Tuesday February 17, 2015

At 11:AM, even though we decided to stay on a slip at the Leverick Bay Marina, we headed on a 006 course towards Anagada.   With low 20 nt winds we were crossing the entrance within 1.5 hours. We tacked around the waypoint and reentered the Virgin Gorda Sound just after 2:00 PM and hailed the marina on the VHF. Slip # 16 was reserved for our overnight. Eric backed into the slip as directed and the marina crew secured the lines like pros

Leverick Bay Marina is a small but nice inclusive marina that on Tuesday evening presents a "Pirate Show" between 5-7 over Happy Arr. Thinking that this may be a bit of a gamble we went anyway. The performer could play the guitar and harmonica but his act was on the hokie side. Regardless it was fun.  

"Captain Dinghy", Al

Oh Oh, someone didn't have a good day sailing

DINNER

We had dinner reservations at 7:30 in the second floor dinning room. I think this was the second best meal I have ever had. Service, plate presentation, and taste was outstanding. 

For a starter I had the mozzarella and tomato salad.  My main was a vegetable Risotto.  Each vegetable was prepared to the ideal consistency, not over, not under cooked.  Dessert was cream brûlée.  Delicious!!

We will be back

Monday February 16, 2015

With the skies looking dark and a bit threatening we dropped our mooring at Marina Cay and were on our course 

to Leverick Bay.  We decided to motor the 10 mile journey through rain and 23 Knot gusts.

085M -> 045M -> 103M brought us to the green & red cans leading into the Virgin Gorda Harbour around Mosquito Rock.  Judging from all the visible masts moored in Leverick Bay and the lack of boaters out on the water it was looking like most boaters decided to stay put for the day, perhaps to play cards and drink rum as they waited for the storm to pass. On a closer look, all moorings were taken at Leverick Bay Marina so we scooted across the harbour to the Bitter End mooring field and picked a mooring there. There was a steady perade of boats coming in behind us.  Not all were successful in their quest.  

We had our usual lunch that consisted of crackers, olives, cheese, and cold cuts and later dinghied ashore to explore.

Dinner at the Crawl Pub.  

Sunday February 15, 2015

Omelette chef Eric prepared breakfast and we lazed around our Cooper Island mooring until 11:00AM.  We exited the harbour and with very little wind raised the main sail and then the jib on the port side maintaining this course until we reached the Beef Island bluff.

Instead of turning left past the cardinal marking the Trellis Bay mooring field we turned right after passing the red buoy marking the entrance to Marina Cay.

We selected a mooring close to the marina services.

Eileen, Al and I jumped in the dinghy to explore the inland amenities which included a Pusser's beach bar.

This marina is beautiful.  I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Shortly afterwards, at 2:45, I boarded the ferry to Trellis Bay to meet George and Mikaela.  Back at the boat and after a couple of refreshments we dinghied back to the marina services for dinner in the Pussers restaurant.

Mikaela

George

Saturday February 14, 2015

8:00AM - My alarm sounded and I went upstairs to find Eric topside, connected to wifi.  George and Mikaela's (Saturday) flights were cancelled outbound from Seattle.  With Eileen and Al still on schedule to arrive at EIS, we jumped in the dinghy, aka "Chuckles" and headed ashore.  After a short walk to the airport, Eileen and Al came through the door after clearing immigration and customs. Within 30 minutes we boarded Grins, the mothership.

It was decided while we wait for the outcome of George and Mikael's rerouting that we prepare breakfast before leaving the mooring field.

Soon after, we received word that they (G&M) would still be able to make their scheduled arrival in EIS on Sunday providing they were able to leave SEA earlier, and they were.  Crisis averted.

We exited Trellis Bay and steering into the wind just outside the Beef Island bluff and raised the main  and the jib before turning to a 190M bearing that would bring us just outside Cooper Island.

Cooper Island is a popular mooring for many boaters and in order to secure a mooring ball you should plan to arrive before 2:00PM.  Wd searched the field for a ball but the only one we could see vacant was orange, all the rest were white.  Is this a private ball??  We checked the BVI Cruising Guide and there was no reference given to colour balls as there often is.  It was ours.  Al and I went forward with the boat hook and secured the boat.

Time for a cocktail.  A common cocktail in the Caribbean is a "Dark & Stormy" made with dark rum (usually Goslings), ginger beer, garnished with a wedge of lime.  My alteration on this classic is to add a splash of coconut milk and fresh nutmeg shavings, a Jib Cutter.  Yummy!!

Jib Cutter

Eileen, Al & Eric enjoying Jib Cutters

Snacks soon followed comprised of crackers, cold cuts, an array of cheeses, hummus, black olives, and a crisp Chablis.

"Deliverance" cruises all over the BVI's bringing supplies to all the boaters, a great service.

Deliverance

Eileen, Al, & I boarded "Chuckles" to explore the island beach club.

Eileen & Al

Back at the boat it was decided to initiate "nap time" for 1 hour.  We flashed up the generator and turned on the air-conditioners.

Time to prepare dinner.

• Sautéed Green Peppers with Garlic
• Oven-roasted finger potatoes with bok choy, garlic, smoked paprika and saffron
• Coconut rice with ginger, smoked paprika and garlic 
• BBQ steak
• Sautéed tofu with ginger, smoked paprika, and garlic
• Red wine

After dinner, Eileen and Al were fish watching.  They were certain on seeing a school of 4' sharks. The jury is still out on that, but, whatever was swimming around us had the appropriate markings.  This is the same spot that last year "Needle-fish" jumped in our dinghy as we motored ashore.  Cooper Island is one of my favourite spots in the BVI's regardless of what is in the waters.  I am glad we decided to dine topside tonight.

Friday February 13, 2015

With our plan to use an aft spring line from midship we released the stern line then the bow line and backed out of the slip like pros.  Today is the last day for many of the charters so the marina was busy with those returning that were trying to squeeze every bit of time they could from their allotted time.

On a south bearing, we cleared the channel at 11:00AM.  Time for sails, main then the jib.  After a few tacks we cleared the bluff on Beef Island on a 45M bearing, from there 330M brought past the cardinal marker outside of Trellis Bay, the mooring field next to the airport.

We picked a mooring close to where we could dinghy in the morning to pick up Al & Eileen from there 8:45AM flight, SJU -> EIS.

I was played out from all the tacking and halyard winching and it was hot (27C). Time for an ice cold Island Hopper ale.  Yummy!

After snacks on the aft deck and some email maintenance, I took out my guitar while listening to celtic music on the stereo and watched water taxis pick up passengers from the airport dock, shuttling them to their moored boats.

Nap time...

Trellis Bay

 

Thursday February 12, 2015

9:30AM We took advantage of the “Friendly Skipper” offer from the Moorings Base. After the boat briefing, a skipper goes out with you for a couple of hours demo. We had Andrew.

• boat manoeuvres
• leaving the dock 
• raising/lowering the sails
• anchoring/mooring
• general boat operations

This was a great refresher course for both Eric and me.  Afterwards, we pulled back into the Road Town Marina for a few more supplies so we would be shocked up for the for when the rest of the crew arrived throughout the week.

Moorings boats waiting in line ready to be called to action

With tomorrow now established as our departure day from the marina we went to visit Louis and Arthur at the onsite marina bar then to Charlie’s for dinner.  The menu and food quality changed for the better from last year.  

Back to the boat to discuss various options for leaving the dock utilizing mid-ship cleat spring lines over a Talisker.  

Wednesday February 11, 2015

On schedule, Cecilia was at the door waiting to take us to the Vigie airport at 6:30

Liat 310 SLU -> ANU was in the air, on time. 

There was a 1 hour layover in Antigua. Perhaps next time I will make sure that this layover is at least 25 hours so I can explore the island and perhaps visit Marina MacLean, from home. 

Customs, security again and we are waiting at the gate to board the same plane in the same seat we just debarked from. 

Liat 310 ANU -> SXM

Short flight to the island of St Maarten known for flying 20 feet above the beach.  This landing however, landed in the opposite direction utilizing the wind to help it stop.  Hopefully, my next landing here (March 02) will be beach first. 

Liat 310 SXM -> EIS

Another short flight, however, this one landed at my destination, Beef Island - Tortola. 

After the usual procedure through immigration and customs, we were back amongst the none-airport-secure-people. 

A driver from the moorings was awaiting our arrival to bring us to their Road Town Marina. 

With a few pre-departure chores to do, we walked into town, then back to the marina for the Captain's briefing, then the French deli for meats, cheeses, and olives, then the grocery store. We stowed our groceries on "Grins", a 46 foot Catamaran.

Grins

The Aft Deck

I walked over to the marina bar for a drink and a veggy burger. Louis (from 2014) was working. 

Bedtime.