Trip Report:
I love the trip reports on this forum, they are so well written and because of that, I may have been a bit intimidated and I just didn’t think I had anything new to add. So I never provided any. But on this trip, in Week 2 specifically, I had the experience of sailing with a 10 month old infant that may provide some ideas for anyone who is thinking about doing this.
Week 1 July 2nd – July 9th
July 2nd. Flight from JFK to St Thomas is great. On time arriving at noon. Get to ferry dock. Can’t leave until 4:15 Fast Ferry ferry to Roatown which doesn’t leave until 5:00. Get to Pro Valor charters at 6:30, nice note on the office door telling us where everything is and we go to dinner across the street at Oneal’s.
July 3rd. Everything on the boat is just perfect. It’s a 5 year old Beneteau Cyclades 39 which has been chartered a lot, first through Sunail and now with Pro Valor charters. Jim and crew and Pro Valor have done a great job getting it ready for us. Jim and Cecilia are the best! We could not be happier with them. In the morning we go to the Rite Way next door to do some major provisioning. I love that the store is right next door.
After provisioning it is off to The Bight and a day at Pirates Cove Beach. I have a nice spot to anchor there and it is a perfect day. We love the new restaurant. It is a little pricier but still within budget. Service was excellent.
July 4th: Sail to Sopers Hole and wait for my son and his girlfriend coming on the ferry. They had many more ferries running and they caught the 3:00 PM Native Son which arrived right around 4:00 PM. We made a quick departure to Can Garden Bay where we wanted to anchor in another spot I like when its calm but had a problem with the anchor windlass not responding. No problems, we just picked up a morring and had dinner at Quitos. Quito rhymer was playing and it was absolutely wonderful. There was a local couple celebrating their 50th Anniversary and they had a special dance. Then Quito let a guy play a song for his new bride of 4 just 4 days. He was very, very good and it was especially touching with the 50th Anniversary couple there as well. Just another one of those wonderful special magic BVI moments.
July 5th: Sail, well actually motor most of the way to Leverick Bay for the Friday Beach Barbecue. Can’t miss that! Get there around noon, top off some water, ice and grab a mooring. MY son and his girlfriend go to the Baths and some island touring. My wife and I lounge by the pool, do some laundry and provision a little more, and do a little lounging again.
At 6:30 we make our way to the barbecue, absolutely wonderful as always as are the Jumbies. Nick and Monica were not there but we will be coming the next week and hope to see them.
July 6th: Have a beautiful sail to Anegada. Wonderful weather. Moor and my wife and I get a cab to Cow Wreck beach. My son and girlfriend rent scooters. They had a blast. We had drinks and lunch at Cow Wreck, Belle’s daughter was running the service, some of the best burgers, conch fritters and lobster fritters around. After a great afternoon we get back to the boa and eat on board with a beautiful sunset.
July 7th: We had such a great time we decided to stay another day and repeated everything except now at Loblolly Beach and the Big Bamboo. Got some great snorkeling in until around 2 PM when the rain started and it got cloudy. That is when I got my first word of what would be Chantal. We decided to eat at Potters and we had Lobsters done to perfection and Shrimp curry which was also very good. We shared the four dishes.
July 8th: It was recommended we depart early and we did. Jim from Pro Valor called and gave us a detailed weather report saying to be prepared for high winds (30+ knots) on Tuesday. We had a beautiful downwind sail back and got to Great Harbor by noon. Having left at 7:30 it was a long sail but very relaxing. My son and I decided to make the walk over to White Bay. It was exhausting and the worst part was, even though it was Monday, it as still the holiday weekend and it was packed. Soggy Dollar bar had a line for food and their bathroom. And the worst part was, Jewels snack shop was not open. Got a drink at One Love and left for Ivan’s. Everyone, I am afraid the White Bay experience may be gone forever as it has been “discovered” and in my opinion, exploited.
Ivans side of the beach was perfect, much like the old days. After a while I headed back up the hill. I seem to remember this walk being much easier, oh yeah, that was 8 years ago. My legs must be a little older. Had dinner at Foxy’s and while it was a nice vibe there, we were all so tired we went back after and after getting the weather report went to bed. Seems that now Tropical Storm Chantal was, fortunately for us, going to be south of the Virgin Islands.
July 9th: Motored to Sandy Cay early as my son wanted to show his girlfriend the island and search for a coconut like he did 8 years ago. After an hour or so, we then took a short sail to Sopers Hole to wait for my daughter, her husband and our new 9 month old granddaughter to arrive. They arrived on the 3:30 Smiths Ferry with no problems and we had dinner at The new Jolly Roger, Fish and Lime. We had Mahi Mahi, the ribs and burgers. All loved their meals and I must say, were reasonably priced. Back to the boat early and can’t await for next weeks sailing adventure with my granddaughter.
July 10th: After a very blustery night, It was overcast and the winds still up the next morning. My son and his girlfriend got on the 6:45 AM ferry to St. Thomas. However, our granddaughter was ready to explore the boat. With her infant life jacket and tether secure she loved to crawl around the boat exploring all the different textures and knobs. Eventually we motored over to Cane Garden Bay and by the afternoon it was a beautiful beach day. My wife and I had dinner with our granddaughter on the boat and my daughter and husband went to Bananakeet for their anniversary dinner. They came back and raved about the experience.
July 11th: Got up early and motored over to Monkey Point to snorkel. My daughter and her husband loved it. We then motored to Virgin Gorda and unfurled the sails for a wonderfully calm sail north. We then made our way and decided it was time to put up the sails. We sailed comfortably for a couple of hours then moored in Trellis Bay and had dinner at The Last Resort. Another fantastic day in the BVI’s.
July 12th: We motored toward Virgin Gorda then put up the sails again and sailed at least three miles north of Mosquito Rock and timed a perfect tack right into the mouth of the entrance to Gorda Sound. The Leverick Bay Beach Barbecue was fantastic as usual. I got the chance to introduce the next generation of sailors, my granddaughter, to Nick and Monica.
July 13th: On this day we got up early and made a long run to The Bight. Had a great time swimming on the beach at Pirates and had dinner on the boat while my daughter and her husband went to Willy T’s. Unfortunately, it was just too crowded to move their they said. They estimated some 200 revelers were on the boat and they had run out of food. But not drink, however it was just too overwhelming for a long stay.
July 14th: We got up early and stopped at the Caves for some snorkeling then had lunch at Oceans 7 on Peter Island. After, we decided to do some sailing and ended up back at The Bight and had a wonderful afternoon on the beach and then dinner at Pirates. It was great, the food and the waitresses were so attentive to our granddaughter and us.
July 15th: We made a leisurely sail down the Channel and eventually pulled back home to Pro Valor Charters at Harborview Marina. Both Jim and Cecilia were there to greet us. How wonderful to come back to such attentive service and smiles. Two weeks of sailing some of it with a 10 month old baby, no mishaps save a bent boat hook. We even had time to take a taxi to Josiahs Bay for one last beach day.
July 16th: All packed up and ready to go home. Taxi arrived on time and we easily caught the 9:40 Smiths Tortola Fast Ferry to St. Thomas. We had a 2:00 PM flight with a long layover in Miami, but upon arrival, the gate agent said my wife and I had time to make the 12:00 direct flight to JFK. Sweet!
It was a wonderful trip. If anyone has any specific questions about sailing with an infant or toddler, feel free to PM me or email me and I can provide some specific photos. As with all things sailing, its all about preparation and having the proper perspective as to what can and cannot be done. My daughter did a good job getting our granddaughter prepared. If you email me, she said she is willing to be contacted by anyone who is interested in what worked, and did not work.
