Charter Co. & Boat

This year we used BVI Yacht Charters. I must say, having used TWY, Moorings, and BEYC in the past, my favorite is now BVI YC. All the staff was very helpful and professional. Their location was so convenient to several restaurants/bars, shops, Bobbys & Ample Hamper. We did a sleep aboard on the 17th. and stepped off the boat into AH 20 feet away for ice and fresh breads etc. to top off our provisions.

The Boat was "Moonlight Serenade"; a 2003 Hunter 426 Deck Salon. One of her most impressive aspects was the salon. It was huge with over 7' of headroom and smooth leather settees. Separate front-loading refrigerator, freezer and icemaker ...plus a microwave, DVD with flat screen and super Bose Sound System inside and additional stereo CD player in the cockpit ...not to mention the 8kw GenSet with A/C made her a comfortable and excellent charter boat.

10/17 Arrived STT

Everyone arrive on schedule and Juan, Mary Frances and Jill were waiting for me at STT baggage claim. We were soon at the ferry dock, when I discovered I had left my camera bag in the cab. The lady at Native Son called the company and described our driver and within 15 minutes our driver had returned and was boarding the ferry with my camera bag in hand and the other hand ready for a nice tip. That was a relief as my car keys were in the bag. We all went up top for the ride over and I got out my GPS and punched in Sopers Hole waypoint, 24 knots and closing fast ...we're here and ready!!!

Itinerary:

We didn't really have a set itinerary, just decided each morning were we wanted to go keeping in mind stops for provisions and refueling. This year, I brought my laptop with Blue-Chart of the BVI. Although the BVI are easily navigated via line of sight, even after 4 trips, I still can get confused. It was a real treat and comfortable feeling to plot our course on the screen, then track our route with my GPS plugged into the laptop to see our position on the chart and COG. It was very useful on our trip to Anegada. I plotted a straight line to (Walker's) the outer waypoint and made minor adjustments with the autopilot to keep us on course. When we reached the GPS position of the outer mark ...sure enough, we spotted the red marker for the channel entrance right where Walker had it positioned.

10/17 Sleep aboard Inner Harbor Marina
10/18 Inner Harbor Marina - Indians - Bight
10/19 Bight - Marina Cay
10/20 Marina Cay - Baths - Leverick Bay
10/21 Leverick Bay - Anegada
10/22 Anegada - Monkey Point - Cane Garden Bay
10/23 Cane Garden Bay - Little Harbor, JVD
10/24 Little Harbor - Sandy Split - Sopers Hole
10/25 Sopers Hole - Deadmans Bay - Great Harbor, Peter Island
10/26 Great Harbor - George Dog - Trellis Bay
10/27 Trellis Bay - Cooper Island
10/28 Cooper Island - Marina Cay
10/29 Marina Cay - Inner Harbor Marina
10/30 Inner Harbor Marina - West End - STT -Home ...Damn!

A few Highlights:

On the evening of our sleep aboard, I had invited my dear friend Leon Brewley (Bobbys) to join us for cocktails on the boat. He showed up around 7pm with 4 gift bags ...one for each of us. The gifts included Tortola polo shirts (mine had "Capt Don C" embroidered on the sleeve), caps, a sampling of several rums, BVI place mats, sundresses for the ladies etc. This guy is a very special friend and we enjoyed learning more about his life in the BVI. He shared with us how he rode his bicycle to work each day and was usually at Bobbys from 7am till midnight 7 days a week. Also, how much the business has grown and thanked me again, and again, for the work I did on the spreadsheet program for provisions. After a couple of hours, Leon jumped back on his bike ...back to work. What a wonderful way to start our vacation, and what a prime example of why I have so much admiration for the BVI locals.

During our meal at Pirates (10/18) a lady came over and asked me if I was Capt_DC? Sure wish I could remember her name. I'm quite sure the few martinis I had had, probably didn't have a thing to do with my memory cells not functioning properly ...but I was flattered to have been recognized.

During our stop at the Baths on 10/20, we had a nice snorkel then went to the "Top of the Baths" for a fresh water swim and a few drinks. I noticed a couple standing by the pool rail looking over the fabulous view while in intimate conversation. Shortly later, they returned to their table and group. With tears in her eyes, she was showing all the engagement ring he just given her ...awahhhh.

After leaving the Baths we ventured on to North Sound for our pre-arranged hook up with Paul (PaulBrenn), Cyndi and her folks at Leverick Bay. On our dinghy ride to the bar, we were flagged down by a group (French) whose dinghy had been cast off and would not start. Juan gathered their painter and joked with them about what a pain-in-the-[censored] they were as we towed them to the dock. We had drinks and a real nice visit with Paul and crew, and then returned to our boat for dinner.

The next morning, we topped off fuel and water and headed to Anegada to meet up with Paul and Cyndi again for our annual Lobster dinner at Anegada Reef Hotel. Prior to dinner, Paul and crew came over for drinks. Cyndi's mom really liked our A/C and am quite certain she let Paul know. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Argue.gif" alt="" /> The dinner at ARH was excellent as usual. After dinner, I managed to entertain my crew with my (once-a-year) unplanned dip getting from the dinghy to our boat. Fortunately, this time no $'s floated out of my pockets. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drown.gif" alt="" />

On our leg from Anegada to Cane Garden Bay, we stopped at Monkey Point off Guana Island for some snorkeling. My first time there, it was excellent. Lots of large Yellowtail and a small shy eel. On to CGB, dinner at Myetts was a real treat, and our waitress entertained all by dancing with a lit candle balanced on the top of her head. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />

While in CGB, we decided to take the day easy and tour Caldwell's distillery. Wow! What a neat place. Just had to buy a few bottles of rum (requirement) so we could take some photos of the inside of this place.

On to JVD and our usual stop at Sydney's for more T-shirts and chats with Janet and Strawberry ...then over to Abe's for (still) the best lobster IMHO in the BVI. Had a real nice conversation with Mondale? Sp the son of Abe I believe. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

10/24 we went to Sandy Split for more snorkeling then on to Sopers for more provisions and mooring ball for the night. The next morning we refueled (yes I know this is the 2nd time but that GenSet uses about .5 gal/hr and we were not conservative about using the A/C). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Deadmans Bay on 10/25 was nice as usual. Food is still too expensive but did manage to contribute to the economy by buying a few drinks. The beach there is one of the prettiest in the BVI. After a relaxing afternoon, headed around to Great Harbor, PI. The next morning Juan and I went ashore to pay the mooring fee, but couldn't find anyone, so just left the money (with a note) at the beach bar.

10/26 ventured to George Dog for great snorkeling then into Trellis Bay. Had a great BBQ dinner at de Loose Mongoose followed by more drinks and dancing. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drinking.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />

The next day finds us at Cooper Island. Around 4pm, we hear "Mayday-Mayday-Mayday, this is Island Time we're stuck on a rock". We followed the communication of the distressed vessel and VISAR to learn they thought they were at the entrance of Sopers but when VISAR finally got them to pen down their location with GPS, they were actually on the rocks at the entrance of Cruz Bay, St. John. Just don't understand how someone could not know where he or she is. We later learned this was a powerboat out of the TMM fleet. No one hurt and boat did not take on water ...at least they didn't think so. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/titanic.gif" alt="" />

10/28 Jill decides she wants to spend some time with normal people and hitches a ride with a dive boat to see the Rhone. Juan, Mary and I just relaxed on the boat and picked her up later and headed over again to Marina Cay. Since our earlier stop there was on a Sunday, I had forgotten that Donovan's Reef was closed on Sundays. So, we HAD to return because this is a must do. They picked us up at our boat. Dinner and nice conversation with Jim and Bob was a real nice treat. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

About 1am, hearing Juan moving about in the salon awakened me. Our GenSet had shut down and it was starting to get pretty warm. We looked at each other and came to the same conclusion ...we'll deal with this tomorrow. The next morning we discovered that the belt had disintegrated. We located a replacement, but it was for the big engine. Since this was our last day out and wouldn't need the GenSet again, we just closed it up and went to the dock to fill water and fuel tanks (yes our third refueling).

On our sail back to Road Harbor I noticed a sailboat under power heading straight for us. I continued to watch this guy and he was making no signal of changing course, and I am quite sure he was seated with autopilot and probably didn't even see us. Within about 6 boat lengths, I ran up to our bow and yelled "SKIPPER!!!!" He then stood up and changed course about the time I was ready to do a major falling off. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Argue.gif" alt="" />

After safely sliding Moonlight Serenade into her slip and dock lines secured, Juan and I did our usual high-five <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />...saluting ourselves for a (once again) safe and fun trip with no damage to boat or crew. The evening found us at the Captains Table for dinner and later the crew went to the Bat Cave for more drinks and dancing till the wee hours, while I decided to ease into bed with that wonderful A/C purring like a kitten. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/snore.gif" alt="" />

Till next year...