DOCKED AT CROWN BAY MARINA
It was laundry, cleaning, stocking the liquor cabinet, making appointments for the SVRS and preparing for Dan’s return tomorrow. Dull but got lots done! Oh yes, I did have to move the tender to a new dock in the marina. All those years I drove the ski boat paid off but I was a nervous wreck doing it by myself. No problem, almost. Just when I went to turn into the new slip, the engine died. With the whipping wind and swift current I felt a moment of panic but, thankfully, it started right up and all was well. A boat transport ship docked nearby today and I could watch the action as they off loaded several vessels. One of the sailboats, flagged from Monaco, ended up docking in our Crown Bay Marina.
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| A BOAT'S BOAT NOTE THE SAILBOAT ON THE LEFT |
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| THE MONACO SAILING VESSEL OFF THE SHIP AND DOCKED |
TUESDAY 03/06/2012 A LITTLE LATE BUT HOME TO QUEST AT LAST
DOCKED AT CROWN BAY MARINA
Dan’s day started out great. He got on his first stand-by flight with no problem, arrived in San Juan in plenty of time and got his boarding pass to proceed on to St. Thomas. Due to some “mystery problems” they were delayed in taking off about an hour. Luckily all the issues were resolved and he made his 15-20 minute flight from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas with no other issues. Both Judy and Quest were happy to see him!As we made our run from Maho Bay to Crown Bay Marina last week, the Garmin chart plotter “freaked out”, not even able to secure our location. Dan had contacted GarmIn while in FL, purchased the correct replacement pod and attempted to install it this evening. ----- the best laid plans! It was almost, but not quite, the right part. The little attachment had the incorrect prong layout. Bummer! Guess we tomorrow will be all about finding the correct part.
WEDNESDAY 03/07/2012 GETTING OUR SVRS
DOCKED AT CROWN BAY MARINA
This morning we reported to US Customs and Immigration for our SVRS (Small Vessel Reporting System) interview. Piece of cake! We will now be able to just call into Customs and Immigration when entering US waters to report our arrival and, most likely, not have to physically go to one of their offices to clear in. It is no guarantee but most times they just ask a few questions and welcome you home. After a few phone calls to local boating supply facilities, Dan found someone willing to investigate the Garmin issue and order the correct part. We will have that sometime next week when we return to St. Thomas before heading back towards Puerto Rico. Having traveled most of these waters already Dan felt comfortable to move on tomorrow.
THURSDAY 03/08/2012 BACK TO JOST VAN DYKE IN THE BVI
19 NM TRAVELEDMOORED IN GREAT HARBOUR ON JOST VAN DYKE $25.00
We knew it would be a windy passage today but were totally surprised to have gusts up to 41 NM. Just hold on baby! Since we only had to go a short 19 NM to the bay at Jost Van Dyke, it didn’t last long and soon we were attached to one of those terrific mooring balls that the Virgin Islands have a wealth of. It is such a good system. The coral beds are protected, the boats are spaced properly and you don’t have to worry about dragging your anchor. In the BVI they are generally $25.00 and well worth it.
First things first, time to visit customs and immigration to check back into the BVIs. It is such an easy process here. You fill out a couple of forms, show them your passport and boat documentation, fork over a few dollars and you are done!
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| THIS IS WHERE WE CHECK IN ON JOST VAN DYKE |
Check in was easy but not so easy that we didn’t feel that we deserved a reward visit to Foxy’s for a rum Painkiller and a roti. We relaxed while watching the mooring field continue to fill with boaters. We discovered these reminders of familiar places plastered about Foxy’s.
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| NOT THE "REAL, LIVE FOXY" BUT NOTE THE IN-N-OUT BURGER STICKER AS WELL AS THE ONE FROM MAD RIVER GLEN |
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| STOWE, VERMONT |
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| AND FOR THOSE AVID BOISE STATE FANS---- |
Somehow I expected a quiet and peaceful night in the mooring field. Silly me! As the night wore on, the noise level escalated. The highly inebriated, loudly squealing crowd continued well into the wee hours!
FRIDAY 03/09/2012 “DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE”
19 NM TRAVELEDMOORED AT MARINA CAY $25.00
First of all, even though we had thought to spend a couple of days in Foxy’s bay, we were so out of there this morning. However, the boating gods were not shining down on us today. The Garmin decided not to work at all, not even to show us the water’s depth. Then the water temperature alarm shrieked a warning at us! The gauge showed the temp to be 200 where it usually runs at 180. Dan turned off the starboard engine, established that there was no cold water coming in to circulate and cool that engine then we limped into Tortola’s West End and managed to snag a mooring ball, not such an easy task with only one engine and no thrusters. By 11:30 Dan had replaced the impeller for the raw water pump with a spare and we were off again. And guess what? Good old Garmin decided to, once again, come alive and give us guidance.
We proceeded along the southern shore of Tortola, ducking into an anchorage just off the lovely private Buck Island for a lunch break the continued on to the mooring field off Marina Cay. What a lovely, charming area. Author Robb White and his wife, Rodie, purchased Marina Cay in 1937 and constructed their much loved home here. Robb’s book, Our Virgin Isle, was written about their experiences and later made into a movie with Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes. This retreat is now a Pusser’s Resort (as in the rum) and has managed to retain the easy-going Caribbean charm. Think I may love it!
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| WE STOPPED OFF BUCK ISLAND FOR A LUNCH BREAK ON QUEST BUT MOVED ON |
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| MARINA CAY PROVED TO HAVE JUST THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE FOR OUR STAY |
MOORED AT MARINA CAY $25.00
This is proving to be a wonderful spot. It was blissfully quiet last night with no surge to rock Quest. Even though the Tortola airport is just a ‘stone’s throw’ away, it is only used by smaller planes and their path is not directly over us. It would be a great place to pick up guests flying into the islands. The beach bars lining Trellis Bay are just a short 5 minute walk from the airport, making it the unofficial lounge for those waiting for flights off the island or arriving passengers. We were doubly thankful for our quiet retreat as we looked out across the waters to Virgin Gorda and saw two huge cruise ships anchored off Spanish Town. We were happy to be right where we were!
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| TORTOLA'S SMALL AIRPORT ON BEEF ISLAND WAS JUST A STONE'S THROW FROM OUR MOORING SITE |
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| WE COULD SEE THESE TWO CRUISE SHIPS OFF VIRGIN GORDA AND WERE HAPPY NOT TO BE THERE FIGHTING FOR SPACE |
Dan prepped and applied another coat of varnish to the bright work this morning then did some maintenance work on the tender before we stole away to the lovely sand beach on Marina Cay for an afternoon of relaxation and snorkeling. I think this was the clearest water and had the most live coral of any place we have snorkeled in the Virgin Islands. We spotted two beautiful Scrawled Filefish, the ever present Sargent Majors, Parrotfish and various Butterflyfish and Angelfish.
SUNDAY 03/11/2012 VIRGIN GORDA WITH THE BOG BOYS |
| DAN, HARD AT WORK |
MOORED AT BITTER END YACHT CLUB ON VIRGIN GORDA ($30.00)
This morning it was on to the Bitter End Yacht Club on the northern shores of Virgin Gorda. Whoa, we may be out of our league here! The bay bas peppered with some of the biggest mono-hull sailing vessels that I have ever seen, not to mention a few choice motor yachts. It appears that this is the site of the 2012 Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous which runs March 14 through the 17. Motor yachts and mono-hull sailing vessels with an overall length of 80’ and catamarans over 60’ are invited to participate in all the festivities at the fabulous Virgin Gorda Superyacht Marina and Yacht Club. I am sure that more of these 100’ + babies will be arriving in the next couple of days.
Dan’s afternoon got real interesting as he observed the Dana Maria dropping anchor. Seems their anchor did not hold and they quickly drifted back into the swimming area, snagging the boundary markers and lines on their prop and shaft. As they called the BEYC for some assistance, Dan jumped in the tender and raced to lend a hand as they began to drift towards the rocky shore. He threw them a rope and was able to keep them off the rocks while a diver hacked away the tangle of ropes. Thankfully, all ended well and Gary, the owner of Dana Maria, treated us to a lovely dinner at the BEYC in gratitude. What an enjoyable evening it turned out to be as we dined and chatted with Gary and his guests, Mike and Linda. Thank you Gary for such a lovely evening! |
| TRY THIS MEGA-SAILING VESSEL ON FOR SIZE! |
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| THE DANA MARIA WAS IN SERIOUS NEED OF SOME ASSISTANCE |
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