bvi captains log blog

No, not finished blogging yet today, trying to get caught up! A couple more entries and then I will be there and can start updating my blog on all the other charter boats!
Bazza and I took advantage yesterday of the powerboat and slopped our way out to what we call the "fishbowl"
This dive is 4 miles on the south side of Virgin Gorda, that we usually do on the way to St Maarten. It is actually much less daunting doing it from the big boat then a smaller boat. We were super cautious and knowing that we would have to find our way back to this tiny anchor line in the middle of the ocean, we tied extra lines everywhere down there so we did not lose us or the boat!
Here is Bazza with the lines.

This is a mound that goes down on one side a couple hundred feet and on the other who knows. This is right at the top and there can be a lot of current! (Which there was! especially when you get out of the "holes"
Look at this beautiful fishy reef though!

What we find amazing about this spot is the amount of large groupers that are congregated there, of all types. We must have seen at least a dozen, all larger then what we see otherwise in the channel.

Always schools of Permits, Ocean Triggerfish, Durgeons, Sharks, every time we are here!

This is a first for me though, I have seen small lobster in cup corals before, but this was a LARGE lobster in a LARGE cup coral! Absolutely beautiful with it all being orange!

And just another close up shot of the Angel fish that followed us around the entire dive.

Unfortunately I dropped the ladder on my toe getting back on the boat, so I am still whining about that 24 hours later!

I agree with Lisa, it was wonderful to pick up the guests in Muskmelon Bay yesterday and have the power boat bring them over looking at the sunset! I wonder if we could sell that as a pick up point more often? this is always in our top 5 anchorages, and if we have a couple places where guests would love to stay several days, this is one of them!

Lisa was like a father waiting for a mother to give birth pacing back and forth! The guys did not arrive until late afternoon, so that means cocktail hour and dinner basically ran into each other, but she made sure that they had PLENTY of food! There was only 5 guys!!

How do you like the birds in the sky? There was as many as I ever see here! I know Lisa has told you all this, but sometimes we like to repeat ourselves! Sometimes we kill you with entries, some days you get none!

This is me feeding the birds that Brent was having a heart attack about his boat getting filthy just before the guests were arriving!

Our weary travelers had been traveling all day so cocktail hour was a welcome sight!

And who is this? Ah, I found a last picture from My Old Folks from St Marys!! This is the last cocktail hour and we all squeezed in together to share it!

We know we are the best deal around for knowledge, activities, flexibility, activities, (yeah I know I said that twice!) size of boat and of course, all us wonderful crew! With the unprecedented costs that have gone up, I have had to make a couple minor adjustments in the rates.
1) Fuel Surcharge: $60.00 per night if the guests request to run the generator for A/C all night long. This means for 7 nights, it will be an additional $420.00, for the entire boat for the week. Our fuel costs have basically doubled, and we hope you understand that we just cannot afford to take that much of a hit on our charters. On our per cabin charters, there will still be NO additional cost for A/C costs, as it is already figured into the price. If you are fine at night without A/C, then no charge!
2) Our 6 and 7 passenger rate remains the same, but for 8 and over guests it is an additional thousand dollars, less for groups over 8 with children 15 and under.
For our entire rates please go here Yacht Promenade Rate Sheet
Hate to do it, but if we don't, then we would not be around offering great vacations!

Time for an update on the calendar on our own personal Boat! It is getting pretty full and I still have another couple groups of repeats that are looking for space, so DON"T hesitate. Some of these are holds, which means that they have not put down any money yet, (hopefully they will be soon, however, they are still open for charter until we have them confirmed)

Booked May 12th through May 18th.

Booked May 24th through 31st

Booked June 1st to 8th.

Booked June 8th through 11th

Booked June 13th through 18th

Booked June 20th through 27th, 2008

Booked June 28th through July 5th

Booked July 10th through 17th

Booked July 18th through 25th

Booked July 26th through Aug 2nd

Booked August 3rd to 10th

Hold on Aug 31st through Sept 6th. Hold updated May 15th

Yacht is open for cabin bookings during wreck week, October 26th through Nov 1st, 2008!!!

Booked Nov 2nd through Nov 8th.

Booked Nov 9-16

Booked Nov 22nd through Nov 29th, 2008

Cabin only sailing Nov 30th to Dec 6th, 2008. Booked through Adventurous Wench This is for FEMALES only!

HOLD on Dec 7th through 13th. See Swim Vacations for bookings. Hold on May 15th

Booked Dec 20th through 27th.

Booked Dec 28th 2008 to Jan 3rd, 2009

Booked Jan 5th through 14th.

Cabin only sailing Jan 18th -24th, 2009. Booked through Adventurous Wench This is for FEMALES only!

 

Booked Jan 25th through 29th

Booked on Feb 7th through 14th

Cabin only sailing Feb 15th to 21st 2009. Booked through Adventurous Wench This is for FEMALES only!

 

Cabin only sailing Feb 22nd through 28th, 2009. Booked through Adventurous Wench This is for FEMALES only!

Booked March 22 to March 29th

Booked April 20th through 27th.

Hold on May 3rd through 10th. Hold on May 15th

Hold on May 10th through May 16th

Booked May 23rd to May 30th, 2009

Booked May 30th through June 6th, 2009.

Swim Vacation

I was completely blown away by the Promenade, her captain, and crew. Richard and Lisa figured out exactly what we, as swimmers, needed, and delivered. B silently kept everything in order all day, then made sure no one ever drank or danced alone all night. You have hired truly gifted people. "Hooper" Maine Read the charter review that was sent to the charter broker by Swim Vacation!

How do you sum up what can't be summed up in mere words? This vacation has been phenomenal! Crew of Promenade is first rate, swimvacation.com, tremendous! Thank you for an experience I never thought I would experience in my lifetime, Michael

This was just what was needed to try to shed winters tough grip. The Promenade crew is hands down, the best and so fun to socialize with. I always felt Like I was taken care of and safe. They were completely organized and at the same time entertaining. Swimvacation.com was the trip of a lifetime. I never planned this type of vacation and I would recommend it to all my friends and swimmers! Thank you Promenade Crew! nicole

This trip was fantastic. Only knowing my buddy Mikey when we arrived, not sure who else on board, we ended up meeting a great group of people. But it was the crew that made this so fun. You guys are just wonderful, interesting and caring people. learned something new every day. Helped us appreciate what each bay had to offer. Then you made the nights just a blast. Thanks so much. Also the food was so good! Everyday and every meal! Linda

You can go to this blog entry that was written by one of the members of the group, and you can also go to Swim Vacation
to see their complete story, slide show and dates for next year! Their dates are Dec 7th to 13th tentatively for the next charter