My wife and I spent our one year anniversary in the BVI. We chartered "Cell Away," a 34 foot monohull from Sunsail.
On the 19th our day began at 0230, traveling to Dulles Airport. We cleared customs on Tortola at 1815 and we were promptly shown to our boat for a sleep aboard. I had arranged for provisions through Bobby's. They showed up about 10 minutes after we arrived at our boat, which was perfect timing.
When we arrived it was raining and the wind was howling through all the standing rigging of the hundreds of boats at the Sunsail dock.
Friday we headed to Cooper Island with 6 foot seas in the channel, we motored over, directly into the wind. Picked up a mooring and layed out on the deck, despite the rain. After an hour of soaking up the scenery, we went down below to get dressed and head for shore. Next thing I know, im looking out the companion way and all I see is white!!! Im thinking," The mooring line broke from the swells." NOPE, Lagoon 420 missed the mooring ball, as they were coming in and continued to ride up on us, the boat was about 2 feet from our stern, when they were able to right the problem and back off. That was scary, as our boat was so small.
Had a nice dinner at Cooper Island, then to bed early(still catching up from the day before).
Saturday morning, rain still coming down, but the sky has broken a little. Off to The Baths.... finally got the sails up and the rain broke.
We ended up skipping the Bath's because there were way too many people(reason to go back). We sailed on to Gorda Sound. Sailed up close to Mosquito Island and tried to spot the Lemurs with no luck.
Picked up a mooring ball at Leverick Bay and then the sun came out. What a beautiful sight, we were one of 2 boats in the mooring field. It felt like we had the whole sound to ourselves. I cooked a flank steak on the grill and my wife made Cous Cous. We went for a swim, then headed to the dock to tool around.
Sunday(Our Anniversary morning we took the free ferry to Saba Rock and had Lunch. When we arrived, we were the only people on the island i think. There were huge Tarpon swimming at the dock, which was neat to see. Also met the island kitty, sleeping in a chair. We had lunch with the pelicans, and headed back to Leverick bay. Lounged around on the boat until about 1600. I had reserved a slip with Nick at the Leverick Bay dock for this night, however, we decided to stay on our mooring ball due to the two huge catamarans running their generators.
My favorite part of the trip....
I had made reservations for an 1800 dinner at Leverick Bay Restaurant for our Anniversary dinner. We arrived promptly at 1800, and were met by 4 of the staff, who knew exactly who we were. They sat us at the bar, as the prepared our table, the Tammy, our waitress sat us. She could not have been a nicer person, and very professional. Again, we were the only ones in the restaurant( not used to this). We were treated like royalty and given a wonderful surprise for our anniversary. Our goal is to spend every Anniversary there.

Monday morning we left for the Dogs, for snorkling, then on to Marina Cay. We approached north of Scrub Island through the narrow cut. There were Sea turtles everywhere and the water, since the rain had passed and the sun was out, was beautiful.
We got a mooring ball at Marina Cay, which was packed, I believe we got one of the last two mooring balls. Headed to the island, and walked around. Saw all kinds of neat creatures in the bush and the sand. We ate a light meal at the restaurant and headed back to the boat...
SOOOO this is where things got interesting.....
Around 2000, I got a pain in my back... Im thinking..bad Conch fritters. Then I realized, "hey i've felt this before about 10 years ago." KIDNEY STONE!!! So its dark, and im too stubborn to call for help, I figured it would pass and Im good to go.... I was up all night, pacing the boat, and puking from the pain. I felt so sorry for my wonderful wife for having to deal with it, but she took care of me the entire night. At dawn, the pain had gotten almost unbearable. Thankfully, my wife has been sailing with me for a year, and loves it, so she took over. She got us off the mooring ball and motored us back to Sunsail base, where we were met by a waiting taxi and off to Peebles Hospital. By the time we got to the hospital I was crying like a baby, for those of you that have had a kidney stone you understand, if you haven't had one.. DRINK more WATER!!!
We quickly found that ilon time, is also the name of the game at the hospital, which i was not ok with. The staff soon realized i needed help( i get violent when im in that much pain).
Although I had been drinking 2 gallons of water daily, I was severely dehydrated from puking all night. They pumped me full of fluids, and thankfully did not use any narcotic pain killers. What they did use worked and i spend the remainder of the day in the hospital. I had an ultra sound and they showed me the 3mm stone was still in my kidney, for those that have had a stone, you know they worst pain is still to come.
So they gave me three prescription meds and sent me on my way, in hopes of passing it.
Break down....
My insurance doesnt cover me here....OH CRAP!!
One Primary Physician
One Specialist
Radiologist and Ultra Sound
2 liters of saline IV
.5L Antibiotic Drip
3 different IV's for pain
2 HUGE shots in my butt for pain
3 prescription medications
no insurance...
So IM thinking, im screwed and our vacation is over... going to be thousands of Dollars.
GRAND TOTAL>>>>>> $238.00
I couldn't believe it. The followup when I got home was also a reminder of how awful and money driven the US healthcare system is.
So after all this fun, and knowing that stone was still in there, we settle down in the Treasure Island Hotel(something like that, drugged up) right near the Sunsail base, as the Mariner INN was full.
It was a nice place, and the Air Conditioning was wonderful.
Wednesday morning, Stone moved to my bladder, OUCH!!!!! but i still didnt pass it completely... SO another night in the hotel... Trip ruined??? OH NO, we had a wonderful time being land lubbers, I just needed to stay close to help, just in case of complications.
We were scheduled to check out with Sunsail Friday morning, and our flight left from STT Friday Afternoon.
I made the decision to check out with Sunsail Thursday, and make our way to STT and get a hotel, as the medications drained me of any energy and the long day of traveling on Friday was not looking fun.
We stayed at the Windward Passage Hotel near the ferry dock. We got there early enough to walk around ST Thomas. Ive never seen so much jewelry in my life, what is that all about??
Friday we checked out and headed to the airport, immediately before our flight I passed the stone, WOOHOOO... and OUCH!!!
Flew to Miami and had a 5 hour layover. While we were waiting, in the terminal, I heard a scream for help, In the middle of the hallway, a man had collapsed. I ran to help, as no one else did(what is wrong with people). As i checked his vitals, i realized a large group was standing there, no one was calling for help. The older gentleman was turning white, and gasping for air. Myself and a nurse were preparing for CPR. Thankfully the man came to, and had a seizure. still no one calling for help.. I started telling everyone to call 911, and 15 minutes go by before rescue arrives. I'm a police officer with first responder training. Myself and the nurse did our best to make the man comfortable without moving him too much, meanwhile, a huge crowd has gathered to stare... To all of you, please, PLEASE, dont be that person.
Rescue arrived and the took him to the hospital, expected to make a full recovery.
Onward to Dulles, and too home with no more excitement..

Every three years, we are scheduled for Physicals at my work, I was due last November and begged and pleaded to get mine done, to find out they changed the policy and are now doing them in our birth month, mine is June. I wanted to check the Stone situation. Im pretty annoyed about that.
Next year, ill be getting that checked before we leave.
All in All it was still an amazing time. My wife is such a saint to have taken care of me the way she did.
Planning to go back next year sans kidney stones.
I have a bunch of pictures, ill see if i can link them..
I just want to, again, thank everyone for all the advice leading up to our trip.

Joel