What I Learned about chartering in the BVI I learned from this board, and for this I am very Thankful. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
1. We used Bobby's for provisioning and Leon was 100% accurate and delivered right on time. The quality of the fresh fruit and vegetables were teriffic.
2. My wife also learned that she can travel to the ilons for 8 days and bring no makeup, hairdryer, haircare products (except for shampoo), and fit all her clothes in one small carry-on duffle and survive the week looking more beautiful than ever( can you see I am trying to encourage this behavior.) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Seriously thanks to all the TTOL gals out there who gave great advice on how to travel light when on a boat.
3. I also learned that cooking on the boat can be fun and only limmited by your imagination <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/chef.gif" alt="" /> . We made Sushi and authentic Maryland Crab cakes which we brought to the TTOL Party. Thanks Mal for being such a wonderful host and allowing us to get together and put faces to names. The Party was great with a cool bunch of people--Can't wait to do it again. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/pirate.gif" alt="" />
4. Thanks for the advice about sporting our TTOL gear, we met more people by wearing our TTOL hats and flying our TTOL flag that I am sure we would have passed each other unnoticed.
5. Thanks to the TTOL board for re-kindling the desire to learn how to sail. Since starting this board my wife and I have been taking sailing lessons, sailing on the Chesapeake every chance we get and now I am on a J-24 racing team that races every Wed. night.--Sailing in the BVI showed us a different place we could have never experienced if we were not on a boat. The sunsets were spectacular!
Highlights of our trip---Sailing Sailing Sailing Sailing!!!!\
Snorkeling was great--Indians, Monkey Point, The Rhone.
Dinner ashore Brandywine of course is the best. We were very impressed with the food and service at the Restaurant at Leverick Bay, also had a good meal and service at Cooper Island, and a great meal at Deadman's Beach Restaurant at Peter Island.
A great way we ended our charter was with an afternoon of Spa treatments at the Peter Island Resort--Soothing our "boat bites".
We sailed with Karen's brother Greg (Shinnbad) and his girlfriend Anne--He is a boat captain with vast experience--and to him I am greatful for his patience and knowledge teaching us the entire way but allowing us to do everything so as to have the sense we did it all ourselves.
Now you all need to get on his stuff to join this board and stop him from being a lurker!!
Will we give up our land based trips?--No way we love them just as much--we will just have to make 2 trips a year one on a boat and one on land.
Stan & Karen