This was our first bareboat charter with in-laws and a couple of their friends; I was very apprehensive about being on a cat with 7 people – but it turned out to be an awesome time and we were all pretty laid back (rum had nothing to do with it) that we got along together quite well. It was also fun to be with people that had never been to the BVI before and share that with them.
We chartered a lagoon 410 out of Sunsail – Aeolus II. She was an older boat and had a lot of problems. You also could tell that she hadn’t been properly maintenanced. Biggest problem was the crack in the bulkhead which resulted in a leak in the forward cabin. It rained our first day which got that cabin and bunk wet. Paul & Angie had to sleep in the salon that night while bunk was drying out. We called Sunsail the next morning to tell them about the leak, also bilge pumps didn’t stop running and were not working, frig door didn’t lock, etc. We know, owning our own boat, that these things happen, but Sunsail said they would come out and meet us and they never showed up. Instead of losing a day going back to base, we just went on with our itinerary as it had stopped raining, we fixed the bilges ourselves, and just dealt with the rest and did not let it ruin our vacation. However, the list piled up as the week went on such as winless didn’t work half the time, water holding tanks leaked into same forward cabin closets. Angie had packed her clothes in plastic bags which saved that ordeal. Just to let anyone know who might be chartering her in the future … We towed 2 dingies which worked out perfect for 7.
Riteway did a great job of provisioning. I would highly recommend them. It was all there on the boat when we got there, even though there was a note that my credit card was declined (I forgot to call about going out of country) Janet just left me a note to call her in the morning and to “relax”. Meat was of great quality and they didn’t really miss anything on our list.
Day 1 started out raining; we took off for Cooper and had lunch. Then went on to Norman for some snorkeling at the Indians and then partied that night at the Willy T. My new favorite bartender Al made me blue drinks to match my outfit – Hypnotique – lots of partying, made new friends, some naked people, and I don’t quite remember getting back into the dingy and I know it took us a long time to find our boat – kept going to the wrong one …
Day 2 looks better; started the morning with snorkeling at the caves which probably turned out to be the best snorkeling as the rest of the time it was too rough; then headed for North Sound; that night was dinner at the Bitter End. The buffet was OK – but I felt overpriced for what we had.
Day 3 & 4 – weather getting better but swells are 6-8 ft and very windy and we are to go to Anegada. I am outvoted about waiting another day as they think these swells are going to be a great time. I spend the sail in my cabin very sick and vow that on our return, if there are still swells, I am chartering a plane and will meet them. However, the boys had a great time sailing. Dinner that night on board grilling great ribeye steaks . Next morning we go to Loblolloy for snorkeling and lobster. Not a good day. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drown.gif" alt="" /> Very rough that day and it was very hard to snorkel. After being slammed against the coral too many times, most give up. However, Peter and bro are going to try one more spot to the right of the beach before lobster is served. After half hour we go looking for them. They had been immediately pulled out by the undertow and were little dots in the distance; we got the binoculars and could see them being pulled out and Peter no longer had on his mask – we knew they were in trouble. Mike runs up to the restaurant to find out what we can do and talks to some crew from the Bitter End that go there on their boat every Wed. Eddie, the first mate, says he will save them. He comes running out with life preserver and jumps in. I see he is a large muscular man and think OK, he can help. However, Eddie gets pulled out in the undertow also going in another direction. I cannot even begin to explain in words the feeling of being so helpless and watching someone you love out there and the rescuer who you do not even know, and there is nothing you can do. Everyone is now gathered on beach and decides that we cannot send another person out there. Police show up meanwhile with a small boat with no motor and no paddles. I have no idea what they planned to do with that. Make a long story short, after an hour and half they make it to shore. Once I knew Peter was alive and well, I was going to kill him. Then we have Eddie left out there, and it was probably an hour before he made it back on shore. He looked like a beautiful black god walking out of the water and smiling. The crowd on the beach erupts in cheers and applause. Run up and hug Eddie and cry some more. He would not accept lunch or even a drink. However, I have his name and address and he will be getting a Christmas present as soon as I think of something appropriate. After all that, we had a wonderful lobster lunch – dubbed alive and well lunch - and lots of rum punches. We left early the next am – we had caused enough trouble in Anegada. PLEASE pay attention to the undertow sign at the beach – as we did not.
Day 5: My favorite sail -- all the way to Jost. The weather was beautiful, the seas were calm, and we had Vivaldi cranked out of the stereo. Now I understand why people sail. We spent the day at the Soggy Dollar, many painkillers and lunch, but very windy so had to move and anchor at Great Harbour. Fettucini on board that night.
Day 6: Over to Soper’s Hole for more water and more provisioning and wine. Then on to the Rhone for an afternoon of diving and snorkeling. That night was spent at Trellis with dinner at the Last Resort. Food was awesome and voted best dinner. We also enjoyed the Singing Chef and I won a Wine & Sexy Thong Gift Set – never knew there was such a thing.
Day 6: To the Baths. Spent a beautiful day at the Baths. But again it was very rough and was disappointed in the snorkeling. 2 others scubadive around the point. That night we spent at Cooper Island. We had grilled grouper on board and then on to the island to party with the German Regatta. There had to be around 30 boats in the regatta. They had a steel band at Cooper and those germans could party.
Day 8: Early morning scubadive and back home to Sunsail. We leave bottle of champagne for Herve on MamaC to wish them bon voyage, and on to Rhymers at CGB until Wednesday. First time staying there. The rooms are very basic but clean. It was great to have our own patio overlooking the beach. We had coffee in the am and cocktails there every night. One night Quito played at Big Banana and we sat on our patio listening to him. The staff at Rhymers were great and friendly. We left them a bottle of wine from Minnesota and they were overjoyed.
Most explored the island, I spent liming on the beach. We spent 1 cruiseship day at Brewers’ Bay which again was too murky to really snorkel so we just enjoyed the sun and great cheeseburgers and rum punches at Nicole’s. We had a great dinner at Myetts one night with dancing. (4 free bottles of wine with our drinking man’s guide.) Next evening we had a fabulous dinner at Brandywine, of course, and enjoyed visiting with Davide again.
Prior trips to BVI were always landbased, and I very much enjoyed the freedom of moving from island to island by boat. It’s a different way of experiencing the islands. We will definitely be going that way again – however bigger boat and less people <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> I now have major DIF ….
Some trip pics are posted – still have lots to go through ….
