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Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. #63641
08/01/2015 12:14 PM
08/01/2015 12:14 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
jbuch02 Offline OP
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jbuch02  Offline OP
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Posts: 397
Just back from a two week charter out of Hodges Creek on a Beneteau Oceanis 41. Some quick thoughts.

It's hot in late July. If chartering then with no AC, cabins without good ventilation aft are going to be hot. The forward cabin was fine but it has a big hatch and the cool air streams in ...... as long as you choose your anchorages carefully. The salon is also fairly comfortable, with a breeze chute on that large hatch but it gets hot if cooking and we cooked most of our meals. Not for everyone but we had some great chefs aboard, including Russell Bertrand, our real Captain, who either offered to cook a meal, clean up afterward or pitched in whenever asked.

Thanks to Russell Bertrand who accompanied the 4 of us on this charter. I learned a ton. I'm a good skipper. I'm a raw, novice captain. Russell is a licensed Captain who has his own charter service aboard a Beneteau 473 (letsgosailing.com). He agreed to join us on our boat and was with us for 12 of the 14 days.

Too many things to mention that I learned about safety, navigation in the BVI, efficient sailing and most importantly, operate the boat to the lowest common denominator of your crew. I had three inexperienced sailors aboard. My wife and another couple who have never sailed. Went in understanding this but Russell helped me put it into practice. One of the best learning experiences I have had in a high performance environment.

I also learned to "cruise." Those of you here who have cruised the BVI extensively know this so the following is for the "lurkers" here who may be first orsecond time charterers.

What "cruising" the BVIs means is don't be in a hurry. Went in knowing this too but knowing about it and putting it into practice is not easy. In my early conversations with Russell about an itinerary, his response was, make a list of where you want to go and what you want to see and we'll see what fits in. Initially planned to go to St John USVI. We never went. We hung out on anchorages a lot, swam and snorkeled, sailed for a couple of hours a day, maybe just under jib, then we're on an anchor or a ball by 3 at the latest. We spent two days in Leverick, two days in Anegada, two days at Scrub Island on the dock and the rest of the time hung out around Norman, Peter and Cooper islands.

Our last few days without Russell were spent, on his advise, at Marina Cay, an easy reach to Peter Island on jib only and not until we got well around Beef Island and into Drake Channel, then an easy close reach back to Hodges Creek to turn the boat in. If we'd gone to JVD or Soper's late in our charter, we'd been faced with beating into 17-20kt winds and choppy waters east bound back to Hodges Creek.

No stress, I had nothing to prove and an inexperienced crew to take care of. In the Chanel entrance, I called DYC to bring the boat into a slip. I'm perfectly capable of doing it but why deal with the potential stress. Turned out to be an excellent choice as the place was a mad house of meandering cats and monos, in a small turning space, waiting for a space at the fuel dock. Oh, and Russell had already planned a stop for us at Spanish Town to top of the Diesel and Water before he left us on a quick stop at Trellis to get him to the airport. We didn't have to deal with that last day like the rest of the mob returning boats.

Bottom line, maybe one of the least stress free and enjoyable sailing adventures I've had. Thanks Russell. If you are new to chartering, cat or mono, I highly recommend you bury your ego, get humble with Russell as he shows you gently how little you really know, put inexperienced or unsure guests at complete ease while aboard and bring his wit and humor to your voyage.

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Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: jbuch02] #63642
08/01/2015 02:14 PM
08/01/2015 02:14 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 129
F
fstorms Offline
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fstorms  Offline
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Posts: 129
Sounds like a great trip!

Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: fstorms] #63643
08/01/2015 02:31 PM
08/01/2015 02:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Massachusetts
Sounds like a fun time, glad you enjoyed it!


Matt
Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: jbuch02] #63644
08/01/2015 06:14 PM
08/01/2015 06:14 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Online crying
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Manpot  Online Crying
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Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Glad it all went so well..see what a pre charter dinner at "The Clubhouse at Frenchman's" can do??

Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: Manpot] #63645
08/01/2015 06:38 PM
08/01/2015 06:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
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warren460  Offline
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Ontario, Canada
I have never tried the clubhouse. It's on my short list. Keep going back to the old haunts like bananakeet.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: warren460] #63646
08/01/2015 08:12 PM
08/01/2015 08:12 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Online crying
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Manpot  Online Crying
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Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Love " Bananakeet"..really love "The Clubhouse"..

Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: Manpot] #63647
08/01/2015 08:33 PM
08/01/2015 08:33 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
B
BEERMAN Offline
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BEERMAN  Offline
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VIRGINIA
Haven't been to the Club House, but Bananakeet gets my vote <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: BEERMAN] #63648
08/01/2015 10:16 PM
08/01/2015 10:16 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
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warren460  Offline
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Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
Mal,

On your recommendation, I will try it in November


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: warren460] #63649
08/01/2015 10:31 PM
08/01/2015 10:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
tradewinds Offline
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tradewinds  Offline
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An island state of mind
The Clubhouse is the best restaurant on Tortola, hands down.

Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: tradewinds] #63650
08/02/2015 01:09 AM
08/02/2015 01:09 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
Agreed, delicious, with first class service to boot

Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: sail2wind] #63651
08/02/2015 07:51 AM
08/02/2015 07:51 AM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
jbuch02 Offline OP
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jbuch02  Offline OP
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Posts: 397
I'll have some pictures at some point. Some more thoughts for lurkers/first timers ........

It was unusually windy for this time of year. The NWS out of SJ PR along with Weather Underground, repealtdly called the winds out of the east at 15. OTOH, wind guru and WeatherCaribe had the winds on several days to 25, sustained 18-20. It frequently went slightly north of east creating some pretty good wave action anywhere outside of Drake and then even inside.

Fun ride, under Russel's watchful eye, from Anegada to Scrub. Under full sail and a quartering wind, we hit 9 kts several times and sustained 8.2 in front of an 18-22kt breeze. Got a good lesson in sailing a reach well. Russell is an avid racer. His uncle, John Bertrand, skippered Austrailia to the first non-US victory in the America's cup. He's got the genes.

It's a hard point of sail to do right. I always thought it was easy until Russel showed me how it's done. Anticipate the boats movement at the bow, stand behind the helm steer away from whichever leg has more pressure. There's a rhythm and if you hit it and hold it, the boat will pick up a couple tenths and then sustain it. If you're doing S turns all the time, a frequent occurance if your helming incorrectly on a broad reach, you're not doing it right. Fun.

First time on a boat with an electric halyard winch in the cockpit. Taught right out of Hodges how to use it safely. Not only does it make it easy to raise the main but, if your roller furling line is long enough, you can bring it forward through the aft turning block to the electric and furl the jib with it. Another way to sail efficiently.

Last edited by jbuch02; 08/02/2015 09:05 AM.
Re: Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. [Re: Manpot] #63652
08/02/2015 06:30 PM
08/02/2015 06:30 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
jbuch02 Offline OP
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jbuch02  Offline OP
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
Quote
Manpot said:
Glad it all went so well..see what a pre charter dinner at "The Clubhouse at Frenchman's" can do??


Ann and I enjoyed our meal with you and your wife at the Clubhouse at Frenchman's. To start the trip.

We stayed at the Tamarind Club in East End, one because it's the quirky kind of p lace we enjoy and, two, it's close to Hodges Creek and DYC.

Tamarind has a very different vibe. It is also a beautiful setting with friendly gregarious guests. Lots of locals hang out there. Bar service by Clint who is the owner's son was great. Walked in with our bags, he called us to the bar and poured us a drink. Our welcome beverage on the house. There's really no checking in. They know who you are and when you're ready, and we talked with folks at the bar for 3-4h, then ate a meal, Clint pointed "up there" to our room saying it should be cool by now, ACs been on for a couple hours now. The room was clean and comfortable. Price includes a nice breakfast buffet, nothing extensive but enough and good coffee. We enjoyed it. Especially when Clint took our polar bear cooler and stuck it in his freezer. Kept our stuff frozen solid until we could unload it in the boat's freezer.

Can't say anything but good about DYC. Very professional, courteous and helpful staff. Relaxed, not a lot of boats so it's not too crazy when checking in and out. Hodges Creek is also the home base for Marine Max and the Catamaran Ccompany so ther is no shortage of activity. It gets busy but nothing like Moorings/Sunsail.

We had some minor battery problems that we thought best to have them looked at on day 3. Couple of lines needed replacing. Brought the boat in, had a nice breakfast at the restaurant there, everything got fixed and we were gone by 10:30a

Freezers are power suckers and the alternator/regulator combo installed as OEM by Beneteau weren't doing the job for the electrical equipment installed. Shore power would top of the batteries. Running the engine for the usual two hours wouldn't do the job. We lived with it as this is an owner's decision regarding whether or not he might want to fix this. For this trip we just ran the motor a lot. Worked out fine as the Ynamar on this boat is very fuel efficient. In two weeks we burned about 22 gallons total.


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