<Back to Caribbean Page>  <Onto St. Maarten>

We arrived in the BVIs on January 1st after a 28 day passage across the Atlantic, and it was as beautiful as we had hoped!

Here are some photos of us sailing into Soper's Hole, and celebrating with champagne and cigars!! Our official time for anchoring was 10:54am, then it was off to Pussers Landing for some proper grub and a rum punch. If you look carefully in the cockpit behind Tom is a foul weather jacket, why you may ask? Well for the first time during the whole passage we had force 8 winds, about 30 knots, blowing us in to the BVIs!

<--- Nothing on the horizon, not for much longer. . .    Land Ahoy! 

A rainbow welcomes us to Paradise.           

Crack open the bolly, and light a cigar!            

Our friend Robin coming to greet us, a familiar face at last!!

Jan 4th - We left Soper's Hole today to go to Norman Island, and visit Benures Bay. Had two guests with us, Tom's girlfriend, Amanda, and Alex's friend, Katy. When we arrived the whole place was empty, so it was all to ourselves! Tom and Amanda went snorkeling and saw a turtle! The rest of us went the next day, and it was the best reef so far, so many fish, and brightly coloured coral.

    Andrea and Alex's friend, Katy.    The view of Tortola.

Threw some scraps in the water and these fish suddenly appeared!

Tom and Amanda enjoying the view.    The coral reef surrounded this rock.

Jan 7th - Tom's 21st Birthday! Robin took us out on his boat, Kuralu, for the day. We visited some beautiful places and had a great time! First we went to Sandy Spit, an idyllic island with white sand and turquoise water. Then, after a snorkel went to White Bay, home of the Soggy Dollar bar, and another perfect beach!  We swam and messed about in the waves, then went round the corner to Great Bay, where the infamous Foxy's is. Enjoyed a cold beer, and wondered up the main street (a sandy road) to get ice cream, then after a hard day's sunbathing and swimming it was back to Soper's Hole.

Sandy Spit.                White Bay 

            A delicious lunch by Chef Robin!

  Back to Sopers Hole, then a Birthday Cake for Tom!    

Jan 8th - Sailed to Cooper Island and yet again had a beautiful anchorage to ourselves. we swam, and watched the sun go down whilst sipping cocktails! A nice relaxing evening.

Jan 9th - Sailed to the famous Baths. Two white sand beaches surrounded by huge natural boulders, with a path connecting them that goes between the boulders, through caves and knee deep water! We made the mistake of going in when there was a big swell and had a scary time swimming in so close to the rocks, maybe next time we'll pay more attention to the guide . . . But the scenery paid off! We took the trail to Devil's Bay through the caves created by the boulders, clambering up rocks, wading through the clear water and  then arriving at another beautiful beach! Couldn't help but take loads of photos, trying to capture the uniqueness of the Baths.

       On the trail to Devil's Bay

   Tom on the helm as we sail to the North Sound, and Amanda catching some zzz's!

We left the Baths in the afternoon after another hairy swim out to the boat, and sailed to the North South, home of the Bitter end Yacht club. We anchored by Prickly Pear island, across from the yacht club and we went to check it out. It was nice, but a bit too touristy, and after an hour looking around we ran out of things to do so we  motored back to the boat. Then Tom, Alex, Katy and Amanda headed off to the Beach Bar Grill, a bar on the beach and had an nice evening with out the parents!

    The main building by the dinghy dock.

Jan 10th - Anchored in Trellis Bay in the afternoon, a busy anchorage, but there's plenty of room. We planned to go to the Last Resort Restaurant for dinner, a place on a tiny island in the middle of the bay, but they were closed for the Xmas holidays! So instead we went to the Loose Mongoose on the main land, Beef Island.  It turned out to be a really nice place, horse shoe throwing out front, and free mosquito repellent! Also great food and friendly people. The next day we discovered the Trellis Bay Internet Cafe, the kind of place where you're free to just sit and read a magazine in a hammock, with tasty food, and a friendly chef called Dorothy. Everyone obviously knows each other around here, there's kids running a mock and people just hanging out. The most interesting cafe we've seen so far!

Jan 13th - Anchored in Savannah Bay on Virgin Gorda, a long strip of white beach on shore, and a maze of reefs to negotiate. Messed about on the beach and went snorkeling, and had a nice evening.

Tom, Alex and Amanda playing Monopoly           

Jan 19th - After visiting Trellis Bay again as well as Deadman's Bay and Cane Garden we sailed to Roadtown, the main town in Tortola. We did our laundry, ordered a new ballooner and genoa, and stocked up on food, taking advantage of the facilities whilst we had them! 

Cabbage Health Spa!!

Jan 19th - Heading back to Sopers Hole for Superbowl Sunday on the 26th. 

Pelicans are everywhere in Sopers Hole, and at last I managed to catch one on photo by popping my head out of the front hatch! They're not as ugly as I thought they were! For some reason they love to sit on the Pulpit!

Jan 26th - SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!! And Robin's Birthday! So to celebrate, as he does every year, Robin took us out with about 25 of his friends on Kuralu. We sailed to the infamous Willy T's Bar, an old ship anchored off of Jost Van Dyke Island. We arrived and filled up the bar, went for a swim, had some rum punches, then left at 4pm in time to get back to watch the game at the Jolly Rodger in Soper's Hole.

Jan 30th - Said goodbye to the BVIs and started to sail SW to St. Maarten.  Had a dinner of bangers and mash at sea, thanks to Andrea and arrived in Marigot Bay at 2pm on March 1st. A total of 22 hours at sea and a distance of 116 miles.

Continue the voyage to St. Maarten...