed picks up from daybreak and peaks late in the morning or early afternoon. The park service adds that winter tends to bring stronger winds, and that cold fronts can send the Christmas winds down from the north.
When is the Pillsbury Sound roughest?
The Coast Pilot says the highest mean maximum wind speeds usually occur in winter, from late December to the end of January, and the park service says summer tends to bring lighter winds. In winter, cold fronts can bring the Christmas winds down from the north and create large waves on north shore beaches. In summer, tropical storms or hurricanes occasionally approach from the east and south.
| Roughest water in Jan | Roughest water in Feb | Roughest water in Mar | Roughest water in Apr | Roughest water in May | Roughest water in Jun | Roughest water in Jul | Roughest water in Aug | Roughest water in Sep | Roughest water in Oct | Roughest water in Nov | Roughest water in Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Calm | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Calm | Mixed | Rough |
Typical seasonal pattern, not a forecast. Any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Check the marine forecast for your sailing date. Select a month to see every sea and ferry crossing ranked for it.
Where to be on board
Front to back
- Bow (front)Avoid
- MidshipBest
- Stern (aft)OK
The crossing: 15 to 30 minutes
Roughest stretch: The open middle of the sound, away from Red Hook and Cruz Bay
Sit near the middle of the boat with a view of the horizon. The crossing is short, so a rough patch does not last long.
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The crossings that cross it
| Route | Typical duration | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hook to Cruz Bay (Varlack Ventures passenger ferry) | About 15 minutes | The shortest route between St. Thomas and St. John. |
| Red Hook to Cruz Bay (Love City Car Ferries) | About 25 minutes | Car ferry with hourly departures. The operator may cancel or delay for high winds, rough seas or tropical storms. |
| Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay (Varlack Ventures passenger ferry) | About 30 minutes | The longer route, from downtown Charlotte Amalie. |
What helps on this crossing
- Take an early ferry. The Coast Pilot says night winds are lighter than daytime winds, and that wind speed picks up from daybreak and peaks late in the morning or early afternoon.
- Sit near the middle of the boat and watch the horizon. The Red Hook to Cruz Bay passenger ferry takes about 15 minutes.
- Check the forecast in winter and in hurricane season. Love City Car Ferries says high winds, rough seas or tropical storms can cancel or delay departures.
For the full toolkit see the seasickness guide, or what to do once it has already started. For what the trials actually say about the oldest trick on that list, see the verdict on looking at the horizon. If the rocking follows you ashore afterwards, that is land sickness, which is normal, and it passes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pillsbury Sound rough in December?
December is the roughest month in the Coast Pilot's table for the waters off the Virgin Islands, with waves above 9 feet 1.6 percent of the time. The park service says winter tends to bring stronger winds, and the Coast Pilot says the highest mean maximum winds usually come from late December to the end of January.
Is Pillsbury Sound rough in July?
Usually less so. The park service says summer tends to bring lighter winds, and the Coast Pilot's table shows waves above 9 feet 0.8 percent of the time in July. Tropical storms or hurricanes occasionally approach in summer, so check the forecast.
How long is the ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay?
Varlack Ventures lists about 15 minutes for the passenger ferry, and Love City Car Ferries lists about 25 minutes for the car ferry. The passenger ferry from downtown Charlotte Amalie takes about 30 minutes.
Can Pillsbury Sound get rough?
Yes. The Coast Pilot calls the sound an excellent roadstead, then adds that the area can become quite rough. It gives depths of 41 to 111 feet and a current of up to 2 knots.
Other crossings
Sources & further reading
- https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/files/cp5/CPB5_C14_WEB.pdf
- https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
- https://www.varlack-ventures.com/ferryservices
- https://www.varlack-ventures.com/
- https://www.lovecitycarferries.com/schedule.html
- https://www.lovecitycarferries.com/faq.html
Sea conditions described here are typical patterns drawn from published marine and operator information as of July 2026, not a forecast: conditions on any given sailing depend on the weather that day, and any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Seasickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.