BVI TRIP REPORT
This is a quick recap of last weeks charter
Background
I’ve been chartering in the BVIs with my wife for 25 or so years (15 charters?) ALWAYS guided by TTOLers (you are the best). Last time was 4 years ago. We decided to charter this time only 2 months ago and had 4 others with no BVI experience to whom I promised the perfect BVI trip. I read the boards, got back up to speed and we were off!
Charter Details
A long time fan of BVI Yacht Charters, I chartered a Fountaine Pajot 42 Catamaran from them. As usual they were personable and great to work with. The boat was perfect and fully loaded: AC, generator, water maker, four heads 2 showers, wi-fi etc etc. An embarrassment of riches lol.
The Players
The Captain. We happened to have a licensed 100 ton captain and 10 year former full time sailing instructor from San Francisco aboard. We elected him captain unanimously. Yay, First time in BVIs I don’t have to run the boat.
Captains wife: trip instigator and my partner in trip planning and culinary director par excellence.
Me: Navigation, Safety, and Expedition planning Officer
My Wife: Experienced certified sailor looking to read and relax
Rest of Crew: Captain’s in laws, both experienced small boat sailers Chesapeake Bay
Ages 65-73 so very young at heart
The Itinerary
Roadtown: AA 11PM Redeye SFO to MIA To STT arriving 12:15 PM Sunday. Smiths Ferry (2PM) to Roadtown, Customs/Immigration were fairly quick and then a taxi to the boat at Ritter Marina across from The Moorings. Provision preorder from Riteway was already on board. Met up with charter base folks, got ice, set up the bar and buffet, socialized, examined the boat, and went to bed.
Day 1: Cooper/Marina Cay. Great boat checkout from BVI Yacht Charters, fully explained all boat systems. Captain was impressed. Lost my first 7AM Boaty Ball Lottery for Cooper, motored over and tried for a FCFS ball but, as expected no luck. Reserved a BB mooring at Marina Cay. Dinner at Scrub Island Resort: casual dining food was good as were views, crew was happy.
Day 2 & 3: North Sound. Motored into 15-20 knot winds and 3’-5’ waves up to North Sound, could not stand or move around for the 2 hour trip. Rude awakening for the crew, decided to moor at a reserved Bitter End Ball for two nights. First time at Bitter End 2.0; great rebuild, nice outdoor dinner on Tuesday and I booked a snorkel trip for the crew at the new water sports shack. Nice 3 site snorkel on Wednesday (in the Bitter End Launch lol) and crew was satisfied. Dinner at Saba Rock was also nice. Used the Bitter End launch extensively which was very convenient. Please support The Bitter End Yacht Club, it’s a long way back and we’re all they’ve got for now. I was told 40 guest rooms are being built next to Water Sports.
Day 4: Anegada. Up early Thursday for 7AM Boaty Ball lottery, got one. Got permission to go to Anegada on 8 AM call to charter company after weather review (told to reef the main). It took 45 min. to get the mainsail reefed and up; really nice to have that captain
. Nice 3-4 hour beam reach sail, appreciated the Walker advocated permanent channel markers and got our ball. Rented a Safari Truck from Anegada Reef Hotel for authenticity and toured the island. Cold and drizzly so no beach/snorkeling. Dinner at Anegada Beach Club next to Cow Wreck. Excellent. Grim dingy ride back to boat in the dark with rain and a few waves coming over the side of the dinghy.
Day 5: Jost Van Dyke. Boaty Ball lottery at 7AM secured a ball at Great Harbor JVD. Very nice 5 hour downwind sail averaging 6 knots. Dinner at Tipsy Shark (good but loud) walked to and through Foxey’s, back to the boat.
Day 6: Norman Is. Up early but no BBs installed at the Bight
. Motored up to Sandy Spit, anchored, swam, snorkeled, walked the beach. Sailed, then motored over to The Bight, Norman Island; grabbed a remaining ball. Some checked out the Willie T, then we all headed to Pirates Bight restaurant. Nice dinner, good time! DJ music had the whole place singing along on a busy Saturday night.
Day 7: Roadtown. Sunday morning at 11AM headed over to the Indians; quickly got a red ball and hung out and/or snorkeled for our 90 minutes. Sailed back to charter base for our last night cocktails and dinner aboard. Monday morning we took the 11:30 Smiths ferry to St Thomas, did the various multiple passport immigration and security checks and caught a 3:55 flight to Miami, arriving midnight at SFO on the connecting flight.
The captain noted his two thumbs up for BVI Yacht Charters. Trust me, high praise indeed 😏
All agreed it was a perfect BVI sailing adventure!
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