British Virgin Islands

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

I understand that Ocean River Institute has helped the VIEC (Virgin Islands Environmental Council) raise over 18,000 signatures from the BVI and around the world in support of Keeping Hans Creek on Beef Island exactly as it is! That is pretty impressive.
I also hear that the VIEC is having a meeting tonight to prepare how to present these to the Premiere! I hope to hear more on it tomorrow. This is an important item for the territory, and I am sure it took a tremendous amount of work from locals and others alike to collect the signatures. I understand that quite a few are from BVLanders, and that is almost a mini miracle getting the locals to sign things like this.


This is a quote from Ocean River Institutes website on it.

"VIEC is preparing to present three inch notebooks with 600 plus pages of testimony from more than 18,000 individuals in support of the Premier's efforts to renew the BVI tradition of careful development that maintains a pristine environment.

People wrote from Road Town, Trellis Bay, Scrub Island, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada, west from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Rhoatan, beyond from the United States and Great Britain. At the Alaska Oceans Festival 275 people wrote from Anchorage; in Boston, 750 people wrote from EarthFest on the Esplanade.

We see as vital the health of salt ponds, coastal mangrove lagoons, and coral reefs. Such places are tied not only to BVI's economic growth in ecotourism and related businesses, these places are tied to the health of our food and quality of life."

18,000 individual signatures and 600 plus pages of comments!! Yeeks!! That is pretty impressive.. What do they do? Put in in a wheel barrow and take it to the Administration Building? Must weigh a bit!
.Between the economy looking the way it is, the lack of airplane seats down here, the price of fuel and the rumors abounding about IYG (who apparently owns 49 or some such % of the Beef Island Project, along with having bought up every other marina around in the BVI, USVI and Caribbean ) I am not sure I would be rushing ahead with a development down here.


IYG has been fighting some rumors of financial difficulty at Yacht Haven Grande in St Thomas, You can see the downplay here but word on the street says that between the occupancy (or lack of) low sales on condo's and boats staying away from the high prices, that things are not rosy. IYP has spent money left and right over the last few years buying up marinas all over the world, and in our area including Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor, Village Cay Marina, American Yacht Harbor, Yacht Haven, which is starting to smack of monopoly, and according to complaints from a lot of charter boats, the prices go up immediately. I think most of us in the charter fleet have problems with any who think that our main occupation down here is moving from marina to marina paying money (a lot of money) nightly to someone.
We stopped using the marinas years ago as the cost benefit ratio just did not pan out. There is times they come in handy, but it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Some of the comments from the "letter" to the Premiere (who ran for election based partly on relooking at these developments, so he is really the recipient of the letters that should have gone to the last government) are:

"Dear Premier O'Neal, I have been a frequent visitor to BVI since 1992, often visiting every six months or more. Every time I visit I am disheartened by the increase in development, the increase in crime and traffic and pollution. I have mourned an erosion of the things which had made BVI so special, it's hospitality, trusting friendship, sweet air, starry skies unmarred by light pollution, the sound of it's tree frogs at night and not motorbikes. The fabric of what has made BVI so special is being lost daily. In the last year I have stayed at Long Bay Resort, Peter Island Resort, Brewer's Bay Campground, Mangrove Bay and Neptune's Treasure. My private undiscovered and undisturbed Great Harbor on Peter Island was developed between my August and February visits, the cruise ship visits seem to increase exponentially every six months. While on the hill above Mangrove Bay, my 5 year old son, Nicholas, said, as he over looked the lights of Tortola, "They better be careful Mommy because it it going to turn into St. Thomas and we will loss our special place and the people here will be said because they will have only money and nothing beautiful." This is from the innocence of a five year old. Please put some weight on the words out of the mouths of babe's in your consideration before further major development of Beef Island and the Grace that God has given BVI, it's bountiful gifts that need stewardship and protection. Thank you for your consideration. Karen Andrade, Esq., Southampton, MA US"

"I have been to Beef Island, and it is one of the few truly unspoiled places on the planet. Please preserve it! Alan Binkow, Dayton, OH US "

"As a land owner in Virgin Gorda since l974 the proposed further development of the BVI is most alarming. We are tampering with the environment to the detrement of future generations. The BVI contains a magical eco system and we tamper with it at our peril. It is imperative we mainain the ecosystem which has been entrusted to our care. sheila owen-smith, guildford GU50SS GB "

"Trellis Bay is one of your great assets and should not be destroyed! john fritz wood, Trujillo Alto, PR US"

"Dear Rt.Hon. O'Neal, I have visited the BVI's 5 yrs. ago and sailed with my husband and friends to nine of the islands, and we want to come back soon. Please don't destroy this beautiful place by another high rise hotel..It will spoil the habitat, reefs, etc. I am pleading to you, please don't. Cheryl Brackett, Norman OK US "

"A good friend spent eight years living in the British Virgin Islands. He speaks often of their beauty. In fact, it was only yesterday we wondered at how much of it's treasures were protected. Today, I received this and will forward it to my friend that I know will be even more concerned than I in our hopes that everything possible is being done to preserve yet another of Earth's precious treasures. It worries me that we may be on the verge of discovering that we have not acted quickly enough to protect our delicate ecosystems. Thank-you for your efforts. R. Chris LaReau, Savannah, GA US "

"I have been a regular visitor to St. John, USVI. The last time I was there, I was amazed and alarmed at the number of new buildings that were being built. Even though over half of the island is a National Park, people are building homes and businesses everywhere they can. The impact on the island is devastating. If you can preserve what you have on Beef Island, now is the time to take action before development destroys your ecosystem. Cindy McKee, Frankfort, KY, US"

"As a golfer i can assure you we do not need to spoil this lovely island with another one please preserve this natural habitat. Tom Morrison, Warwick -- cv345xt GB "

"This will be a short sighted economic catastrophe. Golf is already declining- golf courses in the Caribbean are already overbuilt and the infrastructure required to maintain a resort has long term costs. Besides, you will drive away the people who already make Tortola their resort of choice. James Hillman, Thompson, CT US"

Yep, that is my big old turtle that Lisa was playing with. I hope she does not steal his affections!!! I believe he is supposed to be a one girl turtle! I cleaned up your pictures a bit Lisa, as they were so nice.
We are still in Victoria, with no need of using the air conditioning yet! We have joined my parents with their Friday outing of going to Costco for a hotdog! Pretty exciting hey, 4 of us have lunch for $11.18!!!
Then it was back to the house for a family business meeting. Thats my mom and dad, meetings with ice coffees and ice creams! Gotta love it!!

Then Bazza had to run outside and see if his "toy" had survived all day without him!! Anyone guessed what it is yet??

He has slowly gotten around in between tinkering to doing some work on the RV, just like the boat, it needs love and tenderness. Here he is painting the top! I guess the bonus is that it is not in the water and the space is flat and not that large!

I forgot that i had this picture on my computer, this is the dinghy dock at Baughers Bay, CSY Dock. Believe me you are taking your life in your hands there to get close enough to buy your (as Lisa calls it) Gold DUST!

I am not sure that I have any tidbits of gossip or knowledge, except I understand a beneteau 50 under full sail and hatches open was caught in the big squall that Lisa talked about that happened when they picked up on Friday, and the boat quickly rolled, took on water and sunk to the bottom in between Norman and Peter! I hear winds of 40-50 knots, just for a brief period, but it was all it took.
We see those squalls all the time, and we have learnt over the years to know how quickly we have to get sails down , but sometimes you have very little time!
OK, looks like the groups are having lots of fun on board the boat, just the way it should be! Good night all.

It appears even our most famous part time residents are not immune to what is going on in the world! I have had people left and right passing me bad information after bad information about the trouble the airlines are in. The only problem is, as usual with our North American Media (see not slighting the Americans, I think Canada's media does it too!) we are not sure what is real and what is fear mongering. They can whip up anything so we are all scared to moved.

This was an interesting read on Branson's empire though, and does have some correlation on the BVI where we are at least.

Virgin Drinks is one of more than 300 companies which are ultimately owned by Branson family companies, including Virgin Group Holdings, an entity incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

Getting a precise measure on Sir Richard's net worth is almost impossible because financial accounts filed with regulators in the British Virgin Islands are not made public. Unfortunately, I do not have a link for where this came from. When I find it I will post it!

More pain for Brand Richard Branson
RICHARD Branson's Virgin empire has come under severe financial pressure as the credit crunch and spiking oil prices wreak havoc in most of his businesses.
The man ranked last year by Forbes magazine as the world's 236th richest person, with a personal fortune estimated at almost $US8 billion, is preparing to absorb a few financial hits as growth slows in his key markets - Britain, the US and Australia.
Chief among Sir Richard's concerns are his airline businesses, including the international carrier Virgin Atlantic and the Australian domestic operator Virgin Blue.
The financial services businesses trading under the Virgin Money moniker are also suffering, particularly in Australia where it is no longer profitable for the business to distribute basic lending products such as mortgages and personal loans.
And in the US, the Virgin prepaid mobile operation which was floated on the New York Stock Exchange last year is in meltdown.
It's a tricky, perhaps ominous time for Sir Richard, whose faltering Australian and global activities demonstrate that his glossy brand is as vulnerable as any other to souring economic conditions.
Sir Richard is alert to the problems.
Last week he conceded that the international airline industry was poised for another shake-out as rising jet fuel costs magnify the vulnerability of low-margin carriers.
While he said he was confident that Virgin Atlantic would weather the cost blowout, he acknowledged that some international carriers would not survive.
"Oil prices will continue to rise due to a combination of global demand and falling reserves," he told London's Telegraph newspaper last month.
"The strong airlines will survive, but one or more major US carriers will go out of business this year."
Singapore Airlines has a 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic, which operates various routes between Britain, the US, Africa and South Asia.
The airline paid Sir Richard $US1.6 billion for the minority stake in 1999, but now wants to sell out because it says the returns are disappointing.
"It's not a secret we regard it as an underperforming investment," Singapore Airlines chief Chew Choon Seng said on May 14.
Virgin Atlantic has suffered a sharp slide in earnings in the past two years as the price of jet kerosene has soared.
The company's profit fell to pound stg. 20.6 million in 2007 from pound stg. 65.6 million in 2006 as the cost explosion cut a swathe through profit margins.
Virgin Atlantic now faces the prospect of running up losses this year, as does the locally listed Virgin Blue.
Confusion surrounds the operating performance of the Australian air carrier after JP Morgan analysts Matthew Crowe and Russell Crichton-Browne warned clients on Thursday that Virgin Blue would not survive if it did not increase fares.
"Equity injections would be futile as prices would not cover costs," the analysts stated in a report.
"Even with $1 billion in equity Virgin Blue would become insolvent in this scenario."
The analysts have since backed away from the analysis included in their Thursday report, but not the bearish revisions to their earnings forecasts.
JP Morgan expects Virgin Blue's net profit to slide almost 60 per cent this year to $82 million and to $19 million in 2009.
Sir Richard also has headaches in the financial services sector, with his high-profile Virgin Money arm in Australia struggling to compete in key lending markets.
In fact, the global liquidity crisis has curtailed Virgin Money Australia (VMA) to the point where it is no longer able to market mortgages and personal loans to local borrowers.
VMA is a joint venture between Sir Richard and Macquarie Group, but the latter has pulled financial support for the embattled business which last year posted a net loss of $3.3 million.
Macquarie's pull-back is part of its wider decision to exit lending activities because of deteriorating credit markets.
The sub-prime crunch came at the worst time for VMA which also had a deficiency of capital and reserves of $5.3 million on March 30 last year.
This means the Australian entity was balance-sheet insolvent and poorly positioned to fund the business expansions that had been signalled by its local chief executive, David Wakeley.
VMA is now at the crossroads and faces a difficult future unless Sir Richard or Macquarie inject more capital into the business.
More than half of VMA's Sydney-based staff were made redundant this week after the company abandoned plans to launch a personal loan product.
The partnership with Macquarie is under review but any move by Sir Richard to buy out its stake may prove very costly.
Macquarie owns only about 10 per cent of VMA but is owed $18 million according to the 2007 accounts.
The Virgin brand is also doing it tough in the US.
Wireless communications provider Virgin Mobile USA, which was listed on Wall Street last year, has copped a hiding from investors amid disappointing results and heavy customer attrition.
The stock was trading above $US16 last October but closed on Thursday at under $US4.
The share price slump has wiped hundreds of millions from the value of Virgin Group's 35 per cent stake in the company.
South Korean mobile phone giant SK Mobile is now negotiating to buy out the business.
Another drain on Sir Richard's net worth is a fizzy drinks operation, Virgin Drinks Group. It posted a net loss of more than pound stg. 7 million last year and had net liabilities of pound stg. 131 million when it last reported in March 2007.
Virgin Drinks is one of more than 300 companies which are ultimately owned by Branson family companies, including Virgin Group Holdings, an entity incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.
Getting a precise measure on Sir Richard's net worth is almost impossible because financial accounts filed with regulators in the British Virgin Islands are not made public.
While Sir Richard looks like taking a big haircut on his net worth in 2008, consumers around the world might take some comfort from the fact that his hyper-active marketing machine will still be running in overdrive.

So, I know a lot of you are going to skip right over the writing above to the pictures here, and that is ok, cuz quite truthfully, I just skimmed it as well. I just thought someone would be interested in reading it!!!

Maybe that means the developers at Beef Island will decide that it is not a good time to go ahead with 5 star resorts! On that note, the has been reporting that they have over 17000 from the BVI and North American and Europe in just a couple short weeks AGAINST the Beef Island Development. Wow! What can I say! The protection of the environment is a pretty hot topic nowadays, and lets face it, with the fuel costs, we may all be going back to fishing to eat and sailing to get from place to place.
You can go to Ocean River Institute for additional information, to make a donation to the cause, or to sign the letter to the Premier. Having Ocean River Institute, which is a registered with all kinds of letters non profit in the USA come to bat has helped out tremendously. The support is just overwhelming, and when you read the comments that have been added to the petition on the Care2 site you realize that many people who are signing the petition HAVE indeed BEEN to the BVI. It will be very interesting to see what happens there.

I am not sure I can put up a blog entry without pictures! So, Lets see what i have. I want to be doing some of the dives the boat is doing this week! It looks spectacular, and as usual when we only have a few day charter, we try and cram a weeks worth of work into 3 or 4 days! Happens all the time.

I received a couple emails passed on a couple weeks ago through the Charter Yacht Society. It was basically the Marina at East End where UBS is and Patouche, or bluewatersports has taken over. They were saying that they had a great deal for several cats on the dock there. Can't remember everything they were offering, but it was all but the kitchen sink for a reasonable price. I remember diesel at $5.00 a gallon, free ice, internet, and on.
I always like to keep an eye out on what is going on (plus they were saying they had 4 hotel rooms at $135.00 double a night including taxes) so I thought we would go take a look, First of all, I emailed back, asking some questions and that we would be out that afternoon. No reply. We did not make it out that afternoon so tried the next day. Really could not get any answers there.
They had advertised fuel on the dock, but since the fuel pump seemed to be in the middle of the dock, I was not sure how that would work,

I kind of looked to see where these 4 cats would go and there was a couple possible places, although some of them would be worse then Red Hook having to back in and tie to the poles...

The only place that looked viable for us was the T head, although pretty open...and we could see surge happening. Then I was concerned about security as well, as this was where tradewinds had been and the scene of a horrific late night robbery a year or so ago.

I went to scout out the hotel, and I did find a little girl who was very nice and could show me the rooms (there is 4, 2 of them were vacated by Tradewinds she told me). The building is about 65 years old, but the rooms were ok. This is what the two looked like that i saw.







The Hotel is basically open 9-5 and then they have a sign and a board that they put your key up on if you are coming in after that for your room. Not sure what I think of that plan. Does not that mean that anyone could take the key, even if the owner of the property is across the road?



Whether the robberies there last year were inside jobs or not, we left there with quite a few questions, which we sent to the original contact for this whole thing, that was 3 weeks ago and they still are not answered, and that was the second email gone unanswered. That usually means we should not even bother.