2002 BVI Trip Report<br><br>Charter: Trade Wind Yachts, s/v Serenity, Jeanneau 50 w four staterooms and four heads<br><br>Mates: Captain Dad, Navigator John, Cookie Jay, Crew Quiet Wyatt and The Kid <br><br>Captain Dad’s itinerary:<br><br>Departure Day Tues July 23, 2002 CO flt 1212 Dept IAH 1:28pm<br>Arrival San Juan July 23, 2002, 7:01pm<br>Cab ride from SJU to Hampton Inn<br>Dinner and beer at Lupis across the street from the Hampton<br>Breakfast complimentary of Hampton Inn<br>Depart San Juan July 24, 2002, 10:51am<br>Arrive Beef Island July 24, 2002, 11:32am<br><br>Day 1 Wednesday, July 24, AA Flt 5142N Arrive EIS 1132am Customs, charter checkout, lunch at Harbour View (second floor at TWY?), initial provisioning at Rite Breeze, depart Fat Hog’s Bay at 3pm sail to Soper’s Hole pick up mooring, painkillers and snack at Pusser’s, Taxi to Full Moon Party, Bomba Shack, party, taxi back to Soper’s Hole and a sound night’s sleep<br><br>Day 2 Thursday, July 25, Depart Soper’s Hole Sail to CGB, winds from E, ESE at 25 Knots, pick up mooring, crew explores beach and have hamburger in paradise while Captain takes a nap, dinner at Quito’s, enjoy Quito’s solo and dance to the music.<br><br>Day 3 Friday, July 26, Depart CGB at 11:00am for Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island, winds continue at E, ESE at 25 knots, reef main to first reef points, arriving in time to pick up the last mooring, The Kid catches (and releases) fish using snorkel/hand line technique in Manchioneel Bay, John and Quiet Wyatt scuba dive Cistern Point and claim it is unbelievable, like being in an aquarium; Dinner on shore at Cooper Island Beach Club – very good, light rain around midnight and high winds estimated at 50 knots around 2:00am, damage to Serenity’s dodger. Moorings s/v moored 100 yard to the south had bimini blown off.<br><br>Day 4 Saturday, July 27, Depart Cooper Island for Road Harbour, Roadtown, Tortola to re-provision at Bobby’s Market then an easy sail to The Bight, Norman Island, where Cookie prepares a gourmet feast then all head for Willie T’s for grog and fun; talked with a large group from Saint Louis and met Captain Round Man. Talked with Al, bar tender at Willie T’s who remembered talking to us last year.<br><br>Day 5 Sunday, July 28, explore the caves, dive, snorkel and relax. Another feast on board for dinner then back to Willie T’s which is very quiet so all return to Serenity and turn in early.<br><br>Day 6 Monday, July 29, depart The Bight around 9:00am with clear skies and winds out of the east at 15 to 20 knots for TWY’s at Fat Hogs Bay to have dodger repaired, outside stereo speakers replaced (crew threatened mutiny if Captain did not put in for speaker repair), topped off water tanks, refrigerator hinges repaired, recharged dive tanks, and replenished beer and ice. Departed 3:00pm for Bitter Inn, North Sound, Virgin Gorda, catching first big fish (three foot Kingfish) on hand trolling line – released. Picked up mooring at Bitter Inn around 5:30pm, The Kid shows his talents as cook with cornish game hen for everyone, dingy to Saba Rock for drinks and discussion about tomorrows trip to Anegada.<br><br>Day 7 Tuesday, July 30, Depart North Sound, VG, at 7:45am with clear skies winds out of the east at 15 knots for sail to Anegada. Winds remained steady but gradually shifted to a more NE direction so by the time, 10:30am, we reached Anegada we were on a close reach. Took the reef out of the main. Hooked another Kingfish on sail to Anegada. Great sail and no problem navigating entrance to the harbor. Picked up a mooring and noticed the Texas Two Step was located at the next mooring. Later the owner and crew of the Texas Two Step, noticing the Texas flag we were flying, dinghied over for a chat. (Discussed Walker’s trip report on TTOL.) Fished from the boat catching numerous reef fish (using cheese as bait) including a reef black tip shark and a barricuda (using cut bait) – released all but one reef fish that volunteered to be cut bait. Crew explored the shore. After dinner, all went ashore for drinks at the Anegada Reef Hotel then drifted down the shore to the east for a night cap at another small beach bar.<br><br>Day 8 Wednesday, July 31, all crew and captain took taxi ($6 each round trip) from Anegada Reef Hotel to LobLolly Bay for a day of snorkeling – great trip, not to be missed. Crew and captain really getting laid back (limin mon – Capt and Cookie have ongoing discussion on correct pronunciation of “limin”). Lobster dinner at ARH that night and drinks down the beach once again. Met an English barrister and his wife at ARH, then again later that night when their anchor did not hold – Captain and The Kid who were enjoying a very late night nightcap, woke the barrister and helped reset the anchor – fee charged - one cup of coffee the next morning and the loan of a bosun’s chair to retrieve a lost halyard from the top of Serenity’s mast but that’s another story. <br><br><br>Day 9 Thursday, Aug 1, dropped the mooring around 10:00am and headed west for Jost van Dyke. On Wednesday, the wind died & such was still the case on Thursday – forced to motor the entire passage from Anegada to JVD on seas as smooth as glass. Arrived Great Harbour 2:30pm, anchored, crew went ashore to reprovision beer, ice and steaks (not a bargain on price). Captain prepared the BBQ pit for steaks for the evening meal. All enjoyed Foxy’s that night with a lively crowd on shore with Foxy’s son providing the entertainment.<br><br><br>Day 10 Friday, Aug 2, weighed anchor around 10:00am and set course for The Baths on Virgin Gorda. Winds picked up from none to maybe 5 knots, motored about half way, sailed the other half. Arrived Baths 1:15pm, picked up a mooring, explored shore, ate lunch at Top of the Baths, departed VG at 3:30 heading west for Marina Cay. Marina Cay Grill provided dinner for a hungry crew and all turned in early on our last night.<br><br>Day 11 Saturday, Aug 3, returned to Fat Hogs Bay, check Serenity back in to TWY, lunch at Harbour View Restaurant, and a sad farewell – until next year. <br><br>Departure from BVI Saturday, Aug 3, AA Flt 5151N 310pm<br>San Juan Arrive 3:56pm<br>Saturday night at Hampton Inn San Juan<br>Dinner at Metropol (excellent Cuban food within walking distance of Hampton Inn)<br>Sunday breakfast – complementary at Hampton Inn<br>Depart SJU Sunday, Aug 4, CO Flt 1112, 1:00pm<br>Arrive Home IHA Sunday 4:32pm<br><br>Average cost per person (excluding travel) $800 for ten days.<br>