charter yacht

Well this group mostly made it all the way over from Seattle Washington over a couple days and here they are arriving at our dock in the British Virgin Islands!

The first sit down...



Andy and his wife Irma were on Promenade probably 15 years ago and have now brought their children instead of their rowdy friends from the last time! 15 years ago was before we owned the boat.....

We had our "boat talk" while sailing up the channel to the Baths over cocktail hour...

Of course we had a laughing gull permanently on our engine, and we tried to feed him a cracker which he could not get to, the winds apparently were not right!

Brent did his towel demonstrations... and we anchored at the Baths right on sunset, so that gives us a perfect spot to explore the Baths in the morning.

8 guests this week! A piece of cake!!!

CCT Internet has been down since Last night, I am huddling in the car stealing someone's connection to upload this!

What can I say? When Brent dresses up to go to Willy T's he really gets dressed up! Look pretty dapper there (Is that the word I am looking for? Perhaps not...)

Most went over to Willy T's for a drink, although there were not many hanging around. Not that our group needs any help to party!

We have these two birds that are obviously land birds that we think are or have made a nest up "somewhere" on our masts! They have been with us for about 5 days now. All the time. They make nice chirping noises! I don't know what kind they are, have to get a better picture!



We made our way up to Roadtown for a stop to get some diesel and then over to Salt Island to dive the Rhone. There were quite a few boats and it was a bit swelly with the wind from the southeast. We decided then to make our way over to Beef Bluff for the afternoon. Meredith and ALicia took the tourist picture...

We managed to get the gang together (under protest) to take a few pictures that Joann wanted of the group...





Everyone just lazed around and enjoyed their last afternoon on the boat. I had to go to town for a Tourist Board and BVISO (BVI SCUBA Organization) event, which of course I took pictures of and will put up next entry!



You all have been wonderful hosts. We love Promenade and its toys. I want to especially thank the boys for putting up with my "kids" Brent was a "hoot" during evening to morning drinking games. Simeon and I spent a lot of AM's together, since we were first up. Diving was great. Kerry your cooking was wonderful , now I have to lose an extra 15 lbs. Finally Baz, better luck fishing next charter! MICHAEL, ORLANDO

I'd like to thank you for the most relaxing , fun and adventurous vacation of my life. In one week, I saw the Caribbean for the first time, and ate more delicious food in a seven day period then ever before. I really appreciate brent's and Simeon's wake boarding teaching techniques. Brent was encouraging enough to stick with me until i got up and SImeon's blunt question (What the F*** was that? as opposed to Brent's encouraging manner!. Editorial note) had me up the next time. The trip was perfect and every member of the crew was great. DO Less. HUNTER

Thank you for a wonderful time. The food was great. The service was great. It was so much fun to be on the boat for the last week. Thanks for Everything, Jo ANN, ORLANDO,

What a wonderful adventure. Everything was amazing. This was such a relaxing time. I just wish it did not fly by so quickly. Thank you for everything, all of you do to make this vacation so perfect. Happy Sailing. KATIE

Thank you for such a great time! I loved the private locations we were able to see. The food, entertainment, drinking games, etc. will be in my memories forever. ALICIA, KISSIMMEE

Thank you for the experience, fishing, diving, snorkeling and the best dinghy safari ever! SAMMY, KISSIMMEE

Thank you all so much for such a wonderful vacation. I had such an amazing time. While I am going to try to forget some of Brent's drinking games, this was without a doubt one of our families most unforgettable vacations. Thanks again. MEREDITH

From the moment I kissed Brent's cheek, I knew that this trip would be special. Kerry, your breakfast burrito's were magical. Simeon, thanks for the scowls and early nights. I think I'll miss you the most. Have a safe trip wherever you may travel. Bazza, thanks for keeping Sammy busy fishing, Brent, I owe you a pirate challenge stop. BRYAN, BOSTON

On another note, the 3rd of July is Fishermans Day here, for those who are around and interested

A day late and probably a dollar short again. I swear that they make these days shorter the older you get! Yesterday morning after a snorkel at Mountain Point we made our way down to Fallen Jerusaleum for a snorkel on the Vagabond. Of course the squall came through while we were sailing...
Our snorkelers, or should I call them "noodlers" and Simeon went to climb around the boat...



I had my camera underneath and Simeon did a free dive down so I could take a picture...

I was trying for a split shot here, none too successful...

A beautiful large Angelfish was hiding underneath the wreck...

This is a very pretty ship to photograph, lots of wide open sweeping spaces and clear water...

It is really getting a lot of fish life on it now, all these blocks make wonderful homes for the fish!

You can see the part under water here in the distance. I think it turned out to be a great wreck dive!

We continued on our way down to the back of Ginger Island then, Sherry asking questions left and right so she stayed the center of "attention"

Bazza took everyone to go beachcombing ashore, and Sherry was still the center of attention when she fell right out of the dinghy!

Bazza did a good job of Johny on the Spot with the camera anyways..

I told them we would have a contest for the most unusual piece of whatever found on the beach. I had visions of them picking up an item, holding it, Bazza taking a picture and the junk staying on the beach, but that is not quite what happened. They returned from the beach with tons of junk in tow... And some was quite unusual! We have an entire crab here (and it smelled as well!)

A welders Hat...

A hard hat...

Sharon with all kinds of treasures...

More treasures, or junk...There was something chinese with the statue of liberty on it, and many baby rattles and toys!



Anyways the prize for most unusual find went to Edie, for the welders hat, and she received a Promenade hat!

Some, well, some walked for a couple hours on the beach and felt the need for a nap!

The best find though was a message in a bottle by Sherry! This was thrown in in 2004 somewhere in the Atlantic by Barbdos...When we get a chance we will translate the message on here and email the people who threw it over board as they did leave their email address!

Hey all! I am still here...Blogging was temporarily put off last night, for reasons I won't go into!
Yesterday was Pirate Day though, and everyone had nice little bags lined up by lunch hour and a parrot to go along with the palm tree as well!!

We had a tremendous squall come through yesterday afternoon, I hid downstairs but most of them were pretty brave, if looking a little wet!

Sherri wanted the route that we took around the islands drawn on her large bruise, and Simeon obliged....

They enjoyed the afternoon at the Baths and the scenery, and while they were ashore the mice played! Setting up cocktail hour for them...

Yes, the dreaded shot game (we asked and they all wanted to play!)
All our victims were lined up...

Sherry managed to get the first one given to her and what else would she get??? Natch!

I always want to call him Ray and or Gary, so I will say both! He found a not so nice one to start with...

Bazza surveying his choices...

Apparently he did not chose so well as what a face that is!

Deb had no problem, mostly liking anything she had..

And Edie was a good sport about it all!

Peppy looks like an old pirate, I think he suits the patch very well..

And poor Sharon. What can we say about poor Sharon...It does not look like she is enjoying it too much!

Her sister was beside her for moral sport and that about covers the help she gave!

I think this is everyone falling onto the floor laughing when poor Sharon rolled double sixes which means two shots...

Karen kissed her "all better"

and then looked with dismay at her choices left on the tray herself...

We took pictures with all the patches...

A face only a mother would love Bazza...

We had a truly beautiful sunset, but I think Mike wanted to sleep through it!



Karen managed to be first in line at dinner again tonight, we grilled some steaks...

And quite a few of us went swimming for an hour or so after dinner tonight at Mountain Point, we enjoyed it immensely! It was a good day...
You will have to wait for todays adventures...

I have the silly song by Toby Keith going through my head "What happens down in Mexico, staysssss in Mexicccoooo" and i cannot get it out! I even tried to drown it out with Jimmy Buffett tonight, which is usually a sure cure but no such luck! Truly, I am being quite good!
Bazza wanted a special note pinned up on the blog as well as Facebook for Brent. Quite unusual for Bazza to ask me for things on the blog! He even had me come take a picture...
Note to Brent: You are supposed to be back Wednesday night, and Bazza wants you to know that if you are NOT here, "Sexy Rexy" will be going for a long walk off a short table with some kind of noose around his neck! You have been warned!!

Some of our guests went for a walk on Sandy Spit this morning, and they were there awhile, which impressed me, as after all, it is not that big an island and it is hot and sandy! The rest of us watched from the boat... We went around to the other side of there to the dive site the "playground" for a snorkel, and me with my camera gear... It was nice...Really nice...

Although I have to remember to stop being so lazy, I have been using the 18-70 mm lens that came with the Nikon camera, as I don't have to think then, "do I want wide angle, or close up or what" sounds great, but it really is a lousy lens compared to my other ones and my pictures definitely show it. I should have gotten some really wonderful pictures with all the life down there but they ended up being so so...
School of Little Horse Eyed jacks...

Mike snorkeling...

Some really wonderful tarpon, bait fish and rock pictures...





Or at least would have been with a better lens!

My snorkelers...

A nice little Barracuda

I was so busy looking up I barely noticed what was in front of my nose, but here is an angelfish..

We went for a quasi sail (read controlled drift...) over to Cane Garden Bay for some leisure time then. SOMEHOW the lounge became untied (the boys said they did not do it, but I am not sure about that!) and Simeon went to the rescue...

Of course the girls have been thinking up emergencies for Simeon all week so maybe they did it themselves...although they do say it is like a dog chasing a car, they won't know what to do with it if they ever caught it!!!

We did another controlled drift down to great Thatch, where we had 6 pitchers of Banana Bailey Coladas, and killed 4 bottles of Liquor! Apparently they tasted ok...I had story hour mostly!

I thought Karen looked very alluring here, although it is possible she was just passed out!

Some, like Sharon, spent most of the day napping and then almost made the cardinal mistake of sleeping on the beer locker! We promptly reminded her of rule # 1!

Eye Candy, went for a shower, which brought all kinds of admiration, and then eye candy, who I think knows exactly what he is doing most of the time, stands up in his hatch to put on a shirt etc!!!! All our crew members have a role to fill....

I made the best bruschetta bread with my pasta tonight that i have made for a long time! Not sure what I did different, but it was great. Notice the palm tree the guests have made into a center piece...

Karen is always first into the buffet line (smart girl in my books!) and as you can tell she even gets dressed up with hats and all for dinner!

We are down at Great Thatch tonight, watching the squid etc in the water, all by ourselves happily... It has been a good day, but time for me to call it a night.

I understand when I came to my cabin to do my blog tonight (which is sporting a nice new blue cushion that Bazza had made for me!) that they have something gigantic on the line fishing..I can hear the pitter patter of little feet running around the deck trying to stop him from tangling up in the anchor line. I told them not to call me for anything less then a Bull Shark! I figure Bazza and "eye candy" can managed to take pictures of Jacks and Nurse Sharks...
Our group went over to Emile's for Breakfast this morning, who usually does not open for breakfast, but said they would for the group. It was kind of Jamie and the guests quite enjoyed it as well!
We left dock a bit early and went to Roadtown to put diesel in the boat, and then went for a sail on a very warm day over to Little Harbour. They may have been on the boat since yesterday afternoon but I had not given them all my "rules" yet! You know the ones, like "no falling asleep on the cold beer locker as your cruising mates are liable to throw you off..."
I always try and get the guests while they are eating, then I can talk without being interrupted too much!

Sharon's idea of a perfect lunch, was potato chips, fresh bread and butter and grapes! Go Sharon! I think she had hopes of "eye candy" feeding her the grapes perhaps....

They all listened obediently...

Even the older two who apparently are sitting at the children's table this week!

Little Harbour was pretty and empty! Cuan Law looked like they were doing a photo shoot with all their toys out this afternoon!

The birds were chirping on the corner (ok, I lied, I have no idea if our birds here chirp, they usually laugh at us!)

After a few hours snorkel we went for a sail (More like a controlled drift!) down to Privateer Bay at Norman Island over night...

It was then cocktail time!

Although Kevin does not look happy here, believe me, he is a happy boy!

The other two boys were fishing (ok, fishing and drinking beer!)

Since we have 11 guests (and texans at that...) we are doing buffet at dinner, so I have no great shots of everyone together....

The older two at their own children's table again..

And our beer drinkers, oh! I mean fishermen, elected to eat on the back deck to make sure the fish did not get away!

I have now finished writing the blog and i have heard no shouts to come this monster of a fish yet, so I think it could be off to bed for me..It has been a long day... A long month, a long season...you get the idea!