Posted By: jagmansr
Our March Trip on Island Fun - 03/27/2019 04:11 PM
March Trip report:
Our itinerary on this trip was slightly different than most of our trips. Our Leopard 42, Island Fun is in Captain's Compass Charters run by Brent Fennell. We were extremely fortunate how well Brent secured his fleet during Irma. Our only damage was the loss of our mast. The engines stayed dry as well as the entire interior of the boat. We were able to "power boat" on a few trips right after Irma while we waited for a BRAND NEW mast. I must say Brent has Island Fun looking and running even better than the day we bought her in 2014 (as well as all his boats). She has a new mast, new under paint, all wood re-varnished and solar panels. She's like a brand new boat. Anyone that charters her will have a very enjoyable trip. Since we have a brand new (not a used mast) we wanted to spend time sailing then visiting the usual stopping points.
So,,,, day one started after a sleep aboard at Sea Cow Bay. We left the marina around 9:30 am and spend the morning tacking our way to Marina Cay. Made for a fun day of sailing. There were plenty of mooring balls to chose from. Once there we had lunch, went ashore to check out the "new" gift shop and have a few drinks at Pusser's as well as some snorkeling. Up around the beach our snorkeling found little live turtle grass almost no underwater activity. We like to cook aboard and that night we grilled duck tenderloins,served in a berry sauce. Great dinner.
Next morning (Day 2), we set sail for Anegada. We had the perfect line and was able to set a coarse straight to the way-point leading into Anegada. We killed the engines and managed a respectful 7 to 8 knots the entire 3 and half hour sail. Got in and had no problem finding a mooring ball. We rented a couple scooters and checked out Cow Wreck and Loblolly Bay. For dinner we dined at Wonky Dog.
Day 3, We rented a Moke (great little 4 seater car- best way to get around the Island. Continued our visits to all the beaches and naturally drinks everywhere. The island was having difficulties in that this was the third day in a row the island was with out electricity which meant they were running out of water and ice. The needed part for the island generator finally arrived and all was restored. While on land we made arrangements with Sherwin to take us out to see the flamingos and the conk mounds the next day and also to go fishing the following day. We grilled bison burgers that night on the grill.
Day4, We hooked up with Sherwin in the morning and he took us out in his fishing boat. First stop was the flamingos. Quite a sight seeing a couple hundred flamingos hanging out on coral. AS we got to within 25 yards of them, as a flock, they all took off, circled and landed on some more coral 100 yards away. What a sight! Next stop was seeing the biggest pile of conk shells you can imagine. The locals have been "stacking" conks there for over 50 years and it shows. After that we headed out to a great snorkeling site where Sherwin showed how easy it is (at least for him) to remove FRESH conk for the shell. We ate the best tasting conk I have ever had right on his boat. Next stop was super great. He took us to another snorkeling spot and gave us snares he made with wood sticks and wire, showed us how to catch live lobster AND as luck had it, we did in fact catch 2 four pound lobsters (plus a 2 pounder we threw back). We cut the lobsters in half and grilled them on the boat. the four of us had the sweetest lobsters ever and cooked on the back of our boat.
Day 5, In the morning my friend Bob and I again got on Sherwin's fishing boat co-captained by his 12 year old son Benjamin. We headed out past the flamingos, the conk mounds and into open water for some serious fishing. The morning results were, 2 barracudas and the prize of a 30 pound mahi-mahi. After 20 minutes of landing it, as we were getting it aboard, (it was half on the boat) the fish managed to slap it's tail one last time in the water which knocked it off the hook we were pulling it aboard with, it fell back into the water and snapped the fishing line getting away,,, major bummer. Our evening diner of diners was gone,,,,,,,, so we grilled chicken for diner.
Day 6, we set sail out of Anagada around 7 am and sailed directly to Cooper Island. We got there around 10ish so there was no problem finding a mooring ball. We enjoyed the beach, drinks and lunch there. Around 2 we headed over to Nanny Cay to refuel and return to Sea Bay for our final sleep aboard before heading back to St Thomas and the states.
On a side note, when we arrived at Anegada, we hadn't decided how many days we were going to stay there. We go down to the BVI 3 times a year and pretty much decide from day to day what and where we want to go. That being said, that's why I'm not a boatyball user. We spent 4 nights on Anegada and the last thing I would want to do is worry ever morning if I'm going to lose my mooring ball. I will say that the first and second night we were there, only one boatyball was being used and there were empty regular mooring balls in the bay. The third and forth night was full with at least half a dozen boats anchored. I just hope boatyball never becomes the norm. I like knowing that once on a mooring, It's mine til I chose to leave.
Our itinerary on this trip was slightly different than most of our trips. Our Leopard 42, Island Fun is in Captain's Compass Charters run by Brent Fennell. We were extremely fortunate how well Brent secured his fleet during Irma. Our only damage was the loss of our mast. The engines stayed dry as well as the entire interior of the boat. We were able to "power boat" on a few trips right after Irma while we waited for a BRAND NEW mast. I must say Brent has Island Fun looking and running even better than the day we bought her in 2014 (as well as all his boats). She has a new mast, new under paint, all wood re-varnished and solar panels. She's like a brand new boat. Anyone that charters her will have a very enjoyable trip. Since we have a brand new (not a used mast) we wanted to spend time sailing then visiting the usual stopping points.
So,,,, day one started after a sleep aboard at Sea Cow Bay. We left the marina around 9:30 am and spend the morning tacking our way to Marina Cay. Made for a fun day of sailing. There were plenty of mooring balls to chose from. Once there we had lunch, went ashore to check out the "new" gift shop and have a few drinks at Pusser's as well as some snorkeling. Up around the beach our snorkeling found little live turtle grass almost no underwater activity. We like to cook aboard and that night we grilled duck tenderloins,served in a berry sauce. Great dinner.
Next morning (Day 2), we set sail for Anegada. We had the perfect line and was able to set a coarse straight to the way-point leading into Anegada. We killed the engines and managed a respectful 7 to 8 knots the entire 3 and half hour sail. Got in and had no problem finding a mooring ball. We rented a couple scooters and checked out Cow Wreck and Loblolly Bay. For dinner we dined at Wonky Dog.
Day 3, We rented a Moke (great little 4 seater car- best way to get around the Island. Continued our visits to all the beaches and naturally drinks everywhere. The island was having difficulties in that this was the third day in a row the island was with out electricity which meant they were running out of water and ice. The needed part for the island generator finally arrived and all was restored. While on land we made arrangements with Sherwin to take us out to see the flamingos and the conk mounds the next day and also to go fishing the following day. We grilled bison burgers that night on the grill.
Day4, We hooked up with Sherwin in the morning and he took us out in his fishing boat. First stop was the flamingos. Quite a sight seeing a couple hundred flamingos hanging out on coral. AS we got to within 25 yards of them, as a flock, they all took off, circled and landed on some more coral 100 yards away. What a sight! Next stop was seeing the biggest pile of conk shells you can imagine. The locals have been "stacking" conks there for over 50 years and it shows. After that we headed out to a great snorkeling site where Sherwin showed how easy it is (at least for him) to remove FRESH conk for the shell. We ate the best tasting conk I have ever had right on his boat. Next stop was super great. He took us to another snorkeling spot and gave us snares he made with wood sticks and wire, showed us how to catch live lobster AND as luck had it, we did in fact catch 2 four pound lobsters (plus a 2 pounder we threw back). We cut the lobsters in half and grilled them on the boat. the four of us had the sweetest lobsters ever and cooked on the back of our boat.
Day 5, In the morning my friend Bob and I again got on Sherwin's fishing boat co-captained by his 12 year old son Benjamin. We headed out past the flamingos, the conk mounds and into open water for some serious fishing. The morning results were, 2 barracudas and the prize of a 30 pound mahi-mahi. After 20 minutes of landing it, as we were getting it aboard, (it was half on the boat) the fish managed to slap it's tail one last time in the water which knocked it off the hook we were pulling it aboard with, it fell back into the water and snapped the fishing line getting away,,, major bummer. Our evening diner of diners was gone,,,,,,,, so we grilled chicken for diner.
Day 6, we set sail out of Anagada around 7 am and sailed directly to Cooper Island. We got there around 10ish so there was no problem finding a mooring ball. We enjoyed the beach, drinks and lunch there. Around 2 we headed over to Nanny Cay to refuel and return to Sea Bay for our final sleep aboard before heading back to St Thomas and the states.
On a side note, when we arrived at Anegada, we hadn't decided how many days we were going to stay there. We go down to the BVI 3 times a year and pretty much decide from day to day what and where we want to go. That being said, that's why I'm not a boatyball user. We spent 4 nights on Anegada and the last thing I would want to do is worry ever morning if I'm going to lose my mooring ball. I will say that the first and second night we were there, only one boatyball was being used and there were empty regular mooring balls in the bay. The third and forth night was full with at least half a dozen boats anchored. I just hope boatyball never becomes the norm. I like knowing that once on a mooring, It's mine til I chose to leave.