We enjoyed a very special trip, organized to help celebrate Lisa Beavers’ 50th birthday. Lisa has discovered sailing and very much wanted to have a special trip to celebrate her birthday, so we organized a charter through Sunsail for Lisa and Terry Beavers, Bill Barnes and Kathy Holt, and David and Angela Fonner.  During the cruise, we also celebrated David and Angela’s 15th wedding anniversary! The entire crew was tremendously compatible, and we had a magnificent time aboard a 44′ sailing catamaran (a Leopard 44) called Python Voyager II.

→ This post is a work-in-progress.  There are over 2100 photos to review and organize, so it will take a while.  Check back for progress. Note that some of the headings below are also links to picture galleries I’ve put together so far. ←

Arrival in the British Virgin Islands – April 14, 2015

The Watsons and the Beavers took off a day ahead of the rest of the crew, spending the night in Little Rock Monday night for their 6 am Tuesday, April 14, flight from Little Rock to Atlanta to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and finally to Beef Island, Tortola, BVI.  We stayed in the Marina Village Inn in Road Town, which is part of the complex chartering boats for The Moorings, Sunsail, and Footloose charter companies.

Getting to the facility a day early gave us a chance, first and foremost, to get a day ahead of the rest of the crew by celebrating our arrival with Painkillers, which seems to be the national drink of the BVI.

Chart Briefing, Provisioning, and Arrival of the Rest Of The Crew – April 15, 2015

• Trips to the liquor and food stores
• Taxi rides $5/person, no matter how near or far
• Dinner at Pussers, Road Town, Tortola
• Spent night on the boat in Marina Village, Road Town Harbor

 

Boat Briefing, Final Provisioning, and Departure for The Bight at Norman Island – April 16, 2015

• Sailed from Tortola to Norman Island
• Snorkeling at The Caves
• Dinner at the Pirates Bight
• Drinks and dancing at Willie Thornton’s (“Willie T’s”)

 

Sail From The Bight To Sopers Hole, Then Motored To Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke – April 17, 2015

• Pussers in Soper’s Hole, plus shopping
• Girls Exploring Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke, while the boys got soused on Bloody Marys.
• Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke.  More drinks and dancing.
• Rough night for some who don’t remember having dinner on the boat …

 

Motored To Sandy Cay, Then Sailed To Trellis Bay, Tortola – April 18, 2015

• Explored the Sandy Cay reef and island.
• Long day of sailing to Trellis Bay.
• Dinner at Da Loose Mongoose, and drinks at The Last Resort.

 

Explored Trellis Bay, Pussers at Marina Cay, Then Motored To The Bitter End in Gorda Sound, Virgin Gorda – April 19, 2015

• Shopping and exploring the beach around The Bitter End.
• Drinks and a fabulous sunset at The Bitter End.
• Dinner on board.

 

Fast Motor to The Baths, Virgin Gorda, Then Motored to Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island – April 20, 2015

• The Baths were fantastic.  Trail to Devils Bay.  Lunch at Top of the Baths.  Shopping.
• Great snorkeling in Manchioneel Bay.
• Dinner at Cooper Island Beach Club.  Rum Bar for “appetizers”.

 

Another Night in Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island – April 21, 2015

• Cooper Island was too nice to leave, and it’s close to Road Town.  Turn in the boat tomorrow.
• Moved the boat to the other end of the anchorage near Cistern Rock for new snorkeling grounds.
• Dinner on board to use up food and drink.

 

Slow Motor from Cooper Island to Road Town, Departure of Some Crew – April 22, 2015

• Turned in boat on time.  Debrief with Sunsail Staff.
• Bill, Kathy, David, and Angela caught a taxi, then the St. Thomas Ferry for their trip home.
• Dan, Anita, Lisa Terry checked into Marina Village.
• Caught a taxi to Pussers to try to get pennants – no luck (“We’re out.”)
• Walked to The Pub for drinks and appetizers, then taxi back to Marina Village for dinner at Charlies.

 

Last Crew Departure For Home – April 23, 2015

• Breakfast at Marina Village
• Taxi ride to the airport
• Got away without getting arrested for taking a picture on the tarmac.