Quick highlights - will post more on trip reports section

Overall - good weather (warm to hot, sunny, a few showers) - hit or miss wind - not really a good sailin trip and with light wind it was sometimes too warm in the evening

Chartered an IP 380 from Red Hook/Island Yachts - great boat, nice people

Did a counter clockwise tour of the islands - not very crowded anywhere, and nearly DEAD many places - no crowds meant we had Ivan's (stress free) full attention for an hour, sat with Foxy for 40 minutes another day talking about his dream for a Montessori type school...Leveick Bay was a nice break - love the pool - the cheeseburger there is a LOT of food - missed Nick

Skipped CGB - more tales of missing dinghies heard from people (boaters) at Norman I and Sopers Hole kept us moving on...

Willie T was Willie T and Jolly Roger was the same also - good cheeseburger but a SUPER breakfast and service next day (Thanks Kima)

Enjoyed our 2 days at St John to 'wind down' from the BVI before heading home

see trip reports for more

Overall - good weather (sunny, a few showers) - hit or miss wind - not really a good sailin trip.

Chartered an IP 380 from Red Hook/Island Yachts - great boat, nice people

Did a counter clockwise tour of the islands - not very crowded anywhere, and nearly DEAD many places - no crowds meant we had Ivan's (stress free) full attention for an hour, sat with Foxy for 40 minutes another day talking about his dream for a Montessori type school...

Tuesday night – boarded the boat, ate in Red Hook

Wed am - provisioned at Marina Market - it is getting much more expensive than it used to be. – provisioning bill was up 50% over 2 years ago - same crew, same shopping list

Wed Got to Jost/Great Harbor - ANCHORED TO THE RIGHT (EASTERN SIDE) got the hook to catch first try - checked in the Boat at customs - BUT IMMIGRATION WASN'T THERE THAT DAY- so we couldn't leave GH! No explanation - just come back in the morning...
Had a PK with Foxy - sat with him for 40 minutes - It is a bit slow this time of year on JVD

Thurs - Immigration shows up about 0930 - not the regular guy...oh well

Pleasant surprise # 1 Joan of Sugar and Spice store/snack bar (near the ferry dock GH) whips up some great breakfast sandwiches and coffee - nice CLEAN place Gives us her phone number if we are coming back to GH. Just let her know and she will prep foods.

Thursday - Got a ball at the Indians no problem - nice snorkeling, nit not a ton of fish -saw some Bar Jack and quite a few yellow tail snapper and Sgt majors…..someone has been feeding the yellow tail - when they know you are around, they come to see you. Saw no Barries this trip….

Thursday Night - At Norman I, Pirates was quiet but had cold Red stripe and hot conch fritters….Willie T was Willie T - even with a smaller crowd….

Friday - a real sailing day good wind (on the nose) up Drake Channel

It was GREAT to have internet access at Leverick and check on the activities surrounding Hurricane Paloma…. Was beginning to worry without my NOAA…. Leveick Bay was a nice break - love the pool - the cheeseburger there is a LOT of food - missed Nick as he was at a boat show…but enjoyed the TTOL slip deal - missed the Jumbies and BBQ by a week

Sat- downwind around the North Coast - went north a few miles from Virgin Gorda looking for wind - found little, then just motor/sailed southeast to Sopers...Skipped CGB - more tales of missing dinghies heard from people (boaters) at Norman I and Sopers Hole kept us moving on...

Sopers Hole - Jolly Roger was the same also - good cheeseburger but a SUPER breakfast and service next day (Thanks Kima) Soper’s Hole Marina is $25 er night for the Mooring, but also $2 per bag for Trash. Nice bathrooms….

Sunday Headed back to JVD and White Bay - I have not seen a prettier beach. Had a mooring near Ivans (the red and green markers at Ivans end are in place)….Just a tip - look to avoid the moorings closest to Black Rock A Beneteau 51 was there and he was rolling like crazy….we were on a smaller boat and more comfortable just a few moorings to the east

Soggy Dollar Bar was fine….Painkillers are GREAT there (and cheaper than Foxy’s?) ok service but not excited to see us…..Ivan, on the other hand was a super host…..we had a killer sail from Jost back to Cruz Bay…..Cruz Bay C&I now wants $35 extra to check in on Sunday!!!

Monday - Tuesday - Enjoyed our 2 days at St John to 'wind down' from the BVI before heading home. Francis Bay is still a favorite quiet anchorage, and Maho Bay Camps Breakfast can’t be beaten!! Saw a number of small sharks hanging out under our boat after we moored - didn’t see them in close to the reef however….(W DON’T FEED THE FISH)

Overall a great trip… we may move the trip further into November to get a bit more of a ‘carnival’ atmosphere…and further away from the hurricanes....let the countdown begin