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British Virgin Islands Trip - Lots of Pics

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Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/27/2010 : 22:50:25

I apologize for cross-posting this from the main thread, but I always like to look through the cruising forum posts as a 'bookmark' of everyone's great sailing trips.

I finally got around to posting my BVI bareboat pics from earlier this year. It was 1 degree Fahrenheit here Thursday morning, so it seemed like a good time to update the blog.

Hope you enjoy. There are 10 posts of the trip, follow the links to navigate through.

http://blog.unsinkable2.com/2010/04/british-virgin-islands-bareboat-charter.html

--Skipper of the Unsinkable2
http://blog.unsinkable2.com
1977 Catalina 25 SK/SR #246 "Unsinkable 2"
1964 Lido 14 #1878 "Tomato Sloop"

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3494 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2010 : 04:45:18

I had a good time reading thru your BVI sailing vacation. Perhaps I went thru it too fast but I was curious as to your wife's reaction having then sat in the co-pilot's seat for the plane ride. I would think that for those having some apprehension of viewing things so far up front that feeling would quickly fade having then experienced the view and activity from that vantage point. As to your actual sailing adventure having not done one myself, the two things that I can think of right from the start that I would be somewhat concerned with is any concerns for individual safety and/or theft while on or off the boat while visiting the waters away from the US mainland and also granted it is a much larger sailboat compared to a Cat 25 and plenty of gone on extended cruising on a Cat 25 but I would still be somewhat concerned with not so much for myself but my wife normally is okay for up to perhaps one or two 4-6 hour sails a season but mostly likes short sails of say 2-3 hours at most never-mind 7 days in a row. I know that she would much more prefer the big cruise boat vacations which we have been on many times in the past.

Anyway, I enjoyed being on your BVI adventure - Thanks !

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Unsinkable2
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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2010 : 08:48:23

Regarding safety in the BVI, we never felt threatened or even worried there. Our charter company told us that the higher risk of theft would come if we ventured over to the US Virgin Islands! That was a bit of a surprise to me. They gave us a cable and padlock that we could use to secure the dinghy when going ashore, but said that it would really only be necessary if we sailed over the US Virgin Islands. The only reason I could think of for that is that the USVI is a lot more populated, so there are all different kinds of people there. The BVIs were much smaller islands and I suppose there just isn't as much of a market for stolen items. I used the cable and padlock at the dinghy docks the first few times, but soon realized that I was the ONLY one using a lock. All the other cruisers were just tying up and leaving their dinghies. Add to the fact that in most anchorages you are just traveling from your anchored boat to the beach, so all the boats remain visible to their captains.

As far as the length of the trip, we usually sailed for 4 to 6 hours a day. The anchorages are all well protected, so once we were tied off, it was very relaxing. Then spend the afternoons going to shore in the dinghy to relax on the beach, eat dinner, snorkel, etc. It didn't feel like a straight week of sailing at all. Although I would have enjoyed that. Also, there is a big difference going from an area with murky waters to the crystal blue waters of the caribbean. In your neck of the woods Larry, I know that the Potomac and Chesapeake aren't quite as clear as they were when Captain John Smith sailed up the bay. (I've had some opportunity to go out on the Save the Bay workboats up near Aberdeen and remember reading that John Smith could see the bottom clearly in 50 feet of water. We were using disks and only had about 18 inches of visibility.) So the welcome change of clear blue water really changes the sailing experience for the better.

The bigger boat made a difference too for the Admiral. Our C25 is perfect for local sailing, but be prepared to come back to a serious case of Tenfootitis, especially on the Admiral's part. This can usually be cured - at least in our case - with a single dose of Checkmybankaccountium.

Anyway, my experience - or more importantly the admiral's experience - was that those same initial concerns turned out to be non-issues for her on our trip. We're headed down there again in a couple weeks, but she's already making some comments that she wouldn't mind going to some other cruising area next year for vacation... (Now I just need to find budget flights to Croatia, Greece, and Tahiti, lol. Or maybe we could sign on as merchant marines for free passage on some big freighter...)

Edited by - Unsinkable2 on 12/28/2010 08:58:58

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3494 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2010 : 10:21:42

Thanks for the responses ! I am working today - Not many in the office and thankfully, so far, no major issues. When I get home, I will share your website/experiences with my wife and also your responses above and see if there is any interest. In any case, I have a better appreciation for what's involved and the rewarding experience. Each year, we usually get together with another family (old friends) and rent a beach house on the Outerbanks in North carolina. But some years, my wife and I take another vacation (just the two of us) and last year, it was to rocky mountains in Colorado. The year or so before that it was with 2 other couples on an expensive cruise (and excursions) in the mediterannean. This summer, we were considering going to Norway and/or Sweden (in search of the vikings) but we may also consider something else like Natl parks or perhaps Whistler in Canada. Who knows...maybe my wife will be game for a BVI sailing vacation !!

By the way...the one thing I really miss from sailing days many years ago when we lived on Long Island was sailing and swimming on the south shore and then later in Huntington Bay and Long Island Sound (norht shore). Where I presently sail in the upper Potomac River it has the huge benefit of easy access from work or home - The sailing is okay but swimming....few venture in the water. The water is muddy color...you cannot see anything perhps more than 1 -2 feet into the water and wouldn't be surprised if there was an increased chance of getting the flesh eating bacteria for those that do venture into the water. Further upstream above Washington DC on the Potomac is fine for wading in and same goes for much further south of DC where other tributaries join into the Potomac but being close to an urban area is not conducive to really fully enjoying the waters.

Nice to think about the clear waters surrounding the BVIs.

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Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 12/30/2010 : 21:31:23

We have the same disappointing visibility problem in our water here on Utah Lake. The water is actually clean, just has a lot of sediment kicked up by the carp. There's an effort going on now to remove the carp from the lake and hopefully clean it up. I'm not sure we'll ever hit Caribbean blue, but maybe we'll be surprised.

I've never been to Norway/Sweden, that would be an incredible experience.

Good luck with talking the Admiral into the BVI's. Let me know if I can help!

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