B.V.I Trip June 30 – July 10 2007
Finally getting around to logging this trip. We had a 40 foot Beneteau mono hull from ProValor
www.provalorcharters.com Charters in Fatt Hoggs Bay. Jim and Cecilia, the co owners with another couple really have my highest recommendation. They run a small but very efficient operation and the service is very personal. They have become good friends.
The whole trip was impeccable. There were no airport delays, The boat was perfect. The weather was excellent. There were no fatalities, accidents, or negatives the whole ten
Days.
The Boat was a 39.9 ft Beneteau Monohull named Pinta. The boat is only 2 years old and those folks at ProValor keep everything in top shape. We were very pleased with the boat and the condition. We had no problems the whole ten days we were aboard
Because we wanted to tie in this trip with a few days of White Water rafting in Maine, we decided to drive to Boston from Halifax. Due to the fact that my daughter was having graduation ceremonies from high school, and did not want to miss this event we were unable to get on the road until after 10 pm on the 28th. We then proceeded to drive thru the night direct to Boston with a brief stop in Freeport Maine to shop at LL Beans at 7 am on the 29th. Arrived down town Boston at 10 30 am. Checked into Mariners House, a really cool hotel in the North end for Mariners. Had a sleep for a few hours then off to explore. Had an excellent dinner at an Italian Restaurant called Mother Anna’s? Superb food and the Pictures of Sangria were perfect for getting the vacation off on the right foot.
June 30 6 am flight to San Juan . Departed and arrived on time then a couple of hours to wait for the BVI flight. Arrived on time at Beef and headed straight to Provalor Yacht Charters in Fat Hoggs Bay. We met up with the others in our group and they were settled in on their boat from Pro valor as well. Very rolly night alongside the dock in Fat Hog’s Bay. Not much sleep was had by all. Everyone headed out for the full moon party at Trellis Bay.
Early rise on Sunday morning. Headed to Road Town in the rented car to shop for groceries. $500.00 later back aboard and stored the stuff. Returned the rental to the airport and departed the dock at 1 pm. Very good shake down sail to Cooper. Grabbed a mooring ball and swam drank beer had a B’Que and then we relaxed 
July 2, 2007 departed Cooper and sailed to Fallen Jerusalem Lee Bay. Anchored. Snorkled. Lunched. Then sailed to The Baths. Kids went ashore to visit the baths. Sailed in the afternoon to Trellis. Quiet night on a Mooring Ball. Barbeque, Beer etc.
July 3. 18 year old daughter enrolled in a diving course (she got certified in 3 days with one other student). The rest of us sailed to Guano Island. Swam snorkeled then after lunch sailed to North Sound. Pretty much into the wind so we ended up steaming for part of the afternoon. We arrived North Sound and anchored 100 ft off the Fat Virgin Restaurant . We were the only boat there. We had a really nice dinner at the F. V. Excellent as usual, especially the burgers and the Roti. And the conch fritters always a family favorite. The young’ns went to BEYC for sociables and returned quite cheerful very late.
July 4 Moved to Saba Rock and picked up a mooring ball for the H2O and Ice. Fat Virgin’s for lunch ( I really like that place). Kids rented and raced hobie cats and lasers in the afternoon. Dinner aboard.
July 5 Lynne left on the ferry for Trellis for day 2 of diving course. The rest of us sailed to Spanish town to replenish some food and alcohol needs. Then we sailed to Cooper and met up with the divers. We had planned to continue to Great hbr. Peter Island but decided to stay put at Cooper. The kids made great friends and played cards with the owner’s daughter and her friend. They had a great time and had free fritters and drinks compliments of the Cooper Island Crowd. They came home late again. Just another night in paradise.
July 6. Sailed to Great Harbor Peter Island. Lynne’s last day and her 2 Open Water dives. I did the dives with her and her certification was complete. We departed around 3 pm for Yost and with a tail wind we really boogied arriving at Great Harbor JVD around 5 30. Anchored and met up with the other boat in our group and an excellent dinner at Ali Baba,s. We have eaten here on one other occasion and we were not disappointed. Off to Foxy’s where some in our group performed more than others. Good night.
July 7 Jost- Sopers-for water and some more stores and some shopping. Continued on to the Bight and anchored and dinner aboard. Quiet night. P.R. Navy was there and I counted at least 10 boats rafted up and stern to the shore. The place was pretty quiet though.
July 8 Depart the Bight. Snorkled at the Indians then the caves then sailed to Little Harbor Peter Island. We really like this anchorage. Explored the house on the hill and swam around as the mood directed. Dinner aboard.
July 9 Departed Little Hbr. Way excellent sail to Salt Island. Anchored and explored the salt flats and the kids collected about 5 lbs of salt which they brought home and bottled to give to friends. Those salt flats are really something else. I had never been there before. Another excellent sail in the afternoon to Marina Cay. Anchored and went ashore and had a moderately overpriced although very good dinner at Pussers.
July 10 Charter ends. Sailed to Fat Hog’s Bay turned the boat in at ProValor. Did I mention that I really liked this company and especially Cecilia and Jim
www.provalorcharters.com check them out for your next charter. The only fatalities were my glasses which cannot swim and the boats cell phone, which I assume is at the bottom of the sea somewhere as well.
Off loaded and checked out the boat. Had lunch at the Kong Ming Chinese restaurant at the marina there in F H Bay. Cab to the Tamarind club for the final overnight. Tamarind Club is a very interesting rustic place. Tuesdays is $2.00 drinks all night. The rum punches are very tasty and I believe that there is rum in every drink. I kind of lost count. Dinner there was pretty good. We were the only group staying there I believe although many people rolled in for $2.00.. There was plenty of rum personality flowing and a very fine way to end the vacation although we had to get up at 5 am to catch a flight home. One Hurt’n Unit here.
The only thing that leaves me confused is that I am unable to get an email response from Cindy at The Tamarind Club. I have emailed her with comments and questions, and I have not received a response. I believe that I was inadvertently overcharged by about $50. For our room. I am looking for a response that does not seem to be forthcoming. This leaves a small bad taste in my mouth so I am not sure that I would stay there again. Perhaps they are closed for the season and they will respond at sometime in the future.
July 11. Flew to San Juan and made connection to Boston all on time and no problems to report. That restaurant in the San Juan airport really sucks though. The food is awful and grossly overpriced. Happily they make it easy to figure out the tip, as the calculation is already figured out for you at 20% , inside the booklet that they bring you with the bill.
Arrived Boston and had pizza at Sanitarpio’s Pizza in East Boston. A real experience with décor from 1940. Drove from Boston- Kittery and then on to the Forks Maine. And then white Water rafting the next day on the Kennebec River. A real thrill that I recommend to all.
www.northernoutdoors.comThe next day July 13 we headed north again and arrived back in Canada and the whole life as we know it thing. DIF is lingering. It is hard to come home and get back to the old grind.
I will post this now and tomorrow if I get a chance I will post some photos to go along with the adventure.
Bye for now
Shaun
