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The last trip the club did to the British Virgin Islands had everyone calling for more. Most wanted more time for snorkeling, beach time, and more of the great sailing between the British Virgin Islands. This trip is based upon what we learned in 2014 and capitalizes on it!
Each island in this rather small grouping has a story to tell. A stopping point for early explorers and pirates, their names are prevalent throughout the island chain. Dutch privateer Jost Van Dyke organized the first permanent settlement of Europeans at Soper's Hole. The BVI's are known to be "relaxed seas" and generally do not have large swells. Winds in February are usually from the east at 15-20 knots. Your Trip Leaders have requested fair weather, good breezes, and calm seas. Saturday, Feb 6 - Crews will make their way to Road Town, Tortola. You can fly to Puerto Rico and take a puddle jumper to Road Town, or you can fly to St. Thomas and take the ferry to Road Town. We will board the boats early evening and after cocktails we can explore the town and select a restaurant to eat at. Sunday, Feb 7 - After chart orientation, boat check-out, and any last minute provisioning, we will depart for a short sail to The Indians for some excellent snorkeling. We are limited to 90 minutes at these marine park moorings, so we will head over to The Bight, Norman Island for the night anchorage. If our timing works out, we may be able to take dinghies over to The Caves for some more snorkeling in this unique environment. If not, we can try in the morning.
The Caves, The Bight, Norman Island Monday, Feb 8 - After a leisurely breakfast, we'll sail to Great Harbour at Jost Van Dyke for some R&R. Visiting Foxy's for dancing and drinks is a favorite of many. The small settlement provides a small grocery store, a few shops, and an ice cream parlor! Tuesday, Feb 9 - After breakfast, we'll raise anchors and take a very short sail around the corner of Jost Van Dyke to Diamond Cay. We'll only anchor a couple of hours here. For those that want to experience a natural jacuzzi, the Bubbly Pool is a 15 minute walk from the beach. Good shoes, not flip flops, are required for this rocky walk. The plan is to raise anchors and depart by 1 pm for a beat to White Bay, Guana Island for a quiet anchorage for the night. White Bay is rated the "best" beach in the BVI's and, although Guana is privately owned, we're allowed to pick up a mooring ball or anchor in the bay. We can even take a dinghy onto the beach, as long as we stay on the beach. Guana Island is a nature preserve and is home to at least 50 species of birds and there is reportedly good snorkeling on the west side of the bay.
Wednesday, Feb 10 - A relaxed start today and a nice beam reach sail to Anegada. With luck, we'll arrive early enough for a mooring. Otherwise, we'll go in search of a good anchorage. Thursday, Feb 11 - A lay day to relax, shop or explore more of Anegada. There is a flamingo sanctuary, an orchid preserve, empty and quiet beaches, and snorkeling. There are cabs on shore that can put together a day for you with a planned drop off and pick-up time or schedule a car/truck tour. In the evening, we'll gather on shore for a car ride to Cow Wreck Beach Bar & Grille on the West End for a group grilled lobster dinner. We'll provide details and request your reservation for this at the Pre-Trip Meeting. Friday, Feb 12 - Leave Anegada and sail to Gorda Sound, Virgin Gorda. The hot showers, bar and restaurant available at the Bitter End Yacht Club will be a welcome site for many. There are snorkeling options at Prickly Pear or Mosquito islands, just a dinghy ride away. Saturday, Feb 13 - After a quick breakfast, we'll sail to The Baths and pick-up a day mooring. If you've never been to The Baths you'll surely add it to your list of favorite places in the world. The natural rocks form pools all along the path that leads to some wonderful bays. We'll be on the clock while onshore, however, as we need to leave by early afternoon and sail to Trellis Bay or Marina Cay for the night.
Sunday, Feb 14 (Valentine's Day) - Sail to Great Harbour, Peter Island, ... or Little Harbour, if there is room for us. Dinner on board. Monday, Feb 15 - Sail to Deadman's Bay, pick up a day mooring and dinghy ashore. Options here are hiking, snorkeling or swimming. By afternoon, we'll head back to the Sunsail Base at Wickham's Cay and have a Must-Go Happy Hour at the dock. It's a good time to share stories and email addresses. It's also a good time for boat and trip group photos. Tuesday, Feb 16 - Last minute packing, meeting taxis and head to the airport. The Boats
Sunsail 44i monohull sloop with three cabins and three heads:
Sunsail 384 catamaran with four cabins and two heads:
Trip Pricing Trip price is based on the boat that you sail on, either the monohull or one of the two catamarans. Be sure to mark your selection on the reservation form. We will do everything we can to honor all requests, but if we are unable to accommodate your choice, you will be charged the per-person price for the boat you are assigned to. After boat assignments are made, no refunds will be given for switching from the catamaran to the sloop unless the change is initiated by the trip leader. (For example, if we have a cancellation on the sloop and someone on the catamaran expressed preference for the sloop, the trip leader will make the switch and your cost will be adjusted accordingly). If we have insufficient requests for one or the other type of vessel, we will charter the type that we have the majority interest in and charge all sailors the rate for that vessel. The cost of the trip is $1,500 for the monohull and $1,650 for the catamaran (Skippers $791 and $864 respectively). The trip price includes charter fees, boat damage insurance, fuel, cruising taxes, BVI Park Permits, and a $75 per boat allotment towards mooring fees. Provisioning, airfare, and other incidentals are additional and will be handled by each boat's crew. A $350.00 non-refundable deposit (see note below) and Release of Liability and Zero Tolerance Form must accompany your reservation form. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed reservation and release forms, to Mary Ann Gordon at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning September 18, 2015 with a random draw of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first-come, first served basis. The balance of $1,150 (monohull) or $1,300 (catamaran) will be due November 3, 2015. NOTE: A separate cancellation policy applies to this trip. A full refund will be supplied if a cancellation is received by the Trip Leader before November 3, 2015. Any cancellations after that date will forfeit the $350 original deposit, unless a replacement is found. Travel insurance is NOT included in the trip price. Confirmed participants should make their own decisions regarding insurance that would provide coverage appropriate to their needs, and that they feel best protects them in their individual situations. One useful resource for comparing plans is www.insuremytrip.com. As always, read all policy terms and conditions carefully. A pre-trip meeting will be held at a time and place to be announced. All participants should make every effort to attend in order to meet your crewmates, plan your meals, and make travel plans. Please note that sailing conditions are dynamic, that your safety, and that of your crewmates, depends on your good physical health and agility. |
Trip Leader |
Assistant Trip Leader |
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Mary Ann Gordon
2714 Packer Court Bridgewater, NJ 08807 908-575-1457 maryagordon14@gmail.com |
Bob Rainey
2006 South Branch Drive Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 908-872-9101 rjraineyjr@aol.com |
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