BVI 2016 trip log and video

I want to get this trip log down before it disappears into the mists of my memory. Apologies for grammar, and shorthand. Will try and flesh out as time allows.

Day 1 - getting there

Early wake-up call at 5am, for 6am departure to Newark airport. 9:15am flight with United to St Thomas slightly delayed due to mechanical issues, and we eventually left at 10:10am. Slightly bumpy ride, but 4hr journey went pretty quickly, especially for me as I am getting into a book called "Sailing to Far Horizons", about a tall ship called the Sofia.

Arrived St Thomas at about 2pm, quick shot of free coconut rum from the welcome centre, grab bags from carousel, and into what has to be the most expensive taxi ride mile for mile in the world to the Ferry Terminal....$45 for 4 people to go about 2-3 miles. Checked in wit Tortola Fast Ferry desk (forgot that we had to pay $3 per bag, and a $10 per person port tax). Upstairs to a nice outside deck for our first painkiller, beer, and snacks (about $56).  

Uneventful if bumpy ferry ride to Road Town in Tortola, arriving about 5pm just as sun was setting. Thank goodness we did not have to queue for immigration and customs in the heat of the sun, as it was a bit of a wait! Sebastians taxi service were expecting us, and $5 per head got us to Fort Burt Marina and Conch Charters. The office was already closed, but some of the Conch staff were sat chilling with some beers and pointed us to our boat. Ekdysius is her name, and she's a beauty.

After settling in and unpacking (no fights over the cabins) we decided to grab dinner at the pub, literally spitting distances from the boat, and wait for our delivery of food from Riteway. Food arrived at about 8pm, and we quickly helped the nice guy ferry it from van to boat. Dinner was pleasant (Calamari, Burger/Fries, Conch Fritters, and Fish n Chips, painkillers x 2, and soft drinks) for about $85.

Showers and teeth brushed and turned in by 10pm. Up again at 11pm to move the dinghy that was rubbing against ours and neighbouring boat. Rocky rolly and disturbed night for me.

Saturday April 9th, distance sailed 5nm

Dawn over Road Toan harbour

JD: Up early (6am), showered, etc. Breakfast of eggs and toasted baton. Trip to Rite Way for last minute provisions. Met Laura and Megan in the office, signed forms, and had chart briefing. Mark (???) gave us boat briefing. Second last minute Rite Way trip for charcoal, fish, burgers, and ice-cream for kids. Final departure at about 11:30am ish….Conch took us off the dock and then handed over in the channel. Sails up (1 reef) and straight shot over to Great Harbour on Peter

Just left Road Town

Island. Quite breezy (15kts). Lunch onboard (pitta with bean salad and ham), then dinghy to beach and snorkel excursion. SAW A TURTLE!!!! But did not have the camera to capture L Totally magical close up encounter. He/she was totally unphased by us, and carried on cruising and munching on whatever tasty he could find. Kept surfacing every now and again for a gulp of air. He/she also had a ray in close attendance, but after seeing us the ray

Sunset in Great Harbour, Peter Island

decided to bury herself and play hide and seek. BBQ king fish for dinner, bean salad, etc. Beer and painkillers. Dylan setup his hammock between the mast and the forestay. Had to re-wrap as the first attempt unfurled the furler and he unceremoniously plopped on the foredeck hatch.

Sunday 10^th April, distance sailed 28 nm

JD: Better night sleep, but up early at 6am. Quick in/out dip off back of boat.

Breakfast of rice, fried eggs, and plantain. Discovered GPS chart-plotter is not switching on. Need to phone Conch to find out what to do. This might put paid to our Anegada plans. Conch have already said we need to have no north swell in the forecast for 2 days. Currently Monday does not have any, nor does Wednesday, so this window might work.

Sailing towards Gorda Sound, Francis Drake Channel

Sailed Great Harbor to Saba Rock via Road Town. Conch guy from SA  comes out to look at chart plotter, and gives us a hand held GPS as a backup. Sail to Gorda

Sound. Dingy into a bit of Eustatia Sound, then burgers on bbq, and dessert at Saba (key lime pie, mousse, and choc caramel brownie).

Saba Rock

There was yet another stunning sunset.

Monday 11^th April, distance sailed 15 nm

Anegada (15nm)

Engine off ball 9:14am

Sailing around 9:35

9:48am 15-18kts sog 6-7kts

11:45 arrive Anegada! Sam from Potters helps us grab ball, after JD made a dodgy approach. 6.8 feet of water!  Looks like we bent a stanchion in the process. Walk around setting point bay. Lobster meal at potters by the sea.

Tuesday 12^th April, distance sailed 15 nm

Up at 6:30am. Rent Jeep Liberty from Eric ($68 per day). Drive through settlement to Loblolly Bay. Snorkeling and chilling. Warm and cloudy which is perfect. Cow wreck beach then Anegada Beach Club for happy hour and sunset. Dinner on board.

Wednesday 13^th April, distance sailed 28 nm

Drop keys with Eric. Tegan on wifi checking snapchats. Off ball around 9ish, out of channel, and sails up heading for Jost. Light winds and only making 2kts. Rigged a preventer. Motor sailed some. Into Diamond Cay but no mb. Round to little harbour and plenty of mb. Take away dinner from Sydney's (shrimp). Dylan got new cap. Chatted with Sydney's son and had self service pks. Weird upside down fish feeding off back of boat.

Thursday 14^th April, distance sailed 6 nm

Back round to green cay, and used anchor for first time. In about 30ft. Turtles galore.  Dinghy to sandy spit beach (slight mishap on arrival, bumping another dinghy). Snorkeling and soaking in spot. Quick turnaround lunch then to Foxys taboo dock, stroll to bubbly pool, which was v cool. Short sail to cane CB. Lots of turtles. Sundowners and snacks (cheese fries, conch f, coconut chicken, focaccia) at Merrits, then moved onto Tony's for PK. Resupply at small supermarket. Babe burgers on back of boat. Cat moored to next mb is swinging really close. Spend next hour rigging fenders, dinghy, and shortening mb line.

Friday 15^th April, distance sailed 12.3 nm

CGB to Norman Island via Indians.

Light winds again, and motored through Thatch Cut past Sopers Hole, and onto the Indians. Grabbed mooring ball, and jumped in for some snorkeling. Toba came eye to eye with a Baracuda hanging out by the dinghy mooring balls! Very cool spot. Motored on to little bay just outside of Bight on Norman island. 5-6 boats moored up. Fun swinging and falling from spinnaker halyard. Problem with gas diagnosed as solenoid issue (wire had pulled out of connector because of cooling water pipe moving……Peter from Conch was very helpful). Went to Willy Ts for happy hour and food – turned out to be the best meal……Wahoo was amazing. Chatted to Rowan and Rory (British brothers working on the boat as chef and barman).

Saturday 16^th April, distance sailed 20 nm

Norman to Salt Island (wreck of RMS Rhone) then to Road Town.

Arrive RT about 3pm, Ben (CT) backed boat into slip. Checkout/debrief where we fessed up to bending the stanchion. Conch Fritters, fries, and beer at the Pub. Walked round to Wyckham Cay and saw Jerry (who was heading off shopping) and then Steve from NJ Sailing School on his charter boat. Couple of painkillers in bar with Steve, then off to Rite Way for last minute sweet shopping. Taxi back to marina.

Sunday 17^th April, distance sailed 0 nm :-(

Road Town to home L Taxi from Sebastian's did not turn up at 8am, so fortunately asked a different minibus to come back and pick us up after dropping the party in front.

Build-up to the BVI trip 2016

So we're in full prep mode for our 2016 trip to the BVIs. Today is Wednesday 6th April, and we leave in 2 days! A mix of excitement, trepidation, and for me at least even some sadness that in just over a week it will all be over......is that weird to say? How lucky are we that we can do such lovely trips, and I need to keep reminding myself, be in the moment, and mindful of every single scrap of the experience.

This year we have decided to go with Conch Charters on a 2010 Beneteau Oceanis 43. Longer than last year's Jeanneau by 7ft, and with 3 cabins and 3 heads.

Why Conch Charters and why this vessel?

We'd seen some Conch boats around last year, and they didn't look bad at all. We'd heard that they were a second tier charterer, meaning that most of their vessels would be 5yrs+ old. Because of this, they were cheaper than Sunsail/Moorings to the tune of at least $1k for an equivalent boat during the same week. This is significant when travelling with a family on a budget.

The 36ft monohull was a great intro for us last year, but we wanted a bit more room on board, especially in the cockpit area where we spent most of our time. This year we are not travelling with the NJ Sailing School, and are sailing solo so wanted a familiar cruising ground within which to learn the ropes (literally) on this larger vessel.

More to follow :-)