BVIs 21st to 27th April 2017

Are we in Britain or the US??

We had a totally amazing sail from St Martin to the British Virgin Islands - our longest day sail to date at nearly 80 miles. We left at 5.15am which was a bit rude but after a cup of coffee we gently motor sailed for the first section to get out of the lee of the island before switching off the engine at 8am for a lovely downwind roll in about 15 knots of wind all the way - the sea was only about 1 metre making the conditions perfect. We even had a fish but no luck. During the trip our log clocked 7,000 miles - pretty cool!

Lovely conditions on our way to the BVIs

Glimpse of land

Virgin Gorda - East end

 As we approached Necker Island, Supertramp called us on the VHF. They were heading our way and were in the Necker Island channel coming back up from Tortola - yay! After we anchored at Prickly Pear Island they joined us for a drink before we crashed out for the night.

Necker Island

 Next morning we moved over the 'sound' to Gun Creek to check in - very easy and cheap for a private yacht. Then we moved up to Bitter End to join the tramps. As we anchored we spotted an Aussie Flag and a boat name I recognised - Crystal Blues; who have a great blog I have been following svcrystalblues A G'day mate from Neil and of course drinks were arranged that night.

Bitter End 

BitterEnd

Drinks at Saba Rock

 We went to witness fish feeding at the Island Resort of Saba Rock - not that interesting but great company and our first 'Pain Killer' cocktails..... Then we went off for a Pizza at the Bitter End Yacht Club and were studying the flags when we spotted out club flag - donated by friends Mike and Nicky of ZenAgain....

FSC Crusing Section - ZenAgain

Yacht Savannah our neighbour at anchor BitterEnd

Bitter End Yacht Club

 We spent a few wonderful days, snorkelling on the outer reef, walking, paddle boarding and doing a few boat jobs. We felt this would be our fav spot in the BVIs - being out of the swell that had been a constant in the lower islands was a treat and the water was so clear we were in heaven....

Saba Rock from Guys Trail

Gorda Sound from Guys Trail

Guys Trail

We shared a proper Aussie BBQ on Crystal Blues and as it was Anzac Day I had my first go at making Anzac biscuits for the others to share - a success!

Anzac Day Biscuits 

 It was only 7 miles to the spot where we would pick up my parents so the day before we had a gentle sail out of North Sound and went to check out the diving at 'The Dogs' - we had a good snorkel but didn't feel compelled to dig out the gear so carried on to Marina Cay for our first taste of the real BVIs - i.e. nothing British other than flags and phone boxes..... charter boats and American's galore but lots of fun and anchorages squeezed full of mooring balls.

The Dogs

Arriving at Marina Cay

Happy Arrrr Bar - expensive but good Pain Killers

Stunning Sunset at Marina Cay

Pussers Marina Cay

Marina Cay

Next day we moved a whole mile to Trellis Bay and took a mooring off Bellamy Cay - given our sunname is Bellamy we had to visit the resort on the island for a cocktail.... years ago our friends Chris and Bev sent us a postcard from here so it had long been on our list of destinations...

At Bellamy Cay

That night my Mum and Dad arrived for a two week sail in the BVIs with us.