Day 1

Well….Day 1 is really NIGHT one, since we almost always leave LAX on a red-eye. Flew AA Business from LAX to JFK – wish they would switch out the old 767-200s but it was still VERY nice – the Admirals Club at LAX is much nicer than my usual United haunt – unless I’m in the International First lounge which rocks. We got to the airport in good time, enjoyed snacks and drinks at the club and headed off to our flight.


Day 2


Flight left on time, landing JFK about 20 minutes ahead of schedule. No lounge for us at JFK since we are technically flying “Faux First Class” (2-class plane) to STT and we are not AA club members – who cares? We’re so excited to be ALMOST THERE.

Now…here’s where it’s weird in retrospect because you never realize how out of touch you can be down ilon. The Boston Marathon bombing took place that day and we never heard a thing about it. We landed in STT about 12noon EST, hooked up with Rachel (thinks Rita – she’s awesome) who drove us to Red Hook to meet Evan (sail2wind) and Nina (Mrs. Sail2wind and my BFF). No TV, no radio, etc – just all of us enjoying a lovely trip on Long Overdue with a stop at Leincester Bay for lunch on the way to Sopers. Checked in at Sopers, had some PKs at Pussers and headed to Banakeet for dinner with Mal and Candace. None of us had any clue what happened that day. I don’t think we found out until we got to Leverick on Thursday.

Day 3

Got up the next morning and headed over to BVI Yacht Charters to check in and get on board Olive, our Oceanis 31 for the week. Provisioning arrived from Riteway with a few mistakes here and there but nothing monumental – ditto for Caribbean Cellars. Walked across the street with our big blue IKEA bag and shopped up a storm at Riteway. Every year I say I’m not going to overshop and every year…I do. Next year….LOL….

Checked out quick with Chris at BVIYC – boat is almost brand new – delivered at Christmas – and she is SMALLLLLLL. LOL. Cute…but SMALLL. Did I mention she was small? More on that later…..

The plan was to hook up with Evan and Nina and Tony and Melody over at Peter Island. Which we did. Had a GREAT time there!! We ended up staying two nights there we loved it so much – explored the resort, hiked up for some views, had some KILLER bloody marys and rum punches at the beach bar AND the resort bar (leave no bar unturned!) and just really chilled out.

Water was a TEENY bit cool (we’re so spoiled by the warm water in summer!) and the breeze was really kicking up – the weather was forecasting some fairly significant wind and there were white caps in the Channel. Oh well. Sun’s out, we’re on a boat, and we have some great friends! Nothing to complain about.

Did I mention that Olive was small?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Day 5

We had slips reserved at Leverick so off we went! Evan and Nina were making a pit stop in Spanish Town to top up the boat phone and run an errand or two. Since we were SMALL, we just slogged on up to Leverick dead into the wind.

Small. Very small. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> NOT fast. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Great night at Leverick – champagne with Nick and Monz, Tony and Melody, Evan and Nina – and then WAAAAAAAY too much Pinot Grigio…..oh well….not a great recipe for fun the next morning but it might have had something to do with the fact that champagne came first!

Day 6

REALLY wanted to do Anegada – that’s for you, Mal <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Really wanted to GO TO Anegada – but….here’s that "small" thing again. Bigger is in fact better when it comes to big beamy seas and lots of wind….not a recipe for a comfortable day on a 31 footer. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sick.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Tony and Mel had guests that really want to go so off they went – it was an adventurous day from what we heard.

We decided to do something COMPLETELY different from anything we’d all ever done – we rented a car and spent the day running around Virgin Gorda from one end to the other. We went to Hog Heaven – truly amazing views! Had a quick beer there since it was a bit too soon for lunch (but apparently not too early for a hair of the dog…) Went to the Coppermine – have never done that! Went to the Mine Shaft and had a “Cave In” – something you have to do if you haven’t – just the way they make the drink is enough <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />. Went to Mad Dog – haven’t been there since our last trip on Windjammer in the BVI in 2006 – went to the new “hot spot” for lunch – Coco Maya – very, very pretty – food was very good but pricey – we all decided it was worth a look-see but we might just stop for a view and a drink next time. Rendezvous Bar was new to us – at VGYH – last time we were there, it was just the indoor part of Bath and Turtle that existed. First time we’d seen a TV in days – watched some of the Boston coverage. Sobering to say the least. Made me feel a bit guilty that I was having such a wonderful time….

We were planning to head out the next day but…..

More to come!