So what do you do with 4 really adventurous ladies looking for their next great adventure? Why of course, you take them on a sailing adventure in the British Virgin Islands. We got together with Donna Hollinger, Carol Bender, Tana Parrett and Becky Kenderdine for a few "pre-trip parties" to plan a general itinerary, plan a menu and get to know each other. As it turns out the common thread between us all was our ties to Elizabethtown College with 4 of us having graduated from E-town and 4 of us having worked there. With all of the planning behind us it was finally time to head for the islands. Sunday, June 14 As planned Captains HiHo and Greybeard headed down to the BVI the day before the ladies arrived in order to get the yacht stocked with provisions and to make sure everything was functioning properly on the yacht. On Sunday we sailed the yacht up to Tellis Bay, literally right at the end of the runway at the airport. The ladies arrived on time and we greeted them as they exited the customs and immigration area. A short walk and a short dinghy ride and it was happy hour time on board Mad Dog II, the Beneteau 47' yacht we used for this adventure. The E-town Ladies Arrive Slide Show Monday, June 15 After a good night's rest we were up early for the sunrise then off on our first sail. We headed over to Cooper Island, one of our favorite spots. In Manchioneel Bay we spent some time just relaxing and getting used to life on a sailing yacht. We had plenty of time for snorkeling, turtle watching and just hanging out swiming and floating in the warm clear water. We finished the day with another beautiful sunset and an excellent meal at the Cooper Island Beach Club restaurant. Tuesday, June 16 A beautiful sunrise and a nice breakfast and we're off on a short drive over to Salt Island. The wreck of the Royal Mail Ship, The Rhone, which sunk during a hurricane in 1867, lies off the south east tip of the island. Survivors of the wreck were allowed to live on Salt Island and the rent was only 1 bag of salt per year. 1 decendant from the survivors still lives there and the salt ponds are still there. So the ladies were off on an adventure hiking the hills on the island and checking out the salt ponds. A small shower shortend the island visit as the ladies returned to the yacht for lunch. Then it was back to Manchioneel Island for afternoon snorkeling, relaxing and happy hour. Chef HiHo then prepared one of her signature meals as we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and desert under the starry sky. Wednesday, June 17 Everyone's up early for a nice sail up to the southern tip of Virgin Gorda to visit The Baths, a beautiful and mysterious outcropping of granite boulders that are a very interesting site to visit. The boulders are pecariously stacked against and upon each other creating an interesting path through the boulders with pools of water that get heated bathwater warm by the sun. After the morning at The Baths and lunch we're off for a nice sail up around The Dogs and ending in the anchorage behind Marina Cay, a beautiful little island made famous by the book and the film (starring Sidney Portier) Two on The Isle. The Baths and Marina Cay Slide Show Thursday, June 18 Carol's at the helm as we motor through the narrow passage between Little and Great Camanoe and the passage between Guana and Tortola passing Monkey Point. Then we raise the sails and head off shore a bit for short romp before turning back to anchor up behind Sandy Spit. A quick stroll around the island and then snorkeling off Green Cay before heading to Little Harbor and Sydney's Peace and Love (self serve bar!) for dinner. We finished the evening with desert, tea and wine on the yacht stretched out on deck stargazing and singing along to ABBA's greatest hits. Sandy Spit and Little Harbor Slide Show Friday, June 19 Time for a hike. So we headed up to Diamond Cay for the hike out to the Bubbly Pool on the north east tip of Jost Van Dyke. Then we sailed down to White Bay but there were no moorings available. So we motored on over to Cane Garden Bay having lunch along the way. We picked up a mooring just off the beach and it was time to bring out the water toys. Tana and Donna kayaked around the anchorage before meeting Becky and Carol, who decided to swim in, on the beach. Meanwhile Captain HiHo was stretched out on a floating mat in the water with an ice cold beer. A brief early evening shower brought us all back to the yacht for Happy hour, and dinner. Diamond Cay and Cane Garden Bay Slide Show Saturday, June 20 A long day of sailing was in store. So we shoved off early having a nice sail along the north west coast of Tortola and around the south west point to Soper's Hole. A stop here for a little shopping, additional provisions and lunch was very pleasant. Continuing around through the passage between Tortola and St. John brought on the most exciting sailing of the week sailing into the wind with Captain HiHo barking out orders multiple times to "come about" and the ladies taking turns moving around to the "high side". We sailed past The Indians and arrived in The Bight on Norman Island with plenty of time for snorkeling and kayaking before happy hour, dinner and a reprise of ABBA songs while doing dishes. Soper's Hole and Norman Island Slide Show Sunday, June 21 The last day of our adventure but there was still more fun to be had. We motored around the point to snorkel through the Treasure Caves where rumor has it you can still find pirates booty that was buried there. These are the caves and islands written about in Robert Louis Stevenson's pirate book Treasure Island. A quick shower and we were off to Roadtown. We got our official pictures taken while undersail just before entering Road Harbour where we docked the yacht at the Sunsail marina in Wickhams Cay II. This portion of the adventure came to an end with a nice lunch, thank yous and farewells as the ladies jumped into a taxi and headed for the airport for their flight to San Juan where they would enjoy a few more days of adventure before returning home to Elizabethtown. |