Marina's

Destinations, Islands, Coves, Beaches

Charting A New Course For 2008

Restaurants & Dinning

Eat Drink & be merry!

Resource Center

For Boat Provisioning Bobby's Market has a online form that can be downloaded.

Map of Travels

The Itinerary

Day # 1

Moncton to Boston

Our plan set in action we left Moncton N.B. driving to the border in Maine, photo left taken from the highway near St. Stephen N.B. We allowed for extra time on this drive and Planned for a overnight stay in Boston in case of a snow storm, or any other unforeseen problem we could encounter along the way.
Maine becomes Rather Large as we hit a snow storm shortly after crossing the border slowing our speed to 40 kms/hr. by the time we reached New Hampshire the Storm had changed to rain and slushy roads. Boston Massachusetts came as well our hotel where we had arranged a park n fly









Day # 2

Everyone is up by 5:00 am, we catch a shuttle bus outside the hotel lobby that takes us to our flight from Boston to St. Thomas US VI. As you can see by the photo, my son & first mate is ready to land in St. Thomas US Virgin Islands in true Canadian disembarkation fashion. Yup! he's a born and raised Albert county red neck.

After landing in St. Thomas we're crammed into a cab for a short ride to the ferry dock were we board a fast ferry to Road town Tortola on the British Virgin Islands, this crossing takes approximately 50 minutes and is an enjoyable part of the vacation, the bar opens after the boat leaves the dock. We are quick to realize that we are in Paradise and miles away from commitments, work, schools, as well all that cold snow. After clearing customs one last time, we are taken to the dock where we check-in to our boat "Eucalyptus", a Beneteau 363 chartered through Footloose charters, a subsidiary of the Moorings company. That evening we walked to town guided by a friendly local guy we met along the way, that had taken the time to show us his town as well all the great places to eat and shop, I wished I could remember his name but thanks for the tour anyways. The next morning my first mate and I attended the chart briefing, while Donna and Holly picked up a few last minute items for the boat, while doing some exploration of thier own in the local shops. We departed tortola after a briefing aboard the boat and topping off all water tanks, the staff at footloose is great very friendly, we felt quite welcome.



Finally out in the bay, helm in hand attached to a wonderful boat, with a great name that took the whole week to learn how to spell , nothing but smiles on our faces and lots of sun and wind, I turned her into the wind calling out to my most trusted crew "lets get er done!". Sails up and engine off we were off............But to where??? Packed with information, a CD, and laptop, it did not matter to me where, for I was exactly where I wanted to be. I left these decisions to the crew and our nightly planning meetings. Our chosen destination for that night was "The Bight" Located on Norman Island, otherwize known as "Treasure Island". The snorkeling is great here, as well the food and drinks.



Day#3

On this day we sailed around to the "caves" located just around the enterance of "The Bight" at "Treasure Point", after we moored off here, we took the zodiac in closer where we went snorkeling, met somemore nice people, helped them out a little and continued on our way.

Zodiac tip to anyone snorkeling, keep in mind while snorkeling that swiming can take alot of strength away from a person, as such some of the simplist of tasks like re-entering your zodiac (regardless of age) can be very difficult. Before pulling yourself up and back into the zodiac it may be a good idea to hold on to the zodiac and rest a few moments as need be, in order to regain your stregnth. If when you first try to re-enter the zodiac you are unable to pull yourself in, my suggestion is not to panic, do not worry, you may need to rest again so do so before trying. TIP after you are well rested swim around back of the zodiac, the boat is the lowest to the water here, and the engine "OFF, NOT NEUTRAL BUT, OFF" may be used to assist you in the following manner, (A) push the outboard away from you turning it completly to the other side, inorder to keep it from moving. (B) you will notice that above the propeller is a flat part to the motor, you can use this to assist you in boarding, you must becareful its not large, so ensure a good foothold and do not slip. Now with a good foothold, hold the back of the boat and pull yourself up, and in. Also there is usually lots of help around, so ask, don't be shy everyones there to have a great time and meet new people. "I dedicate this to my new found friends, always happy to help a fellow boater".

So we continue on now in our voyage to a rock formation and reef called the "Indians" lunch aboard the "Eucalyptus" and more snorkeling, there is only limited moringballs here so get there early, we didn't have to wait to long for one, and if memory serves me correctly I think there a 1 or 2 hour time limit on thier usage. In either case a definate must see. In the photo on the small rock is a pellican, these birds facinated me the whole week, there pretty amazing to watch dive into the water when there going for lunch, they look almost suicidel. Great fun to watch.

"Eucalyptus"

On the third night we pulled into the "Nanny Cay Marina" a very well run well keep marina with alot to do, note the showers on shore here are really something else, and free to use, both thumbs up on this one, theres spa treatment and pampering there, for those who wish it, a very clean well run marina. A call was made to Footloose as the Boat was slow to engage, in either forward or reverse, they sent up a really nice fellow who took care of us and made the necessary adjustments, prior our depature on the next day. We met several people with interesting life stories at this marina, a nice gent with a power boat called the "soggy dollar" birthing next to our yacht, across us, on a large charter yacht was a fellow that had been going here each year since 1996, these guys can party, also we met a family that sold everything they owned in the United States for what I call "the good life" they own a cape island yacht, lived on it several years, he is quite sucessful in refinsh work regarding yachts. He, his lovely wife and two small children were sailing from St John USVI to St Martins when they pulled into nanny cay, thanks for the wireless help Trent as well the great conversation, I wanted to email you and your wife but cannot seem to find your card.

Day#4

Day#5

Day#6

Day#7

Day#8 to be finished soon!

Travel Agencies

At first we had not planned on using an agent for our charter, but after researching it out, and learning that it did not cost us any more to use Ed Hamilton & Co. for our bookings we chose to do so, and were glad we did, we will most definatly go through them again. They have done well by us on our charter, these people know what they are doing, they care, the follow up every step of the way and then some, they know the boats as well the charter companies, it has been a great expirience. Thanks Ed-Hamilton & Co.

Captain's Log

The British Virgin Islands 2007

The following record is of our travels from New Brunswick Canada to Tortola British Virgin Islands March 02nd-11th 2007

Planning

Good times and great memories all begin with a well organized itinerary or plan, long before the actual trip commences as to ensure a positive end result, this research pays off big in dividends. When it comes to a bare boating adventure this planning is as much a part of your trip, as the trip itself, so do your research and provide for possible changes to your itineraries, keeping in mind that nothing ever goes as planned, expect this, so that when it happens there is no disappointments, only a change in the plan.

some suggestions:

1. How many guests and, who do I take with me? Remember the length of time these people will be with you, and ask yourself, if the period of time you will be in close quarters with them is a good thing, a big boat can become extremely small if you do not choose wisely.
2. How much provisioning should I have? ask yourself, do I want to be spending my time doing dishes? what worked well for us was lots of munchies, finger foods and sandwich options for the day, and we planned for a couple of dinners aboard the boat. On the last night of our charter we cooked up everything we had left, this made for a great buffet, keeping mine as well that you cannot bring it back, and if you do its something else that has to be carried down the dock, then what? Both sources of re provisioning, as well as Restaurant options are ample throughout the islands, we even had boats that came along side complete with baked goods in a couple of coves we visited.
3. Research and make use of that home computer before you go. print off every where and everything you came across via Internet while doing research planning or make a CD for your laptop and take it with you, this way you will have options, options, options. We also had a charter guide reference book to the BVI, supplied from our travel agent that I will speak highly of later.
4. Pack lightly use duffel bag, or collapsible type luggage to save room and maximize space.
5. Cabs & Fairs, if you are flying into ST. Thomas US VI negotiate your cab fairs prior leaving, ask to see their rate sheet if need be. The airport due to the volumes of people all arriving at once, can be quite hectic, and my experience here can be summed up as to feeling like a cow herded into a Slater house. Our experience was two cabby's fighting over us verbally, one even going as far as to grab my shirt and draw me to his van, leaving my wife and crew standing on the side walk, while tiring to explain to the cab boss that I was traveling with those people over there, he asked me if I were stupid as I was told 4 times to go with the other people, once we all made it into a cab finally, we were 12 persons to a van that drove to the ferry only 3 miles away, were we were each charged 10 dollars for that 3 mile drive a total of 120.00, in a word a rip-off. We later laughed about it all, as we were determined to have a great time and did. If you can, arrange for a person or company to pick you up at the airport before you leave, ask your travel agent, they will arrange it. Highly recommended.
6. Check your Boat out carefully, check the water, Fuel, oil & fluids to ensure all is in order, inspect the sails on first set, write and notify the charter company or travel agent as need be.
7. Do not forget your passport.
8. Do not worry about the small things in life you are on Vacation.