FLYING THE RYC BURGEEE AMONG THE PALM TREES AND BEACHES
 

It was over a year since we first started planning for the club cruise to the BVIs and the response was very encouraging. We had 13 yachts under our group charter with 64 members and guests signed up. Sadly at the last minute Anna Dedazzio injured her leg and so she and Harley were unable to join us. We wish her a speedy and full recovery.

The group of 62 converged on the Moorings charter base in Tortola on May 13 where we all had dinner on the pool deck and finalised our itinerary for the week. The itinerary had been suggested at a meeting back in late 2005 and nothing was changed. Egon Hoyer and his crew decided from the beginning that they would follow their own route based on Egon’s prior trips to the area. All the other crews stayed with the original plan.

DAY 1

The fleet left Road Town Tortola and in 10 knots of wind sailed over to Cooper Island. About a 90 minute trip under sunny skies. The anchorage at Cooper is deep so it was good that we all were able to pick up moorings and spend a relaxing day and night snorkeling, swimming and enjoying the shoreside bar and restaurant. Co-host Lyle Ryan and I took an inventory of the fleet and got familiar with the boat names and crews.

DAY 2

Under blue skies and gentle winds we left Cooper and made the 2 hour sail over to Marina Cay. This is a real jewel in the chain and we were able to all get moorings in good time to enjoy the spectacular reef and the very enticing shoreside amenities. At happy Hour we all made our way to the hilltop bar for Painkillers and music. It was not long before this turned into a rip roaring party with the RYC ukele players adding to the fun.

DAY 3

Another beautiful day in Paradise. We left early for the Baths on Virgin Gorda as anchoring is not allowed and the moorings are few. Most of us did get a mooring and the others went into Spanish Town and taxied to the Baths. This is a highlight of the cruise as the Baths are spectacular and well woth visiting. The rays of sunlight shafting through the boulders and into the emerald pools are a sight to behold.

After our tour of the Baths we all headed up to North Sound also on Virgin Gorda and moored off of the Bitter End Yacht Club. Not really a private club but a high end resort with all the attractions you would expect. from a first class resort.

 Around 5.30 we all dinghied over to Jim and Sue Bewley’s big catamaran and had a real RYC happy Hour. Thanks Jim and Sue for your hospitality on the cruise.

Around 7 we made our way ashore for dinner and dancing to the local reggae band. The smorgasbord dinner was an Epicurean tropical delight. A night to remember.

DAY 4

This was our big sailing day. The sail from Virgin Gorda to Jost Van Dyke is about 5 hours of reaching and running under the Caribbean sun and sky. Another day to remember. We all got to Little Harbor on Jost in the early afternoon and were warmly greeted by Cynthia Jones the owner of the beachside restaurant and bar called Harris’. Cynthia had been warned by the Polkenhorns back in November that we were coming and she had promised free moorings for 8 boats if we had dinner at her place.

So we all had dinner at her place. A memorable evening.. Never mind that we had to wait 2 hours for the food to arrive. It was well worth the wait. A wait made a lot more bearable by our introduction to Bushwackers. This is a local cocktail  which goes down very easily and leaves you asking for more. Of course no one was driving home that night.

Here we celebrated Dan Peterson’s birthday and the ukelele players again performed. Another enjoyable day and evening.

DAY 5

A relaxing,  sunny day. Some of the fleet sailed over to White bay on the west side of Jost and spent a pleasant couple of hours snorkeling and swimming. Here is where the famouis Soggy Dollar bar welcomes sailors and Lyle and KB experienced first hand why the call it the Soggy Dollar.

After lunch we sailed across to Cane Garden bay for dinner and the night. Cane Garden Bay on the North side of Tortola is a picture postcard anchorage. Long white sand beach with palm trees and colourful homes dotted on the steep hillside with the necessary number of beach bars and restaurants. A must see spot in the BVIs.

DAY 6

Most of us left Cane Garden bay and sailed around the west end of Tortola to Sopers Hole, the main port of entry from St Thomas. Apart from the ferry dock Sopers is home to a number of fine shoreside establishments including Pusser’s bar,restaurant and boutique and a charter company. A good place to fill up with water and replenish provisions. All set in a dramatic backdrop of verdant hills and colorful homes.

Here we had our second happy Hour on Jim and Sue Bewleys big catamaran. Another good RYC gathering.

DAY 7

Our final day. We left Sopers after breakfast and sailed about 5 miles to Norman Island. This is one of the string of beautiful islands that , with Tortola , form Drake’s Pasage. Norman has the unique attraction of the Caves; a well known snorkeling spot and a day anchorage. After the Caves we moored in the bight. There are 2 restaurants on Norman. The Pirates on the east shore and the William Thornton , an old schooner now turned into a floating restaurant and bar. A great place to hang out and watch the world go by. Here we had our final get together as a group and toasted the success of our adventure while watching the locals dive for T-shirts till the sun slowly sank over the horizon.

The next morning we all made our way back to the base and prepared for our trips home. The only unanswered question was- when do we do this again?