Friday February 28, 2014

Friday February 28

We slipped the mooring and were outside the channel markers at 10:30.  We put on one of the cds purchased last night of Quito.  In my opinion, it has a Bob Marley/Jackson Brown kind of feel and was perfect for sailing.  With the same winds as the day before we released the jib only and sailed across to Jost Van Dyke, 295M and into the entrance of Great Harbour.

We picked a mooring and were secure for the night.  With the reputation in being another beach bar paradise, Great Harbour is home to "Foxy's" along with a few other beach bars.  The mooring field in Great Harbour tends to fill up early in the day.  We made sure to be here early with tonight being a Friday and as it will be out last 'social' night as a crew of 4.  Tomorrow night will be an early night as Mark and Marcy will have to be dinghied ashore at 6:30AM on Sunday in order to catch the first leg of their flights back to Seattle.

After the usual snorkelling, naps, showers, and cocktails we headed ashore to experience the beach (bar) life Great Harbour has to offer. We docked at the dinghy dock on the Foxy's end of the beach and walked to the other end with plans to end at Foxy's.  We walked into Rudy's Bar and Grocery Store.  We learned that the new proprietor had just returned to the island and purchased the business from his parents.  His bartender had just stepped away so he made his attempt at pouring us our first rum punches (today).  He poured rum, some fruit juice, more rum and ended with more rum.  Having worked in the industry for a while, I have a pretty good eye for calculating liquid measurements.  Lets just say that we got our monies worth on this one.  Great conversation continued over the drink and we went to the second bar, Corsairs, for another rum punch.  Next was Ali Baba's, then ??? and finally Foxy's.  Foxy's was all it was made to be.  Crowded, live music, great fun.

Rudy's

Corsairs

Ali Baba

Foxy's

Dinner on the boat.

Thursday February 27, 2014

                                                                                                                         Thursday February 27

After breakfast we left the Scrub Island Marina and headed out the channel, west through the mooring field at Marina Cay and north with Little Camanoe on our port and Great Camanoe on our starboard.  As we headed west past Monkey Point we unfurled the jib 100% and continued on a 295M bearing at an average speed of 5.5 knots.  We rounded Tortola and headed south keeping the same tack welcoming the small gusts.  Before reaching the entrance to Cane Garden Bay we started the motor and rolled up the jib.  According to the charts there are 2 set of (red/green) markers in the channel, however, there was only one set.  We proceeded with caution and picked a mooring close to the beach activity.  Soon we were in the dinghy to scout out the offerings.

Cane Garden Bay

Tony's Bar

Quito's

Unlike last nights facilities, this place is a beach bar paradise.  We went to Tony's for lunch and made plans to go to Quitos at 7:30 to hear Quito Rymer play. 

Quito's was packed.  At 7:40 Marcy snagged a table.  
Drinks - Dinner - Wine - Great Music

Wednesday February 26, 2014

Wednesday February 26

We dropped the mooring at Bitter End and headed out the channel (red on the left, green on the right).  With the channel cleared, we released the sails and cut the engine.  330M, 240M, 330M, 210M and we are passing West Dog to our port and Great Camanoe on our starboard as we rounded Scrub Island.  Leaving Marina Cay to our port, we furled the jib and lowered the main as we motored into our slip at the Scrub Island Marina.

This is a very nice full service marina with only 55 slips.  Washrooms, showers, market, buildings, landscaping and lighting, all very tasteful.

We opted to go shoreside for dinner in the the open air, roof covered restaurant overlooking the infinity pool and marina.  Service was unpretentious and  professional, just the way I like it.  There was a lone musician playing keyboard  throwing in the odd vocal (Imagine, Margaritaville, Me and Bobby McGee...).  It was a perfect setting and the food was good too. Nightcaps, topside.

This marina is certainly one I would not mind returning to.

Scrub Island Marina

Tuesday February 25, 2014

Tuesday February 25

Saba Rock Marina/The Bitter End Marina is a 2 night stop. Mark and Marcy went for a reef snorkel just off the break at Saba Rock. Eric and I decided to stay topside and watch a small sail race and other boats arrive for the night as we listened to 'Jimmy Buffet'.  This is a very busy marina with rental water toys, restaurants, bars, accommodations, and shops. 

4600 Catamaran

A 4600 sailing catamaran took the mooring ball beside us.  This cat is exactly like the one we had out for our Navigation Course week which brought on the discussion on pros and cons of each (monohulls vs catamarans). Cats have much more comfortable living and entertaining spaces but, monohulls win for their sailing ability.  

Saba Rock, the resort

Once the snorkelers return we will prepare dinner on the boat.  The wine is chilling now.  Tofu?

Weather Network: 27C with a 'feels like' of 35, home is -8C

Ansotica
aka, our boat

 Bok choy, Couscous & Tofu with a nicely chilled Chablis, how much better can you get?

Check this cat out.  With todays winds they figure on going 20 Knots.  That is pretty fast in my sailing world.

Sunset - The Bitter End Marina

Because the days are getting numbered we made a tentative plan:

Wednesday - Scrub Island Marina

Thursday - Cane Garden Bay

Friday -Great Harbour (Jost Van Dyke)

Saturday - Trellis Bay (From Trellis Bay, we can dinghy Marcy & Mark to Beef Island Airport)

Sunday - ?
Monday - Return boat to the Moorings

Monday February 24, 2014

Monday February 24

We left Spanish Town on a 057M bearing.  Sailing was slow at first but it soon picked up and after a few tacks we were rounding Mosquito Rock into Saba Rock in search of a mooring. From first impressions, this may be a 2-nighter.  Nice 

The Bitter End

Even though we are not packing a thermometer we know that this is one of the hottest days yet.  My weather network app reads 28C with a 'feels like' of 37C.  Grand Narrows is reading 1C.

Shortly  after arriving in St Lucia 20 days ago I had to deal with a rather serious case of mosquito bites. Mosquito Island next to Mosquito Rock makes one think that mosquitos may be a plenty here.  I am prepared this time for them. 

Just as we picked our mooring ball, Marcy opened the reefer and plated a lunch made from left over (pesto/black olive angle hair pasta, hummus, various cheeses, apple, bread and potato chips. I have eaten very well on this trip but, I have to say that this was one of my best enjoyed meals. I washed it down with an ice cold Island Hopper IPA.  Yummy!

After lunch, everyone disappeared to their quarters for a nap.  Stan Rogers was on the stereo and now Loreena McKennitt.  This is very civilized.

All awaken from a brief nap, we loaded into the dinghy motoring to the Bitter End  Marina for a look around and possibly a cold rum drink. Afterwards, we went to the neighbouring marina, Saba Rock for dinner.  

Saba Rock

Sunday February 23, 2014

Sunday February 23

Yeah Canada!

Discussions over morning coffee set our course for the day.  Motor 077M to the ' 'Baths' on Virgin Gorda followed by a short motor to the Virgin Gorda Marina in Spanish Town.

The 'Baths' are made up of a series of granite rocks that form tunnels and water passages only accessible by swim and foot.  Mark and Marcy swan in to the beach and explored the caves while Eric and I stayed on the boat.  

The Baths

On their return we did lunch topside before freeing our mooring ball traveling 10 minutes to the marina. 

Communication can sometimes be a challenge when dealing with unfamiliar accents and customs; however, without incident we were docked at the marina and before long the air conditioning was turned on. 

The Marina Sunset 

The Beach Bar with live steel drum music

We stayed in the bar for couple of frozen drinks listening to the music before heading back to the boat to prepare dinner.  

Saturday February 22, 2014

Saturday February 22

If it was not for these log notes I would not know the day of the week. Each day I slip further from my usual day to day communication but, I feel more relaxed.  We left the Bight headed for Cooper Island.  Sails up and motor off we worked with that usual BVI wind and tacked to our destination. On the way, with many many boats to chose from, we picked a boat that might be going in the same location, and it was. Whether or not they knew it, the race was on as we carefully monitored their tacks.  Finally, it was time to let our intentions known.  When they did their final tack, so did we.  I was on the helm as Eric and Mark trimmed and eased our sails until someone on the competing boat raised their arm in defeat (or at least that is what we thought the signal was). They turned into the wind and dropped their sails. We won the unofficial 'BVI Cup' by pinching every gust and strategically planning tacks around currents and leeward winds. Dark clouds were ahead of us.  

As we pulled into Cooper Island a mist was apparent that soon became a downpour. We finally picked one of the last mooring balls. 

A peaceful view from the aft deck

Later, after a shower and cocktails we decided to go ashore for dinner. As  we are heading to the beach club, with me on the outboard, a school of needlefish are jumping alongside the zodiac.  I, of course, am somewhat freaked out and then one jumps in the boat by my feet. I am no longer "somewhat" freaked out, I am completely freaked out.  My boat-mates do not believe me until Marcy sees the fish in the boat.  I am in panic mode.  My options were to crash the boat and hopefully die instantly or stay the course until someone could rid the fish.  Fortunately for all, Marcy came to the rescue with the latter.  We motored along and we had a repeat performance. I was not impressed but was able to get my crew safely to the dock.  After dinner, and needing to get back to the boat, I walked the shoreline through private properties to the closest point of our boat.  Mark picked me up with the dinghy.

I hope I do not have nightmares tonight.

Friday February 21, 2014

Friday February 21

Rainy gusty morning.  We decided to stay a second night in the Bight.  

It is customary while sailing in the BVI's to fly the BVI flag on a starboard stay.  Often, sailors will fly their home flag on the port side.  Mark is hanging the Canadian and US flags.

Marcy and Mark went for a snorkel before we picked a mooring ball closer to the Pirate Beach Bar that had a scheduled happy hour of 4-6. We motored in the dinghy around 5:00. It was busy and a nice beachside bar with a great sunset view.  

That  is my fruit punch

We left there and headed for Willie T's in the same bay.  Willie T's is an old boat converted into a bar that attracts a "partier" clientele.  Although still early in the evening and even though I enjoyed the bar, I can say that it was not my cup of tea (drunk foolish yahoo types). We dinghied back to our boat for drinks and dinner.  The stock in our cupboards would satisfy any gourmet chef.  

Thursday February 20, 2014

Thursday February 20

One more trip to the grocery store for Spam.  Mark is a man of Spam.  

Spam - I had no idea that there are so many choices.

We slipped the lines.  From the green buoy outside the Road Island Marina and the sails hoisted, we headed on a bearing of 207 M past Pelican Island and into the Bight (Norman Island) where we picked a mooring for the night.  It was a short sail however, it was opportunity to motor, to sail, and get the feel of the boat.  As I stood at the helm with a Bob Marley tune in my head, I couldn't help but feel that this is what it is about. Every little thing will be alright. 

Wednesday February 19, 2014

Wednesday February 19

Breakfast at Ginny's, picked up laundry, packed and checked out of the very comfortable Mariners Inn, and boarded our 43.4 Beneteau monohull, Ansotica.  Walked to the nearby grocery store.  As we were stowing the groceries Mark arrived, the fourth and last member of the crew.  Dinner at Pusser's, early night.

Eric - Marcy - Mark
Our boat, "Ansotica" - 43.4 Beaneteau

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Tuesday February 18

Dropped off laundry.

Arranged provisions from the Moorings base

Sat on the porch covered from the rain. Nice.

Marcy's new flight was scheduled to arrive at 5:15. We took a taxi to the airport, picked up Marcy,  and had a nice dinner at Charlie's back at the marina. 

Marcy Kubbs

Monday February 17, 2014

Monday February 17

We were up early as we were going to be picking up Marcy at the airport until she sent an email saying that she was stranded in Boston and would not be joining us until the following day.  Knowing what it is like to leave the cold behind while anxious to welcome the warmth, we felt bad for her.  We later walked into town for a few errands and were back to the marina for lunch.

After lunch went strolled into Pusser's Pub again for a "Painkiller"

Sunday February 16, 2014

Sunday February 16

After brunch I walked into town knowing that most shops and businesses would be closed.  As I walked around I noticed an artist painting in his small waterside studio.  I walked in and he put the brush down so I sat in the chair by the door. We chatted for up to an hour.  I bought a small painting titled "Happy Hour".

Happy Hour

I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting out on my balcony overlooking the marina.

Drinks and dinner to follow.

A Room with a View