bvi captains log blog

Originally built as an earthen fort by the Dutch in either the late 16th or early 17th century. It was known by the Spanish Authorities in Puerto Rico as the Dojon, (which is where the english version called the "dungeon" comes from.)

It was in and out of disrepair in the 1600's and subsequently was named Fort Purcel after the Purcel Brothers who owned plantations there. Private money often had to rebuild the forts for protection apparently.
You can see ancient graffiti carved in the walls, dating from around the mid 1700's it is believed from the style of dress. Accurate details on the history of this fort/dungeon, including whether it was really ever used for holding prisoners is sketchy.

It is very overgrown, with a lot of garbage strewn around, but we found it a fascinating look back in time. You can certainly see different periods of building styles, and the entire flat area back in the bush there has many old foundations (perhaps 50 to 60) so at one time it was very substantial as a plantation. When we were there a couple of weeks ago (October of 2008) there were many survey markers throughout the bush.

I was very good at getting my allotted work done today though, and you can see more photos on the (correct link I hope!) slideshow I built

Just since I am putting this up, and I received some pictures from my mother, I will wander into the family theme here. It was my sisters 39th birthday again, I am always sad to not see her on her birthday as we are quite close. I first opened the pictures and thought "what is that pink thing my sister is wearing on her head?" as believe me, my sister does not wear pink things on her head! Lisa may, being a princess and all, but not Syd!

Then I saw this picture and if I was my sister I would probably shoot my mother for sending me this picture so it could go straight on the blog. I don't know whether my family has had way too much to drink or it is very late at night, but it is a BAD BAD picture (which of course I shared! What else do you think I would do with it!!)

This one at least, is presentable. I had cake and ice cream here in sympathy with you Syd for reaching 39!


One other silly thing that has crossed my mind today pertains to being on dock. When we first bought Promenade, it had been on dock in between at Hodges Creek. There were many rat traps in the pantry bins just waiting to be used. I wondered how in the world we could possibly need that many rat traps! And of course, I was not that thrilled about needing that many rat traps either!!!!
Fast forward 6 months, to our very first ever boat show, as we had bought the yacht at the end of May. The night before it started, we were finally finished cleaning and nervous as hell. Would we make a good impression? How would we stack up to the other boats? We had put all our money into this venture, and were quite anxious (Kerry even suggested that we should get shirts with epaulettes and was booed down. Anyone who has seen me in my nightgown most of the time would know that it never would have lasted!)
We were sitting up in the cockpit, firmly tied onto the end of B dock but what should jump on the boat and run over our feet and disappear into the port ama? yep, you guessed it...a big old rat! After we had finished screaming horrified, we got out every god damn one of those large traps and placed them all over the boat. Then could not sleep all night as I was worried that we would not find this rat and it would run over one of the mega brokers shoes or some thing, ruining our charter career before it even started!
The next morning. No rat in the traps. We reluctantly put them away, knowing that ruin was shortly facing us, BUT the rat was never seen again. He must have climbed off again at some time. Probably about the time we stopped screaming. I have never seen a rat since on the boat and the traps were thrown out many years ago! I have been wondering if being on dock again means that we could get these fine creatures again? There is a reason they call them rat lines! Maybe East End does not have any!!!

Now I have definitely blogged and worked enough and I have about a dozen games of SCRABBLE going on with Lisa on line that I must get to!

Thought that headline would get your attention!
As I always do things out of the norm somewhat, I wanted to share this on my blog. We have had the intention of selling Promenade sometime in the next 2-3 years, and were going to really start advertising it next fall. Of course, with this economy, who knows how quickly a yacht would sell. Additionally, with us changing our program next season so we do less charters on the boat, we thought that perhaps if someone wanted to carry on our very successful fully crewed charter business, that we should maybe be let it be known sooner then that.

We have no intention of leaving the British Virgin Islands, but would love to get an opportunity to work with some of the other ideas we have going on. Bazza thinks that he should be able to get a boat that would easily hold his ROV at one point, and I would probably like a boat without the "big flappy bits" as Lisa calls them. So, I have started a web page for selling the yacht, and you can see it at www.charteryachtsforsaleonline.com
If anyone is looking for a great boat or great boat and business, that has treated us very well, lets talk! I would love to sell it to a blog reader. Before every one emails me in a panic, don't worry, we are not going anywhere, and I am sure it will give me something else to blog about, the ins and outs of attempting to sell a yacht in the Caribbean. If the people who are looking to purchase something like this are anything like the resumes I get for crew most years, I should have some very good stories!

I am being very good today working on web sites. I thought I would be done all my web work two months before we went on charter this season, but it just has not happened. I am forcing myself to sit at this chair today and finish up one more page after the one below! I have put up a page with pictures and links for the Hotel at Harbour View Marina on our web page here
Their rooms rates are reasonable, (for Tortola!) topping out with taxes and various charges around $160.00 per night.

This is our only availability this season.
Headboat (cabin only sailing) March 29th to April 4th $3600.00 per two guests, one cabin. I still have several cabins open on this week.
April 5th to 11th (Sunday through Saturday) Up to 10 guests $16,000. This is over Easter, surprised this one is still open!

Our friends Sheila and Bob from Paradise Connections, sent along a picture of the boat that was bearing down on them in the lagoon at St Martin during Hurricane Omar and grounded right next to them! I would have looked out my little boat and been fairly scared to see that coming at me! (They did grab their papers and put their kitties in a carrier!!)

For some reason they said they giggled about us hand steering the boat after it knocked out our auto pilot. Funny I was not giggling, that is about the most boring task known to man on a boat in my opinion!
Today is engine room/generator maintenance on the good ship Promenade. I think the generator looks pretty clean myself, but Bazza says it is a couple day affair.

We tried the chinese food from here at the marina last night, it was good sized portions and not too bad. The Spring Rolls were very good! Not quite as good as our old Wok N Roll that was in Red Hook that we miss now, but I see it fitting into our turnaround dinner menu quite nicely!
It just started pouring these gigantic rain drops in East End and very heavy!

First rain I have seen for awhile. Not that I was missing it!

Even with it pouring buckets though the work must go on apparently