TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands the long ago cruising in bvi

Having been sailing in the BVIs since 1976, I seem to remember many things which are no longer happening (wonder why that is?) The first thing is that there was a channel (I think 16) that was called during the day the Children's Hour, when you could call restaurants on your radio and make reservations for dinner, etc. Am I having a senior moment or did this happen when we would sail and anchor near the brand new Bitter End, dring with Kilbride and pick up conchs and have them for dinner. There were no catamarans then.

before cell phones Channel 16 was the happening social media.

Yes your talking about WAH, VI Radio VHF
They could connect you by phone to anywhere in the country through your VHF.
They closed down about 15 years ago.

And Mary from VI radio used to sign off with......."just another day Iin Paradise"

I remember VI radio well. Your only connection to home etc. What channel was it? 81-82? Anybody remember?

Every day they would do a roll call to boaters who have received a message, they would then notify everyone on 16 to move to ? whatever the channel was.
In the 70's most of the VHF radios ran on crystals and there was a limited amount of stations.

When the crewed charters were booming in the 70's and 80's that roll call usually included some very famous sailing vessels.
it was always a treat for me to be on the lookout for them during the week out there sailing.
And if we were on the way back down from Newport/Annapolis the 1st day we could pick up WAH made us feel like we were home!!

Ah yes, "Virgin Islands Radio is holding traffic for the following vessels......

You hit it on the head!
At any anchorage anywhere within range you had a connection with home or wherever with the use of your VHF! "High Tech"