Land at Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ), step onto a private boat, and be on St John in about 53 min. No ferry timetable, no overnight on the wrong island — the transfer is timed on your flight.
The public ferry runs on its own timetable and rarely matches an arriving flight; a missed connection means a night on Virgin Gorda instead of St John.
A private transfer leaves when you land, takes your luggage in one go, and covers the 41 km in about 53 min.