In 35 years of sailing the BVI, we have never had a problem getting out of Road Harbor late. NEVER !

Possibly that may be due to our procedures that might be different from others.
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Here is our procedure that might our early departures possible.

1. We just have two of us. Not having to round up a wandering crowd of 12 to 14 people, and all of those people should be briefed on the vessels systems .

2. Erica and I have both , studied the Cruising Guide, and have many years of experience SAILING, not motoring the BVI. I also create my own Cruising guide, that is full color with important BVI information OUTLINED FOR QUICK REFERENCE

3. We board the vessel at 4:30 pm for an early boarding and sleep aboard the night before our actual departure day. We are not sitting on our Okoloes, With the early boarding, at 4:30 pm, we load all of our provisions on board ,
and stow all of those provisions and personal gear, and make up our rack in the V-Berth,
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4. We also check off and locate, the vessel inventory at that time and do the checks of our safety equipment, fire extinguishers, life jackets, emergency tiller, flare gun kit, first aid kit , etc. All of the vessels gear is stowed as well. VHF Radio checks.
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5. We have our own several page Personal VESSEL SYSTEMS CHECK LIST that we begin that evening and finish first thing in the morning very early. when the sun is up.

* main sail condition , reefing system, all running rigging, and location, jib sail condition, and roller furling lines, all sheets. * halyyards, etc. Standing rigging, stay, back stays. shrouds, All life lines, stanchions, and pultpits.
* Anchor, flake out on deck, check the anchor clevis pin is moused ( Chain to Anchor ). Check the length of chain, and line rode. Check the line rode for Chafe. Location of all anchors and rodes.
* Fill all water tanks , myself, in the early a.m. and check total water supply in Gals. * Know the amt of fuel in all tanks, and check full. * Go over all tank filler pipe locations * Check all valve systems, water, and fuel,
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* Check fresh water electric pump and tank gage full. * Check ice box / Refer procedures . Shower sump. All marine head thru hulls, and valves and marine head operation, pump out procedures.
* Galley sink drain, and fresh water foot pump, * Bilge and bilge pump operation, float and manual pumps, and locationof pump handle. Under way ( check marine head and sink for back syphoning.
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* Electrical systems : DC and C. Battery location, water filled, volt meter, master switch location -all positions, Check all electrical panel switches and operation of all ecletrical systems, below and topside, nav instruments, etc.
* Engine room : Total fuel in tanks, GPH ___ RPM's for charging batteries ____ Operating ranges temp ___ Oil press ___ Coolant levels ___ Engine Oil filled and dip stick inserted tight. All belt tensions.
* Any and all fluid leaks ( Including before engine start, then check water out of exhaust. Then while engine is running re check for engine and transmission oil leaks and coolant leeks.
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Top side :

*Check ships mag compass , agrees with ny hand beariing compass, as well as the auto pilot heading, * Helm wheel centered, gear in neutral after first checking grear and throttles ranges and operation.
* Check when engine running, trans, forward neutral and reverse. * Vessel answering to inputs. Check engine out exhaust
* Stove fuel, tanks filled, lift and feel weight and check gage. Also, check changing fuel tank procedures. Keep valves closed unless using fuel stove. Check proper stove operatiion and any safety valves.
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* Check shore power cord unplugged ashore and on board and stowed. * Check stern anchor location and condition, Check cockpit lockers and count total fenders on the vessel., Find manual bilge pump handle.
* Check dinghy is secured with proper cleat to bow cleat close aboard when departing bow first. Post bow watch when leaving docks. Haul up fenders and make up and coil all docklines, and stow all fenders.

WE ARE OUT OF THE DOCKS, BY ABOUT 1;00 PM, TOTALLY KNOWLDEGEABLE OF ALL SYSTEMS AND RIGGING, DINGHY LINE IS PAYED OUT ASTERN, CLEATED DOWN WITH PROPER CLEAT HITCH, AND BACKED UP WITH BOWLINE TO THE STERN PULPIT.
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Why are we out of there early and others are not as fortunate ?

1. Because we chose early boarding, the evening before departure, and all provisions and gear are stowed. All vessel inventory found and stowed. All standing and running rigging have been identified and checked.
2. We have already gone over all of the vessels systems , Both Erica and I together.
3. We have already checked the weather, know our first nights destination, and usually with the MAY winds, tucked in a single or double reef in the main, run the sheet block forward to popper position for the 110% jib .
4. We are have totally refreshed our selves on info in the cruising guide, and made up my own cruising guide, and are very familiar with the nav and local knowledge for SAILING THE BVI. We do get a chart briefing but that lasts about
5 or 10 minutes, We know that due to Irma, we need updates, that some navaids may not be watching on station, or bottom depth has changed to shallower in some anchorages.

5. ALL OF THE ABOVE BEFORE boat and systems BRIEFER ARRIVES . Erica and I, and our fellow crew , if any, have already learned and understand all of the he vessel systems.
We listens and take head of the breifer, but he only has to show us once, and therefore
The vessel an systems briefing is completed much, much sooner. Yep, it took work and effort to be seaman wise and professionally prepared and confident.
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What also helps out the Briefer as he boards the vessel :

6. Also he sees we have properly reefed down the main, and have secured the main halyard with a preventer to keep the main halyard tight and ready for hoisting. He sees the sheet blocks set for the 110% jib.
He sees all of the inventory and personaal gear stowed down below so NOTHING CAN GO ADRIFT IN THE CABIN.

7, He sees that we gave rigged a single life jacket to the stern pulpit for a quick release in case of a M,O,B. And recoiled the MOB pole and horseshoe lines so that it will run free.
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The Briefer can complete is systems and vessel check n much less time. We can help that :


* By being ahead of the power curve by being prepared. Ourr vessel is properly ready to let go dock lines and depart to our first over night destination .
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WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES ABOUT EARLY BOARDING AND PREPARING FOR SEA. and ahead of time for the chart brief, and the boat and systems briefings.

* Not only are we quickly checked out, and ready to depart in short order and early, but the briefer can get to the next crew and their vessel on his list and get then on their way as well. Multiply that out for the whole day.


* The other helpful positive is that there is only two of us to be briefed, on a 36 ft. monohull, We both are highly experienced sailors, and follow those procedures that we feel are important . Having 14 people to brief,
or even get themo ut of the bar or shops us a mighty big problem. Plus, having the crew learn all of the vessels systems and rigging and inventory and not having water tanks filled or the boat prepared for sea.
...nor the crew prepared,. The en result is that is , likely those briefings are going to be much longer.
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Agaiin, it all comes dowb totally up to the charterer own personal choices , .

They have theirs, we have ours.

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A vessel that is 100 % well l prepared for SAILING for the current conditions and going to sea. That Crew and vessel will prepared to leave immediately .

Their and systems briefs should be quickly completed. And, they will be more professionally be pared safer as an informed crew and out of the docks early,

Not to mention thinking of others who now cab be will be getting their systems brief sooner , and out of their slip sooner.
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We never have had to remain at the charter cimpany dock due to a late briefing. And that includes Australia, Tahiti, Tonga, much of the Caribbeab, Greece and Ireland .

However , all any if can control is our own personal procedures, and is also true for other bare boaters and boat owners, We chart the course that best suits us,


Denny and Erica