Charter Yachts and Islands

This bears repeating on both my blogs, as it is very good news for those coming into the islands for charter.
Delta is increasing the number of flights to STT
One more daily roundtrip flight between St. Thomas and Atlanta. During high season, Delta currently flies one daily roundtrip between Atlanta and St. Thomas.
- Two more weekend roundtrip flights between New York's John F. Kennedy Airport and St. Thomas. During high season, there is currently one nonstop flight between JFK and St. Thomas on Saturdays.
- Adding four more weekly flights between Atlanta and St. Thomas. These flights will land on St. Thomas at night and leave for Atlanta the next morning.
Back to our Main Site!

I just received an end of season newsletter from Viking Dream, so thought that I would share parts of it with you! They are always so bubbly and ambitious, it sounds like they have came up with some great ideas in the galley!
"Sally has been creating new and exciting recipes, such as, ‘Croque Madame’ for breakfast, ‘Trio of Mouselline of Fish Terrine’ or ‘Swordfish Kebabs’ for lunch, and ‘Veal Schnitzel’ or ‘King Prawns in Sweet corn and Coconut Sauce’ for dinner.
Plus Mark got mixing some wicked, some new, cocktail concoctions, including for the adults, the very popular ‘Viking Vibration’, ‘Rum 4 Your Life’ and ‘Champagne Sangria’. For the kids ‘Virgin Dirty Banana’ (has a little chocolate surprise in it!), ‘Strawberry Decadence’, or ‘Virgin Mango Colada’.
Unfortunately during a busy cocktail hour making virgin cocktails for the Dailey family, Marks blender blew a gasket and we had ‘Strawberry Decadence’ all over the floor ceiling and walls, and over Cap’n Cocktail too!
We continue to pride ourselves in planning individual itineraries and menus to suit your clients needs for their special vacation.
We’re still open for ‘Thanksgiving’ this November ’08!
Additions to Viking Dream:
· Spinnaker for a Spectacluar Downwind Sail
· Hammock for deck chillin’
· Improved selection of Beach Toys, Books, Games, DVDs.
Further additions planned for the November Show!
If snorkelling is their thing, Mark has lead some amazing ‘Snorkelling Safaris’ this season.
At Monkey Point recently apart from giant Tarpon we found a 6ft Nurse Shark asleep, an Octopus, Spotted Drum, and a giant Puffer Fish.
We have also been investigating trails and walks on the islands, especially the extensive trails on Norman Island with amazing views, for those clients who like to stretch their legs ashore."

I asked Viking Dream what they were doing in the off season, as I think it is always interesting to hear what various crews are doing.
It is their 25th Wedding Anniversary! Congratulations guys!! After getting the boat ready for any potential hurricanes, they are going to visit Sallys mom in Wales and then on to Cyprus for some hiking. Ambitious! We all want to get off the boats at the end of the season for awhile.
When they return to the boat in early October, they will haul it and then continue on their projects, including bean bag chairs for the outside (the easier for Captain Cocktail to just pass you one!), a couple 2/3 man kayaks (in a color to match the decor of course), and other things that are essential on a yacht to keep it in good condition, but not necessarily exciting, like soundproofing the engine room. Surprisingly something that most people don't think of when booking a yacht, that some boats are much better then others at making their generator quieter!
All this and great testimonials too! It is my favorite yacht in this size range.
SUMMER 2008 TESTIMONIALS
“Dear Mark and Sally,
It’s hard to put into words how special this trip has been for us. This trip has surpassed our highest expectations. The ‘Viking Dream’ is absolutely wonderful, and you guys add SO much to the experience! Your graciousness and hospitality are just incredible! Thanks so much for being such a special part of our 25th Anniversary celebration! We will remember it always! We’re also looking forward to our next adventure on the ‘Viking Dream’!
Love Kat & Pat Casey,” 6th June 2008.

“Mark and Sally
Thank you so much for the wonderful 10 days on the ‘Viking Dream’. She’s a beautiful boat and we enjoyed all of the time on and off of it. You are great hosts!
Air Guitar ‘Viking’ Style!

The memories we made on this vacation will be some of the best ever! This trip will go down as one of our most fondest. The food was outstanding. Thank you Sally for sharing some of the recipes’. The drinks were poisonous! Thank you Mark for keeping us hydrated. We will miss our morning chart meetings and the sights. This was the best vacation ever and thanks again for making it so memorable.
Jonathan and Melissa, Gretchen and Gary,” 20th June 2008
Plate Lickin’ Good!

“Mark and Sally
Thank you for a wonderful time on your beautiful boat. You really know how to make your guests feel welcome. The islands and snorkelling sights were all beautiful. Sally your meals were outstanding. Thank you for your recipes. I hope I can come close to the wonderful cook you are. Mark your bartending skills are great. I never enjoyed so many different kinds of drinks. The children had so much fun learning how to kneeboard and windsurf. You both made our ‘dream vacation’ unforgettable. Hope to see you again.
Love The Dailey’s,” 28th June 2008

“Dear Mark and Sally
Thank you for taking us on a trip of a lifetime! We have all had a fabulous time, and have experienced many new things. Many thanks to Sally for ALL your delicious meals you so lovingly cooked, and to Mark for all your wonderful Cocktails and excursions.

‘Vikings’ in Training!
This trip has FAR exceeded our expectations, and we will be forever grateful. You two are simply ‘THE BEST!’ Abundant Blessings, Terry, Jacque, Sammy and Mitchell”, July 2008
We have written about Viking Dream a couple times before, and we can thoroughly recommend this yacht and crew, see our other entries on Viking Dream Here.
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This was sent around by Charter Yacht Liberte Liberte Charters Website in their monthly newsletter, so thought I would share some history here with you as well.

Welcome back to the Islands! A little bit of a history lesson today. The Virgin Islands are rich in history - having been passed around between the Spanish, English and Dutch. The Europeans knew there was land to it's west - midieval charts told of a mysterious land, it's location fluctuating mid-ocean between the Canary Islands and India. They called it Antilia - thus the name Antilles. The Greater Antilles are comprised of continental rock -Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rico. Lesser Antilles, volcanic and coral reef islands, refer to all of the other Caribbean Islands - the northerly Leeward Islands, the south easterly Windward Islands and the Leeward Antilles just north of Veneuela. Just to keep it confusing, the Bahamas are considered part of the West Indies, but not part of the Antillean group. The Antilles do make up the greater part of the West Indies. I think much of the confusion comes from names given when each island was settled and by whom.

When Christopher Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands in 1493 (on his second voyage to the New World) he named them St Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins after the legend of St Usula from around 500. St Ursula was murdered and her entourage of virgins beheaded by Huns after she sailed from England to Armorica, a part of Gaul (modern day France, Italy, Belgium), while on a pilgrimage before her marraige to the pagan governor of Amorica. She had 11,000 virgin hand maidens with her. Now, she probably had 11 hand maidens, but the Latin numeral system of X's, V's and I's were probably misinterpreted along the way and 11 turned to 11,000. There is even one version where it may have only been Ursula herself that was murdered. But, 11,000 is much more impressive. Regardless, that is how the Virgin Islands were named. Today the legend of St Usula is overwhelmingly considered to be fiction but St. Ursula remains the patron saint of Cologne, Delphi, England, archers, orphans and students.

Earliest history puts the Taino Indians, a sub group of the Arawaks of northeastern South America, on Tortola around 100BC. When Columbus showed up they had been displaced by the war savvy Caribs (alas the name Caribbean Sea). The Carib Indians, boat builders and sailors, left the Orinoco forests of Venezuela to settle in the Caribbean where they raided and traded with the Taino Indians of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The gold Columbus found on the Islands was because of trading done with the Caribs. The Caribs were able to maintain autonomous communities into the 19th Century on St Vincent and Dominica. In 1903 the Crown granted the Caribs 3700 acres in Dominica where 3,000 still enjoy their tribal life. Descendants of the Carib heritage can be found on several other of the Windward Islands.

In 1555 the Holy Emperor, Charles V (Charles I of Spain), sent forces to defeat the Caribs, claim the territory for Spain and ordered the annihilation of the natives. By 1596 most of the natives in the BVI had been killed or retreated to other islands.
Early Buccaneers made Tortola a headquarters due to it's proximity to Hispaniola, where they could raid Spanish ships and settlements. 'Buccaneer' comes from the French 'boucan' - a practice of drying meat on grills. These buccaneers would steal cattle from the Spanish plantations and sell it to any ship with money for purchase. (more on this fascinating subject of buccaneers, privateers, corsairs and pirates in a future newsletter) They would also plunder the Spanish galleons laden with gold from the New World.

The Dutch established a permanent settlement on Tortola in 1648, probably as a result of Dutch Buccaneers using it as their 'home' base. In 1666 English planters arrived on the scene and by 1762 the English captured Tortola from the Dutch and annexed Anegada and Virgin Gorda in 1682. 1672 - 1733 was when the Dutch gained control of St Thomas, St John and St Croix. (But, that is another story) Slaves were brought over from Africa to work the cane fields and all was well (except for piracy and a few revolts) until the 1800's (1807) when England abolished slavery and Europe discovered the sugar beet. On July 31, 1834 slavery was abolished in the Islands and 776,000 slaves were freed. With the increased cost of labor and Europe producing beet sugar, the economy was in trouble.

England held control of the British Virgin Islands throughout all of this time. The government structure changed depending on how the Islands were clumped with other British holdings within the Lesser Antilles. Separate Colony status was gained in 1960 and the British Virgin Islands became autonomous in 1967. Still connected to the United Kingdom, they are a legally constitutional government with executive authority vested in Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. This democracy runs through a parliamentary and ministerial system. In the 1960s the British Virgin Islands decided to focus on tourism and finance and today has an economy to be rivaled by many other Caribbean Islands.
Virgin Gorda was one of Columbus' 11,000 Virgins. He called her the 'fat virgin'. Settled by planters leaving Anguilla in the 1680's and a once working copper mine (visit 'The Mineshaft' restaurant to this day) Virgin Gorda is a very popular tourist attraction and a favorite place to be for expatriates from around the world.
Anegada, meaning 'inundated' in Spanish, is flat and made of coral and limestone with very little subsoil and no fresh water. Dangerous reefs surround the Island and it is said Anegada's waters contain many still unexplored ship wrecks.

Jost Van Dyke is named for 17th century Dutch Privateer Joost van Dyk who used its harbors as his hideout. Other notable natives from this Island are William Thornton, the architect of the US Capitol building (and inspiration for naming the Willie T - a floating bar on Norman Island) and John C. Lettsome, founder of the British Medical Society and of course Foxy of the famous 'Foxy's' in Great Harbor, JVD.

There have been reported sightings of the LIONFISH in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. They are native to the Pacific Ocean, but I believe they manage to get into the Atlantic waters after Hurricane Katrina and they have been slowly moving their way down the island chain. These babies are very beautiful, very venomous, and have not many predators. The first one that is found in these waters will be a picture on the front page of the newspaper for sure. NOAA is asking if you find one, either SCUBA or fishing, that you DO NOT return it to the water, you capture it (! that probably comes under the heading of we are trained professionals (ha) and we don't want our guests trying to do it on their own!) and they want it.

Here are two flyers on it, one for divers Lionfish SCUBA Flyer and additionally, one for the fishermen out there Lionfish Fishing Flyer
I will look forward to taking pictures of them and practicing my lionfish capturing skills, which usually means yelling for my husband!!

In other news in the BVI, the crewed charter yachts are mostly doing the summer boat shuffle! That means that the crews on moorings are trying to come into the private fleet, the crew in the smaller private fleet are trying to move up to a bigger boat, the long time owner operators are either hiring crew to work the charters for them, or cutting down there schedule to do less charters, and the "top" crews are looking to do 6 months on and 6 months off!. Funny nowadays, if you have been here two years and have a license, you are considered long time crew! The cycle is much quicker nowadays from when I started in the business. Reminds me that I will have to do up a sheet trying to explain who all is moving where. Goes to show one more time, that you CANNOT buy a charter based on the crew alone, as they change so quickly!

Received this for release today...
For Immediate Release

June 21, 2008

New Archaeological Project to Study Historic-Period Sites in the BVI

Contact:
John M. Chenoweth
Department of Anthropology, 232 Kroeber Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720
E-mail: Chenoweth@berkeley.edu

The first steps in a new archaeological project, which aims to be a long-term exploration of the BVI’s eighteenth and nineteenth century history, will take place this summer. In August, a team of graduate students from the University of California, Berkeley, plans to begin surveying and mapping on BVI historic sites, in preparation for archaeological research. The project will be led by Mr. John M. Chenoweth, a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States. The project will form the basis for the doctorial dissertation of Mr. Chenoweth, who already holds a Master’s Degree in Anthropology (specializing in Historical Archaeology) from the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, USA.

There have been several previous archaeological projects in the BVI, including the well-known Belmont prehistoric site in the West End, and the work of Mr. Michael Kent of HLSCC. Due to the increased interest, a new BVI Governmental committee has formed to oversee and approve of archaeological projects like Mr. Chenoweth’s. The committee is composed of Ms. Luce Hodge-Smith, Director of the Department of Culture, Mr. Joseph Smith-Abbot, Director of the National Parks Trust, and Dr. Michael O’Neal, President of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

Mr. Chenoweth has commented that the rich history of the British Virgin Islands provides many opportunities for historical and archaeological study. The goal of the project is to learn about the past peoples of the BVI—how they lived their lives, saw their world, and built their communities in the 1700s and 1800s—using the historical record and the archaeology of the places they left behind. Building on this information, the project will also aim to address questions of anthropological significance beyond the BVI.

The first site to be surveyed this summer will be the “Vanterpool Estate” on Little Jost van Dyke Island, which was once the home of the family of Dr. John Coakley Lettsom. The Lettsom site has been selected because of the interest of the landowners, who are also eager to learn more about the site and its history, and the unique nature of the area´s history. The family who has own the land for many years is a local one, and mostly lives on St. Thomas: Mr. Kelvin A. Vanterpool, Ms. Anita St. John, Mr. David Blyden, and Mr. Mario Leonard are among the members of the landowner family who have been consulting on the project. One cousin, who goes by “Nippy,” is also a Jost van Dyke resident. This site has also been selected becuase of it’s excellent state of preservation and the historical associations of an earlier landowner, the famous Quaker Dr. Lettsom. Most people already know something of the planters and small farmers who, around 1740, converted to Quakerism and formed a small Meeting on Tortola.

But this project is not just focusing on Quakers. Although interesting, Quakers are no more important a part of the BVI’s history than any other. The project begins with Quaker peoples not because they are more important, but because there is other archaeological work on Quakers in the United States and in England which can provide comparative material.

Says Mr. Chenoweth, “While my focus is on the Quaker period, I am very interested in understanding the whole history of the site, from pre-Columbian native groups who lived there, to the famous Dr. Lettsom and his Quaker contemporaries, to the not-so-famous but equally important African-descended enslaved people who lived there (and were freed there). This little island encapsulates, I think, many fascinating parts of the entire history of the region, from pre-History down to today.”

Indeed, we know that many different people, including males and females, those of European and of African descent, and even adults and children all lived and worked side by side on these lands. Sadly, history has largely silenced the voices of many of these residents of the site, and of the region in general, especially women and those of African descent. Archaeology is the best means available to access these voices, understand how they lived their lives.

Archaeological work will consist of mapping, survey, and excavation. As in all archaeological work, the goal of the project is looking for trash: items with no value to those who deposited them, and no value except information today. Archaeologists have developed sophisticated procedures to recover not just the things left behind by people, but far more importantly the information they contain: most important of these is “context”, the precise relationship any object has with the soil and other objects around it. This is why it is vital that nobody disturb archaeological sites, remove artifacts, or dig any holes at them until archaeological work has been conducted.

Mr. Chenoweth hopes that this project will be the beginning of a long term collaboration with British Virgin Islands institutions, such as the Department of Culture, National Parks Trust, and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and local non-profits such as the BVI Heritage Conservation Group, and Jost van Dykes Preservation Society. There are many possibilities for future projects, from the Nottingham estate at Long Look, to the Pickering Estate and site of the old Quaker Meeting House, to the Kingston site just east of Road Town.

Mr. Chenoweth would be interested in communicating with those who are interested in the BVI’s past, history, and archaeology. Volunteers from HSLCC may assist the project this summer, and future projects may have room for other volunteers. Public lectures at HLSCC and elsewhere, and programs with local youth groups and schools are also planned in order to share the project and its results with the BVI community

From: The British Virgin Islands SCUBA Organization
For: Immediate Release


July 15th, 2008: It has been a busy month for the "Sink The Flying Cloud Project"....

1) A website has been created so our Flying Cloud project has a permanent "home" all its own! It looks good! Check it out at Windjammer Flying Cloud

2) We have been down to Trinidad to go over the Flying Cloud, made sure she can withstand the tow up to the BVI. It looks like an arrival date in the BVI for the Flying Cloud will be in late October. No word on the actual sinking date of the wreck yet.

3) We have received the support of the National Parks Trust for our project and its sinking!

4) Conservation and Fisheries have supported our choice location to sink in between Cooper and Ginger Island and we are busy doing addtional studies that they have asked for. These are called Bathymetric surveys. One will be a large scale chart of the area it is to be sunk in, with GPS and Depth scales. We must also make fish counts, and plot how far out from the reef the barrel sponges go so they can decide exactly where she will lay.

5) We are now up and running with Ocean River Institute acting as our non -profit 501(c) 3 partner. Additionally, we can accept small donations online through Paypal on Sink the Flying Cloud DONATIONS page.

6) We have started collecting stories, and pictures and making "Memory" Pages on the Flying Cloud by the year. We have several up on the Windjammer website already, check them out with plenty more to come!

7) Our very own Brian Olson, from Sunchaser SCUBA on Virgin Gorda has written an article "The Caribbean's Newest Artifical Reef?" You can read it on the Sink the Flying Cloud site.

So, I guess the point of this post, is you can read everything on the Sink the Flying Cloud site

Photo courtesy of Ed Hibsman

I wrote this article in Julys BVI Yacht Guide And here is the PDF of it as well...Changes in Paradise

Take into account that I wrote this in a very emotional state, so it is not backed up by any fact, it was just the way I was feeling, and can still feel when I read it.

Letters to the Editor - When I came to the islands a short 10 years ago our favourite anchorage, that we always thought we were the first people on earth to discover, was Money Bay on Norman Island. It would be some grand adventure that we would build up with our guests, that we would go to the outside of Norman Island, weather depending, and anchor so we could tie our stern onto shore with no people, no other boats as it only fit one good sized boat, no anchor lights, no street lights and stars everywhere. We could make out the glow of St. Croix in the distance.

We had no cell service, no Internet, and would spend the time diving for sand dollars, combing the beach for shells, and often having a bonfire on the beach. There was one perfect little beach that was just right in the corner, and we would surf the swell if it came around the point on kayaks that would deposit us right up on the shore.




There was a little salt pond in the back and you could climb to the top if you had on good shoes, long pants and did not mind a few prickles along the way! I think I cried the day that I saw the orange survey pegs on the land there and found out that there would be high-end houses going in. Our peaceful out-of-the-way place was shattered next by the sight of bulldozers cutting roads around the island and levelling out the ground. Next it was a rock-landing barge over the perfect small white sandy beach in the corner. Now, they were not satisfied with ruining the sandy beach, they have also made a much larger landing platform, and a breakwater on the other side, where the boats used to stern-to along the rocks, right over where we collected our sand dollars and watched the pipe fish.

The day I knew I had to sadly say good-bye in my heart to my favourite "deserted" anchorage was the day we pulled in and there were no boats, BUT there was a group of 6-8 people standing on the beach who had walked over the hill on the road! A sad memory.

Never again will we find Spanish bibles on the ground there when the illegal immigrants that had paid someone a lot of money in St. Martin to take them to the USVI would be dropped off on these beaches being told that it was the US, as it was so much easier for them to avoid the US Coast Guard by NOT taking them to St. John. We will not tell the tales of the policemen hunting goats for meat and shooting practice back there, or the tales around the campfire at night, with no lights in sight.



Privateer Bay on Norman Island was (and is) the only place that I have seen seahorses in the Virgin Islands. We would always anchor in Privateer Bay, of course, all the bare-boats would head for the Bight even then with all the mooring balls. The reef at the Caves was still a great snorkel, and a favourite night dive. Yes, the fish were hand fed even back then. It was a standing joke that when you needed the bottom of your boat cleaned that you would stay there for awhile and let the Blue Tangs do the job! You could see one of the best sunsets around over St. John. Yes, it was busy during the day, and even then I used to say that it was "our sacrificial reef" for the cruise ships. I did not know what I was talking about. I would love to go back 10 years there.

The reef there eventually became known to us as "toilet paper reef" as all the day boats flushed their heads constantly, and if we were going for a dive, the most you could do is count how many old masks and fins that you could pick up that the boats had lost! Right down in the corner, where boats used to anchor, mooring balls arrived....and the beauty of that bay was maybe lost a little more for us when we had a commercial mooring operator give us a hard time because we preferred to anchor as opposed to picking up his mooring ball and paying $20 (the fee then!)

Guests brought me down video footage of them taking out White Squall for a week-long charter back in the late 60s. The video showed them the only boat in the Bight! Down in the south-west corner there used to be a careenage from many days gone by. Now, you better not try to go through the mooring field in a stiff wind, as you will have a hard time dodging all the boats. I would not swim in the Bight any longer. Maybe right out on the point.

10 years ago, Willy T's was there, and was about the hottest place for nightlife in the BVI! I remember when anyone who was anyone went over there on Sunday afternoons for lunch and then a party. No self-respecting expat would miss it and I swear they came by dinghy, kayak, or paddleboard from Tortola or St. Thomas to get here. Of course, that was in the days, that although it was certainly illegal to go back and forth between the USVI and the BVI without checking in, you were occasionally tempted to do it by "changing the courtesy flag on the boat" and knowing that if you got caught they would tell you not to do it again and let you go! I honest to goodness told a Customs agent once that I "forgot" to check in and I was admonished not to do it again. Do not try that now.



You could walk up behind the careenage to the top of the hill and see the ruins of an old lookout. You may still be able to see the old ruins, but you will also see the helicopter landing pad as well that will be bringing in the well-heeled owners and guests to Norman Island.

The tales of Treasure Island and finding treasure chests back in the caves just don't have the same ring to them any more on Norman Island. There had been a rumour at one time that boaters' access to these bays and the caves would be cut off once it was developed. We have heard and told stories about buried treasure on the island for many years and it will surely be found by the developers with their backhoes digging ground for the villas going in.

We have taken away a lot of the "mystery" that the BVI has had over the centuries. Our tales of finding chests of coins in the far reaches of the caves at Treasure Point, the rumours of many a chest buried on the island, do not have the same ring. When we would spin our pirate tales to our guests, it became a magical place to them as well.

I used to look around me and marvel that I had the good fortune to live on the water in the British Virgin Islands. Even after doing years of charters, the sense of awe and beauty I felt when I looked around at the islands while cooking yet another charter meal for 12 guests in a hot galley was without parallel. Ever. In my entire life. No other place has hit me like the British Virgin Islands had. It quietened my soul.

I was never tired of the milk run around the islands. I could never understand why I read everywhere that "there are no longer any deserted anchorages in the BVI." We could always find them. We tended to go anywhere but where the mooring balls were, as to us it was like being in a Wal-Mart parking lot. We thrilled in pelicans, sought out the out-of-the-way-dives and snorkel places that most others would not even think about, or be bothered to take the extra steps to make sure their guests saw the best we had to offer. At a conservative guess, I have personally done close to 300 week-long circles here.

Every year, there was another development going up, another marina going in, another favourite spot that either was "off limits" or under construction. A few years ago, I started wondering just where exactly we were supposed to cruise TO now that we had built all these marinas? Certainly our guests, and we have been a BVI active charter yacht for almost thirty years, did not come down here to see marinas. Picture what I said above, about ONE island, and we have over 60 islands and cays, and you will know why I have become involved in my small way.

Kerry Hucul is an owner of a long-term charter business who plays an active role in the environmental community.

Here is the PDF file of the British Virgin Islands June Tourism Insider

For all the photographers that have great pictures on their charter in the BVI here is a chance to immortalize your picture on stamps! Here is the full size PDF of the picture below

Promenade is pleased to offer the following for guests convenience. Upon arrival either by ferry or plane, you can taxi straight to the yacht in the marina. They offer you your beds for the night, access to the drinking water, coffee and tea, as well as full air conditioning as required. Besides a short talk about how the lights and heads work, they provide no services, and you can make your choice for your evening meal or breakfast at any of the restaurants on island, before beginning your charter at 11:00 AM!

Their flat rate is $800.00 ( paid in advance)


I have had so many people tell me that they want to get off the plane and straight on the boat. Plus, in season, many hotels are full or looking for a three night minimum, not to mention the weird arrival times of airplanes. If, your arrival is after 9:00 PM at night, they can also arrange a tray of sandwiches or cheese and crackers, for a minimum price ( must be ordered in advance!) as the only thing that is going to be open for anyone who is hungry is the chicken van or the grocery store! Now, us who live on the island, love the late night chicken van, but also admit, it usually only follows after a greater amount of alcohol then you are likely to be served on your flights down to Tortola by American Airlines!

Many of the various charter boats offer a sleep aboard option depending on availablity, although all try and keep it to only a few a year, as if you are working on a 24 hour turnaround, it does take away their time. However, when you have large numbers of guests that get into the airport late, and then you have to get a taxi to get to the hotel to find some food to sleep and get some breakfast to find a cab and get over to the boat for noon, this is "stress reliever" and relatively inexpensive!

Here is a link to a PDF on this article, that came around in my in box over the last few days! We have lots of exciting things being planned, so my boat and charter blog is not seeing too many boats on it at the moment. I will say that I have never seen so may specials, and different types of marketing as is starting to appear from the boats and on land. Everyone is starting to be creative. There is some very good land and charter yacht deals to be had, and I hear of people finding the odd VERY inexpensive flight this summer, so a reasonable vacation is possible!
This is a gorgeous picture by Steve Simonson from the article of Cane Garden Bay at night.

And here is Caribbean Travels website!

Back to our Main Site!

Well do I have some exciting pictures here! I persuaded Cayley and Justin Smit of the charter yacht Aldebaran to share some pictures with us.

As I have blogged about before, a lot of the charter yachts sit over in Little Harbor on Peter Island while off charter, as well as on. It is an easy run to Roadtown, flat and some great exploring, snorkeling and diving. A few weeks ago a couple lucky charter boats were sitting there when a female dolphin decided to come into the harbor.

She met each person as they jumped in the water by turn!



I don't believe I have ever seen such a close clear picture of a dolphin taken in the BVI as this one! It is absolutely spectacular!!

Great pictures guys, and I am so jealous!
See more about Catamaran Aldebaran on our web pages
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It is taking me a long time to get up all the pictures and web pages for the yachts that I saw at the spring boat show! Other things keep on getting in the way, but slowly but surely I will plug away at it.
Dominique and Michel on Blithe Spirit have been doing charters for as long as I have been in the Caribbean, and this spring boat show was the first time that I have ever been on their yacht! What a lovely yacht she is as well.

She is an Irwin Classic Beauty which is thirty years old, and very well taken care of. I love the varnish and the roominess which is in the Irwins. When we first arrived on board, I was surprised how much room there was topsides (complete with a park bench!)and below for 2 or a maximum of 4 guests, if you are a family.


Before sailing Blithe Spirit through the Caribbean, over the Atlantic to far away ports, they ran a small elegant country Inn in Quebec. Those who have been to Quebec will know exactly what I mean by that, but others, well, except for the fact that I was sitting on a yacht in the Caribbean, I could have been in a Country Inn, with snow outside, sitting in front of a fireplace sipping an espresso, waiting for the Innkeepers to serve me my gourmet dinner! That was the "cozy feeling" I had on this yacht listening to Dominique talk quickly like the french do. Don't worry, they speak fluent french, english, and turkish!!
Dominique had me won over from the moment she suggested a cappucino or espresso. It was about that mid day time at the boat show where my energy was wilting. Heat or not, it was wonderful.


I like to ask crews where their favorite anchorages are and why, as that tells me exactly what type of charters they like. Of course, everyone does what the guests want, but we all have our favorite spots.

Theirs are
"Christmas Cove" in the USVI because of the snorkeling
Treasure Point on Norman Island
Money Bay on Norman Island for the snorkeling, (one of mine as well...)
Great Harbor on Peter Island because of Conrad. (Conrad owns the little spit of land that you leave your dinghy at to walk over to Peter Island Resort. He is blind, but still very proud of his job. Remember he can no longer drink alcohol so a dollar or a juice is much more appropriate then a beer!
Leverick Bay. I did not write down why, but with the Friday Night Barbecue and the Mocky Jumbies there now, it really is a nice spot. There is construction going on the hill behind which is a bit noisy.
Monkey Point on Guana Island for snorkeling (natch all the Tarpons and Silversides!)
Green Cay

Some great snorkeling spots there! Dominiques favorite food to cook is probably gnochi, and gourmet stuffed quail and rabbits! She also grows her own herb garden on the aft of the yacht which impressed me to no end. I tried once many years ago and killed them in short order! She also tries to cook organically as much as possible. YOu can just see the top of the park bench behind the herb garden here in this picture.


This yacht is perfect for a Honeymoon Couple, or a family with two children at a minimum age of 12 (they do not have a separate childrens menu, the meals are gourmet). You can always tell a crew and yacht that has been doing this for a long time. When you first start in the chartering field you tend to make yourself available to EVERYONE. Partiers, Families, Honeymooners, Divers, whatever you can get. As you go along you fine tune what you are great with. By my observations and the crews expressed desire, they are perfect for Honeymooners, or a couple with older children. Although they have two guest cabins, the second one you can see from the picture is a V berth and that cabin shares the head with the crew. The master stateroom has its own private head and area.
This is the Master Stateroom


and this is the V berth

There is very much a "welcome to my home" and please enjoy the great conversation, cuisine and leisurely saiing for the week on Blithe Spirit. If you are keen on air conditioning, this yacht only runs air conditioning on dock, and it is totally a non smoking charter boat! (no, not even cigars!)
For honeymooning couples they offer an additional Beach BBQ at either Leverick Bay on Virgin Gorda, or at Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke.

I have more pictures and links on this yacht at my page on Blithe Spirit at Blithe Charter Yacht on SailDive BVI
I don't get the impression on here that if you wanted to do a ton of water sports all day long that it would be the best choice, but great conversation, food, sailing, relaxing, beachcombing, snorkeling I think it would be a great match. Especially if you like that bit of European/French Flair in your gourmet meals, and do not want hamburgers and potato salad!
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With it being the Year of the Reef, and additionally, environmental month in the BVI, there is all kinds of information being published on reefs. Do you know that I recently read that they have now done studies that say that all the suntan block that we are using is harming the reefs as well!
Shannon Gore, A Marine Biologist at Conservation and Fisheries in the BVI has been, besides her "regular" work, writing articles every month on various topics for the BVI Yacht Guide on various topics. Here is a PDF of the latest article Ancient Reefs
The Yacht Guide is a good source for information ON the BVI, for those who are planning on going there.

In her never ending dig for material, she put some research into the coral spawning which takes place every summer and came up with some loose predictions on when we might see some here in the BVI!
She will have a article coming out in the BVI Yacht Guide August Issue, called "Sex on the Reef" and NO, that is not the same things as some of the naughty guests try and sneak away to do!!
I quote from her email here:
I came across a literature review on all published papers dealing with spawning dates and pulled out all the broadcast corals with information on exact dates in which spawning has occured in Puerto Rico in the past. Here is a link to some of the research materialThese are based on 7-8 days after the full moon in July, Aug & Sept. (Most people think it is only in Aug!) Other areas in the Caribbean are very close to the same dates so I figured the BVI would be during the same times. So here is what I have come up with (coral species specific) - these are only predictions!!!! but based on the scientific literature. Warmer than normal water temps may change all this of course. I would suggest 6-8 days after the 1st full moon in each month and plan on somewhere between 8-11pm (most occurences were around 9:30).

Elkhorn coral 25-26 July and/or 22-24 August
Boulder brain coral 23 Aug - 9pm
Symetrical brain coral 25-Jul and/or 23 Aug; 8-9pm
Boulder star coral 23 Aug; 9:30-11pm and/or 22-Sep
Great star coral 25-Jul and/or 23-Aug and/or 22-Sep
Pillar coral 23-Aug
Massive starlet coral 25-Jul and/or 23-Aug and/or 22-Sep





So if you intend to be diving in the Caribbean at any of those times, or if you are not, maybe you should! Contact me to see which yachts would be available to take you diving to see this spectacular site this summer. Typically the seas are very warm, and the water is very flat about that time of year. I will be down there with my trusty camera for the end of August and September ones for sure!
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This article is repeated in both my blogs!