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Day 6 – Water

by steve, on February 22nd, 2008 (BVI 2008)

We seem to be low on water despite being very careful (we think). Dignity doesn’t have the largest water tanks in the fleet but something makes us think they may not have started full. So this morning we went searching for water. We had heard that Little Harbour on Jost Van Dyke had water so we motored round there only to find they had none. We decided to head over to Soper’s Hole which we knew had water as there was a charter base there and a fuel dock.

On the way over from Jost Van Dyke I felt I was getting the real feel of sailing Dignity. In 18 knots of wind, about 60 degrees off the bow I had her sailing at 8 knots generating 12A per engine. I love sailing through the small channel between Great Thatch and Soper’s hole as it involves tacking back and forth against the wind up a narrow but deep channel. The bottom comes up so close to the shores that it feels like you’re about the ram the shore before each tack. Very exciting.

We filled up with water at Soper’s Hole and had sandwiches aboard. In the afternoon we sailed back over to Jost Van Dyke to anchor in White Bay – perhaps the best beach in the BVIs. When we arrive the anchorage was a bit busy but we managed to find ourselves a spot to anchor reasonably near the beach.

John and I swam ashore and walked to the east end of the beach where we had a beer at Ivan’s. Walk back we bumped into Helen and Anne who had swum ashore. We went to the Soggy Dollar Bar for Painkillers as this is the bar they (alegedly) originated.

Dinner tonight is on the boat.

 Day 6 Google Earth Track

Category: BVI 2008 | Here is my comment

Day 5 – Sandy Cay/Spit

by steve, on February 21st, 2008 (BVI 2008)

Yet another early departure as we left Anegada to visit Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit. Both destinations were there usual fabulousness. At Sandy Cay we dingied ashored and in the process managed to fill the dinghy with water and sand as the waves crashed over us during our landing. We walked the path that goes around the island taking pictures along the way. There are some stunning views from this little island.

Between Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit we had lunch – tuna rolls, salsa dip and fruit. Mmmm.

Over on Sandy Spit we got in some snorkeling. I managed to take pictures of a number of different fish including a video of a flat fish. Sandy spit takes about two minutes to walk all the way around. It’s a little desert isle with plants and three small palm trees.

Back on the boat we motored round to Great Harbour were Helen will cook curry tonight.

No luck with obtaining an internet connection today. I also mentioned the w**k word and got told off.

Day 5 Google Earth Track – part 1
Day 5 Google Earth Track – part 2
Day 5 Google Earth Track – part 3

Category: BVI 2008 | Here is my comment

Day 4 – Anegada

by steve, on February 20th, 2008 (BVI 2008)

Another early start today. We set sail for Anegada around 6:30am and arrived by 8:30 and managed to get a choice mooring close to Anegada Reef Hotel. We hired a car and toured the island. We snorkeled from Loblolly Bay and had beers and cocktails on Cow Wreck Bay.

This evening dinner is ashore with all of us having some combination of lobster and/or steak.

Later ….

This afternoon we realized the boat next to us was the Festiva Lagoon 440 captained / admiraled by Frank and Lynn who looked after us in St Martin 2 years ago. We hailed them on the VHF and they were soon over and we were catching up on past experiences and future plans. It was great meeting up with them as we missed them two times on our last trip to the BVIs. They were well and seem to be ready to move on to the Pacific soon. They come from Knysna in South Africa. They sailed up to the Caribbean a few years back and have been working with Festiva since then building up for their next leg. They have their own boat on the hard in Grenada. Soon they’ll be off. Another couple we hope to meet again in some future port.

Dinner was good. Anegada lobster really is the best.

Day 4 Google Earth Track

Category: BVI 2008 | Here is my comment

Day 3 – The Baths and North Sound

by steve, on February 19th, 2008 (BVI 2008, Tradewinds of Emsworth)

We got up with the sun this morning so we could get to The Baths in good time. We reached The sailing was awesome. We were achieving 8-9 knots while regenerating 10A (at 72V) per motor in about 20 knots of wind. I am in love with this boat. It’s not the fastest one around but she shifts in the wind.

We did the usual crawl through the rocks at The Baths then climbed up to “The Top of The Baths” a restaurant with the most awesome views. There we had a late breakfast which was simply delicious. It’s easy to think it doesn’t get better.
We decided not to snorkel around The Baths as we’d all done that before and preferred to wait til later when we could snorkel Eustatia Reef. We therefore sailed all the way to North Sound and eventually moored off of Saba Rock. Again – awesome sailing in 20knots of wind.
Soon after mooring Tony, who we’d met the previous day, met us at the boat in order to show us where to go on Eustatia Reef for the best snorkeling. We sorted ourselves out and spread ourselves across the two dinghys. With the wight balanced we were both able to race out to the reef planing over the water. The reef was a great location to snorkel with plenty of fish, challenging swell with some interesting objects to spot : we saw a large anchor and an old canon. Makes one think of past times in the Caribbean and how different it all was.Today I conducted a very successful test of my wifi antenna achieving a signal significantly better than ever achieved before with my Belkin antenna. What’s more, I was using my omni antenna which meant the boats motion had no affect. We were moored 1,200 feet off of Saba Rock and I was able to video Skype my parents with no problem.We were due to eat with Tony and his wife Sue but unfortunately Sue hadn’t been feeling too well so she was resting. Tony came over to Dignity at 6pm which we had arranged earlier and we shared a couple of beers.We then had dinner at Saba rock. We all chose the “All You Can Eat” buffet. Good deal for them as our appetites were subdued.

After dinner we dinghied over to the Bitter End Yacht Club to catch the end their live music and have a bit of a dance.Another great day.

Day 3 Google Earth Track

Category: BVI 2008, Tradewinds of Emsworth | Here is my comment

Day 2 – Scuba & Happy Arr

by steve, on February 18th, 2008 (BVI 2008, Tradewinds of Emsworth)

Monday morning saw Anne, John and I (Steve) going off scuba diving with Paradise Watersports out of Peter Island. Helen dropped us off in the dinghy and got some good practice with it getting back to Dignity. The two dives we did were called Angel Fish and Pelican (something) both either just off or close to Norman Island. Both were coral dives. The highlight was seeing a seahorse which is very rare in the area.

After our dives we quickly ate lunch then headed off to Cooper Island for the evening. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the moorings at Cooper Island were all taken and we couldn’t find anywhere to anchor. So we went over to Marina Cay and found that all taken so we went around the corner to Cam Bay where we’ve been before and anchored for the night.John and I took the Dinghy back to Marina Cay to make dinner reservations. We decided to take a look at the bar and found that cheap drinks were only there for another 5 minutes so we figured we should get two each. Then live music started which a guitar playing chap who was very entertaining. Having glugged our beers we went back to fetch Anne and Helen before the live music finished. We found time to polish off a bottle of wine on the boat.

Back at the “Happy Arr Bar” we were able to see the last 30 mins. We met up with a couple of cruisers, Tony and Sue, whom we got to chatting. We found be were both heading to North Sound the next day so we agreed to meet up for dinner at Saba Rock.
Dinner was delicious. We had a seat by the balcony overlooking the sea. Perfect.

Dinghying back and fro from the boat gave us wet bums. Who cares.

Day 2 Google Earth Track

Category: BVI 2008, Tradewinds of Emsworth | Here is my comment
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