TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Trip report: June 24 to July 15 Captains Compass

We where fortunate to be in the islands for 21 days, split between 2 groups of friends. This was our 8th trip in the BVI's and it is funny how friends take a keen interest when I describe our past adventures and ask.."the next time you go...we are in!!"

This was our first trip arriving by air to EIS. Buffalo to Charlotte to San Juan to Beef Island via American Airlines. No concerns with the connections and all our luggage made to/from the destination. That said, we will most likely fly to St Thomas and take the ferry for future trips as I feel I would rather sit on a ferry and start the trip vs sitting in an airport terminal for the final connection.

Mr George was waiting for us at the airport and Brent had Star Gazer ready for us at the dock. Star Gazer is a Leopard 45 with loads of room with an entry to the forward deck from the salon...all crew mates loved this access. Brent, from Captains Compass, was fantastic to work with!! Very responsive over the past year with planning, an excellent briefing and the vessel was spotless with everything in working order.

As you can imagine, over the course of 21 days we hit all the regular spots and anchorages.

Highlights:
The Baths never disappoint. you can now access in both directions as Covid protocols relax.

Cooper Island is in great shape. The pan seared tuna salad was the best we have ever had!

Saba Rock is back and better than ever! Mathew the bar manager( a Canadian from Engelhart) was very entertaining and friendly. His recipe for an Expresso Martini is a must have!

BEYC 2.0 is back with the facilities looking great. A few of us were at the beach bar in the late afternoon and struck up a conversation with a nice down to earth lady. Turns out, she is the grand-daughter of the original owner and is the current CEO of the resort! It was fascinating the hear about her childhood and visits to BEYC when she was younger. She hopes more to come with the resort and we can wait to see the progress on future trips

Tom at Blunder Bay resort was also very friendly and engaging. We would certainly recommend a visit as the infinity pool and restaurant was amazing and both had great views. We watched the activities of the Poker Run from the pool whilst enjoying some cocktails..

Although there were some jelly fish in some anchorages, the snorkeling was fabulous! That said, the sea grass was prevalent across the islands. This did cause some issues with the generator and air conditioning as the inlets became clogged. Brent and Mr Boots addressed the issue quickly.

We would definitly recommend Genies at Manual Reef Marina. The food and atmosphere was excellent! You can tell that Genie takes alot of pride in her food and menu! Serendipitously we ran into Manpot as he was leaving Genies. It was nice to say hi as we met Manpot on our first sailing trip to the BVI's many years ago when Saildoggie introduced us.

Overall a great trip and I would not hesitate to return for an extended duration. I would also not hesitate to recommend Brent at Captian's Compass for his service and his fleet. Hope to return very soon...

Boots is one of the best mechanics in the BVI!

Hi Neil,
Glad to hear you enjoyed my Leopard 45. I used to have a Leopard 42 and can't get over the differences. As you said, Brent at Captain's Compass does a great job keeping all his fleet clean, pristine and in perfect sailing shape. I'll be sailing again August 3.
Sounds like you had a fantastic time. Where were the "worst" places for jellyfish?

We were down during the same timeframe as NeilCanada. The two places the jellyfish were most present for us were Monkey Point and the Indians.

Ahoy Capt. Niel,

Thank You Very Much, eh.

YES, I am looking for more quality cats to manage and charter out.

Fair Winds, Brent from thecaptainscompass.com

Brent - Can we talk? Just sent you an email.

Chris
clloyd309@gmail.com

Ahoy Capt. Chris,

YES, very interested.
And I believe I offer the most Owner Friendly Contact for an 'Experienced' Yacht in the Caribbean.
I will respond within the hour to your email, thanks.

Fair Winds, Brent from thecaptainscompass.com

Thanks for the great report!

Boots did our boat briefings on two trips with two different charter companies. He claimed he remembered us from the first trip, but maybe he was just being charming .

Dan

The worst places for jelly fish this trip were the Indians and Peter Island. Note of Peter Island...when we tied to one mooring ball, the entire pennant released after it first seated. Thank goodness it was almost immediate! Either the pin feel out or it was corroded. Needless to say that I attached a safety line to the chain at the next ball. I do check the mooring after we tie up an any anchorage but didn't even have time at Peter.

I should mention as well the Brent has added a mooring line to the vessel. The line is already secured to the forward cleats and incorporates a double loop with a strong carbeener to attach the line(no chaffing). My crew loved this as it made securing to the pennant very easy as you didn't need to incorporate two lines from the starboard and port cleats.

"and it is funny how friends take a keen interest when I describe our past adventures and ask.."the next time you go...we are in!!""

Truth...

In respect to Jellyfish, in my experience ( pushing 40 years in the Caribbean now ) the summer months in the week before the full moon are the worst. Actual location doesn't seem to have much to do with it, it's just that some places are more visited than others or the people visiting them choose to report more often. So if jellyfish are a big deal for your crew, schedule your rip near the new moon or at least after the Full Moon as the turtles would have had a chance to eat the jellies as it is a favourite food for them.

Ahoy Captains,

"In total, 94 percent of jellyfish swarms arrived after the middle of the year when the seas are warmer and during the second and third weeks of the lunar month. The ideal water temperature for the jellyfish is between 28.2 and 30 degrees, the research found. "
From - https://phys.org/news/2016-08-moon-key-jellyfish-beach.html.
"The jellies take a one-way trip to the beach from deeper environments to spawn and die around eight to 12 days after the full moon, and just before the new moon"
From - https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/...full-moon-that-means-well-see-them-soon/
Therefore the weeks between Full Moons in July? and Aug/Sept/Oct.

Fair Winds, Brent from thecaptainscompass.com

That is fascinating info CaptTom! Thanks for the share.
My next trip will be Aug 15-25, so it looks like we'll be arriving after the full moon on Aug 11 --
https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/@3577342

Let's hope the turtles enjoy the feast!

I must clarify as well...the jellies did not interfere with our time. Peter Island, on our trip, had the most(~20-30) when we were leaving and I needed to dive the mooring ball for the safety line. The prior night we saw gads of fish, stingrays, turtles but no jellies...

Use common sense and be aware...otherwise, they should not interfere with "Natures little Secret" and a fabulous experience.

The majority of them are moon jellies and won't bother you if you touch them.

Would love to see a picture of this setup.

Brent...? ...I did not take picture(I should have!!)..basically a single line from the forward cleats, 3/4 length caribeener, double line free to re-attach to back caribeener on pennant ... it was awesome and secure !
Neil

Ahoy Capt. Neil,

Sorry, all the Yachts are out on Charter.
I will post a Picture ASAP.

Fair Winds, Brent from thecaptainscompass.com

Can it be released under load?

Brent’s mooring line is brilliant. We were on Smile Maker June 26 to July 7 with the same setup.

Ahoy Captains,

I use a Bowline on the cleats on the metal strut between the bows on a Leopard yacht. Anyone can use a cleat hitch. Anyone can also use the same hard point on the bows used by the lines for the anchor snub.
I use a bowline to the same hard point on the bows on the Lagoon yacht as used by the lines for the anchor snub.
If you use the hard points on the bow you must use a very high quality Stainless Steel shackle if the hard point is a tight fit. With a SS shackle I do not think you need a SS thimble, but it would be more reliable.
The only source in the BVI for high quality Stainless Steel shackles is now sold out of this –
https://sea-dog.com/groups/266-snap-hook model # 151125 about $100.oo.
This quality of line is available at Nanny Cay Marine and Golden Hind at about $3.oo foot. I would start with 1’ of line for 1’ of LWL and cut to fit.
https://budgetmarine.com/catalog/ri...ublebraid-line-polyester-16mm-red-flk-f/ with 14 mm for under 40’ Yachts and 16mm for over 40’.

I can Not over emphasize how important it is to get a Snap Hook with over 3000 lb. rated load.
The model #151125 shackle on a Leopard 45, with a displacement of 30K lbs, will start to deform the shackle at the gate at 50 Knots and gusting.
The shackle is the weakest point.

Capt. George,
Very Good Question.
If you use a cleat hitch on the cleats on a Leopard you Can release this rig under load, but you would be abandoning the rig to the mooring, a small price if the Yacht is in danger, and possible to reclaim later under favorable conditions.
With a Bowline you can Not release this under a load. You can cut it in an emergency at the hard points, a small price if the Yacht is in danger, and possible to reclaim later under favorable conditions, minus a few feet of line.

I will post Pictures ASAP.

Fair Winds, Brent from thecaptainscompass.com

Hi NeilCanada!
I'm pretty sure we met at Saba while we were topping off (almost 150 gallons) with water on our Leopard 444. That dock was much easier to approach than the Loose Mongoose with the wind off the stern quarter!

Great to hear all went well.

It was good to chat, Juice13, at Saba!!...I don't envy the approach to Loose Mongoose!! I am sure your crew also enjoyed the bow entrance from the salon on the Leopard 444?? I hope the rest of your adventure was awesome sir!

Ahoy Captains,

Here are Pictures of the Brent Bridle -

http://www.thecaptainscompass.com/images/IMG_20220722_152716.jpg
http://www.thecaptainscompass.com/images/IMG_20220722_152756.jpg

Fair Winds, Brent from thecaptainscompass.com

The "Brent Bridle"....luv it!!... you should trademark!! lol!

That’s a clever way to do it because it cuts the load on the shackle 50%. I don’t like how it’s tied to the crossbar cleat. Putting it through the middle and around both horns would distribute the load better. Personally I go from the bow cleat down to the ball and back to the crossbar cleat as that cuts the load in half on each cleat and gives you a 4 point attachment to the boat.
G

I know this is a dumb question, but what is the advantage of the Brent Bridle over the common way (one line from each deck, or bow, cleat, thru the mooring pendant eye and back)?

Hi Husker

It was much easier to negotiate one double line thru the pennant eye with attachment to the shackle vs a Line for port and starboard.... this was the reflection from my crew....just sayin'.

best!

Ah! Now I get it. The bridle is set up already and all you have to do is take the loop thru the pennant eye and back to the shackle. Pretty slick. I agree with the other comments favoring cleat hitch to the deck rather than bowlins. One concern may be that the shackle a single point of failure, if I'm understanding the setup correctly.

Ahoy Captains,

Please consider, if You rig the Brent Bridle to the deck cleats, that the line will have to pass around stanchions, over the metal strut (crossbar) between the bows (and the sharp edges at the end of the crossbar), over or under or around the hard points for the turnbuckle / swage / wire for the standing rigging that passes over the arch on the crossbar, and then down to the actual Brent Bridle.
All these contact points, generating wear and tear, are exactly what the Brent Bridle is intended to avoid if It is secured to the cleats on the crossbar or the hardpoints shared with the anchor snub.
And it keeps the deck cleats clear for other lines such as dock lines or hurricane season.

This ‘Brent Bridle’ is designed to be semi-permanent.
The Bowline is chosen as it looks more difficult to tie than a simple cleat hitch.
I don’t want the Yacht out on charter with the 5th mate, Uncle Jim Joe Bob trying not to spill his 7th cocktail of the evening, trying to ‘fix’ a cleat hitch on the bridle with one hand at 9 PM at night.

Fair Winds, Brent from thecaptainscompass.com

Hey Brent,

Been using a similar bridle for some time.



Thats a Wichard mooring hook. Breaking strength around 6000#.
Note the piece of hose I use as a locking mechanism.

Wichard 2329

Going to modify my bridle to add the loop extension to run through the mooring painter like your design.

Thanks

Anyone have a picture of the whole rig? I'm confused about how the lines run back to the deck cleats and crossbar cleats.

I am sticking to my old school method. Nice and secure and no worries.

I hear ya! But if you are single handing and want to hook up to a mooring ball rather than drop the hook, this would be awesome! Biggest problem I see with it is taking away my entertainment at the helm when the rookies are running around getting the lines thru the eye and running to tie to the cleats - all while wrapping the lifelines! It is almost too simple!

Husker - take a long line, fold it in half. 6 feet up from the center, tie in that mambo spring carabiner (shackle). Take the free ends and secure to whichever cleat or anchor point you want the bridal attached to on the boat. Now you just feed the loop end (center of the line) thru the eye of the mooring ball/painter and secure in the shackle. That's it.

This is the picture Brent posted earlier in the thread - have to use a little imagination about the right leg, but it shows what you need to see

Took me a minute to understand the shackle tie in - suddenly there was a big knot and 4 lines! lol

Nicely done Brent!

Keep Smiling!!!

Ah! Now I get it. Its all one long line. Clever setup. Thanks, Peter. I can see the benefit if short handed (or single) for a quick pick....or for inexperienced crew. I think I'm with MIDiver on sticking with the old school method.