Dates: June 14 - 22.

Crew (11): 5 adults, 2 senior citizens and 4 kids, ages 8-14. (Second BVI trip for this family group, the first in June 2014.

Boat: "Mercurey", a 2015 Lagoon 52 from Dream Yacht Charters out of Hodges Creek Marina. Our broker (Jenny Goya) and briefer (Carleton) were very helpful, efficient and responsive. HCM is a clean, crowded, no-frills but adequate facility. Warned about mosquitos, we brought plenty of bug spray. When we arrived after hours (7:00 pm), Riteway had already placed our provisions in the salon and filled the refrigerators and freezer. The boat was very clean, and all mechanical systems (engines, refrigerators, ice maker, stove, oven, A/C, generator, water maker, winches) operated perfectly.

Overnights & Dinners Ashore: HCM / VG: Savannah Bay / VG: LBM (Jumbies BBQ) / Guana: White Bay / Scrub: SIM x2 (Tierra, Tierra) / Norman: Privateer Bay / Cooper: Manchioneel Bay (CIBC).

Snorkel Sites: Savannah Bay, Baths, Kodiak / Kraken, Monkey Point, Diamond Reef, Treasure Point, Cistern Point. Pleasantly surprised by number and variety of fish, multiple turtle and ray sightings, and beauty and apparently health of coral.

Highlights: Adults - Being only boat and people in Savannah Bay, and multiple great sails. Kids - Second visit to Baths (this time by boat), Jumbies, Scrub facilities, and watching lots of barracuda and tarpon under the boat.

Tips: (1) Charter the middle of June (low season), and 75% of charter fleet will be in a marina, not out competing for moorings and dinner reservations. (2) Start and end charter mid-week, to trail the weekend "counter-clockwise fleet". (3) To ensure not having to wait for a ball at popular snorkel sites, overnight nearby. (4) Stay and relax last night on St Thomas rather than racing for ferry and plane on the last day of charter.