Bvi Sailing Trip Starts Today!

[pkrrvr619]

I’ve lived my entire life in San Diego and have always been a power boater on the big blue, Parker strip, and lake havasu.

One day I read an article that if you learn to sail and get the proper certifications you can charter a sailing catamaran by yourself and island hop in the bvi. Being a San Diego native at 37 I was shocked that sailing never appealed to me as it seemed slow and boring. Well that was inaccurate, sailing is a blast.

This became a bucket list item for me so I spent the three years of Covid getting sailing certs and the required hours on bigger and bigger boats until I earned all the correct certs that would let us take a boat by ourselves.

Today the adventure begins. Hopping a flight to Miami today to meet a lifelong friend and wife and pick up our sailing cat Wednesday morning

Will update this thread as the week progresses with photos as I am bringing my camera gear.

Stay tuned!

 

[MPHSystems]

You are going to have a great time!

 

[lakemadness]

Awesome!

We did this last year, although we had a crew running the boat. Soooo many awesome islands and places to visit. We'll be returning in the future.

 

[pkrrvr619]

Awesome!

We did this last year, although we had a crew running the boat. Soooo many awesome islands and places to visit. We'll be returning in the future.

That’s what I wanted to hear!

 

[MPHSystems]

Awesome!

We did this last year, although we had a crew running the boat. Soooo many awesome islands and places to visit. We'll be returning in the future.

I got my certification a very long time ago. Non the less, I always get a “check out skipper” for the first day. They are amazingly good at disappearing on the boat when not needed. Even though, not having anyone on the boat except for me and mine is amazing.

On the other hand, it would be nice to have someone cooking and sailing…. IDK, I like having the boat all to ourselves.

 

[Instigator]

I’ve lived my entire life in San Diego and have always been a power boater on the big blue, Parker strip, and lake havasu.

One day I read an article that if you learn to sail and get the proper certifications you can charter a sailing catamaran by yourself and island hop in the bvi. Being a San Diego native at 37 I was shocked that sailing never appealed to me as it seemed slow and boring. Well that was inaccurate, sailing is a blast.

This became a bucket list item for me so I spent the three years of Covid getting sailing certs and the required hours on bigger and bigger boats until I earned all the correct certs that would let us take a boat by ourselves.

Today the adventure begins. Hopping a flight to Miami today to meet a lifelong friend and wife and pick up our sailing cat Wednesday morning

Will update this thread as the week progresses with photos as I am bringing my camera gear.

Stay tuned!

It will be a trip of a lifetime and after you've done it once you will want to do it again and again.

 

[pkrrvr619]

I got my certification a very long time ago. Non the less, I always get a “check out skipper” for the first day. They are amazingly good at disappearing on the boat when not needed. Even though, not having anyone on the boat except for me and mine is amazing.

On the other hand, it would be nice to have someone cooking and sailing…. IDK, I like having the boat all to ourselves.

Yep we have a check out captain for 4 hours then we send him packing. Breakfast and simple lunches on board, dinner on shore every evening.

 

[Mandelon]

This looks like an awesome way to get certified:

Learn To Sail In Sea Of Cortez, Mexico

Learn To Sail In Mexico with Nautilus. We provide the most luxurious and stunning locations, coupled with the most experienced instructors.

www.nautilussailing.com

 

[Instigator]

Yep we have a check out captain for 4 hours then we send him packing. Breakfast and simple lunches on board, dinner on shore every evening.

Start provisions with some water, few cocktails, few breakfasts and a few lunches/snacks. You can pu some things along the way as needed.
Your in for the trip of a lifetime.
Enjoy and update this thread as you can.
Those of us that have done it will understand if you don't do any updates until it is over.
Daytonababe is probably the best at doing real time updates as she has more focus. The rest of us asshats get too caught up in the moment and forget all about updates.
Lol

 

[Instigator]

If you make it to Virgin Gorda try to have dinner at Coco Maya.
You won't be disappointed.

 

[coolchange]

Livin my dream.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

My favorite place on Earth! Enjoy!

 

[240Hallett]

It will be a trip of a lifetime and after you've done it once you will want to do it again and again.

This is true!

 

[pkrrvr619]

If you make it to Virgin Gorda try to have dinner at Coco Maya.
You won't be disappointed.

Two nights on Virgin. Will add to our list. Thanks!

 

[Tank]

I’ve lived my entire life in San Diego and have always been a power boater on the big blue, Parker strip, and lake havasu.

One day I read an article that if you learn to sail and get the proper certifications you can charter a sailing catamaran by yourself and island hop in the bvi. Being a San Diego native at 37 I was shocked that sailing never appealed to me as it seemed slow and boring. Well that was inaccurate, sailing is a blast.

This became a bucket list item for me so I spent the three years of Covid getting sailing certs and the required hours on bigger and bigger boats until I earned all the correct certs that would let us take a boat by ourselves.

Today the adventure begins. Hopping a flight to Miami today to meet a lifelong friend and wife and pick up our sailing cat Wednesday morning

Will update this thread as the week progresses with photos as I am bringing my camera gear.

Stay tuned!

Dude. That is fuckin AWESOME!

good friends just got back from a chartered run on a big cat through BVI. said it was the best trip they’ve ever been on. And they go on a lot! BVI is on our bucket list. There’s a place called Saba rock resort down there. Dude that used to run it owned a 42 cigarette and a 46 skater for a while. Don’t know if he’s still there but Saba rock resort is and it’s pretty bad ass if you happen to pass through there. Look forward to the pics and updates!

 

[lakemadness]

Dude. That is fuckin AWESOME!

good friends just got back from a chartered run on a big cat through BVI. said it was the best trip they’ve ever been on. And they go on a lot! BVI is on our bucket list. There’s a place called Saba rock resort down there. Dude that used to run it owned a 42 cigarette and a 46 skater for a while. Don’t know if he’s still there but Saba rock resort is and it’s pretty bad ass if you happen to pass through there. Look forward to the pics and updates!

Saba Rock is legit. We spent a night there and had dinner in the restaurant. Certainly worth the stop.

 

[pkrrvr619]

Dude. That is fuckin AWESOME!

good friends just got back from a chartered run on a big cat through BVI. said it was the best trip they’ve ever been on. And they go on a lot! BVI is on our bucket list. There’s a place called Saba rock resort down there. Dude that used to run it owned a 42 cigarette and a 46 skater for a while. Don’t know if he’s still there but Saba rock resort is and it’s pretty bad ass if you happen to pass through there. Look forward to the pics and updates!

would your friends be the Belio's by chance?

We have dinner Rez at Saba on our 4th night. looking forward to checking in out.. Would be awesome to see some go fast boats down there!

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Sounds amazing!

My last boss did a charter on a cat in the BVI islands for the first time in 2022 and immediately scheduled 2023 when he returned. Said it was the best vacation he’s ever had, and he’s got deeeeep pockets that can take him anywhere.

 

[MPHSystems]

Two nights on Virgin. Will add to our list. Thanks!

You need to check out the baths while at the fat virgin island.

I also always make sure to sail around the north of Great Camanoe to point out “throw away wife bay”. I’m kinda stupid.

 

[pkrrvr619]

You need to check out the baths while at the fat virgin island.

I also always make sure to sail around the north of Great Camanoe to point out “throw away wife bay”. I’m kinda stupid.

on the list. since we have new sailors on boat we are alternating between mooring balls and marina stays. two nights at the marina on virgin Gorda and we rented a jeep to explore the island.

 

[attitude]

Congrats! Definitely a bucket list trip for me. I’m sure the three years of work to get proficient on a sailboat will make the payoff even sweeter.

 

[Instigator]

Two nights on Virgin. Will add to our list. Thanks!

Have dinner the 2nd night at Saba Rock then.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Super excited for you and I'm looking forward to your pics. In the meantime, here's some recent pics of JVD and CGB just to get you even more excited for your epic adventure:

Thread 'Whelp, y'all enjoy work today...' https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/whelp-yall-enjoy-work-today.269663/

 

[Instigator]

on the list. since we have new sailors on boat we are alternating between mooring balls and marina stays. two nights at the marina on virgin Gorda and we rented a jeep to explore the island.

Take the jeep to see The Baths as they have changed their policy and you now have to pay to see them and the pay station is at the Top of the Baths now.
You can do either by boat to the top and pay and them go back down or ataryvat the top.
If you start at the top you can have lunch/snacks/cocktails at The Top of the Baths restaurant when your done.

 

[Instigator]

Super excited for you and I'm looking forward to your pics. In the meantime, here's some recent pics of JVD and CGB just to get you even more excited for your epic adventure:

Thread 'Whelp, y'all enjoy work today...' https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/whelp-yall-enjoy-work-today.269663/

Troublemaker

 

[stephenkatsea]

Perfect time of the year for very good weather down there. I honestly cannot recall a negative report from anyone who has made one of those trips. Many return again and again. Enjoy!

 

[92562]

You are going to have a great time. BVI is next on our list. We've already done the Abacos it was amazing.

 

[Tank]

would your friends be the Belio's by chance?

We have dinner Rez at Saba on our 4th night. looking forward to checking in out.. Would be awesome to see some go fast boats down there!

We know the Belios but not who I was referring to no.

There was actually a poker run down there a few years there for a while.

Here’s a thread with pics and info. There was a guy on OSO went by Bob the builder that ran his big Nortech vee down from Florida and documented the trips on oso. Pretty cool. This thread has pics of the poker run down there that Jay took.

2013 B V I Leverick Bay Run - P H O T O S - Offshoreonly.com

Naples Image - 2013 B V I Leverick Bay Run - P H O T O S - The inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island" . Legend has it 86 chests of booty were buried on the island, many of which have been found by locals. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jay2boat/8908153286/

www.offshoreonly.com

 

[rivermobster]

Here is all of the pics...

BVI Leverick Bay 2012 Run

Explore this photo album by Jay Nichols on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[C-Ya]

on the list. since we have new sailors on boat we are alternating between mooring balls and marina stays. two nights at the marina on virgin Gorda and we rented a jeep to explore the island.

Here is the “easy way” to go to Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke if you are nervous about anchoring in White Bay.

Go to Great Harbor. It’s the bay where Foxy’s restaurant/bar is. Put your sailboat on a mooring ball. Then take your dinghy to the next bay north, which is White Bay, where the Soggy Dollar is. It’s an easy dinghy ride, and the boat will be moored to a mooring ball for peace of mind.

White Bay is just a fun place to hang out. Very beautiful. I wouldn’t miss it.

 

[rivergames]

One day when I retire, I will get my sailing certs. I want to sail down from LA to the French Polynesian Islands while hitting many spots along the way. Then I want to sail back to Panama and cross over to the Atlantic. Then I will hit many islands down there. Eventually I will said back and sell the boat. This has been a dream of mine for a long, long time.

 

[DaveH]

Here is the “easy way” to go to Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke if you are nervous about anchoring in White Bay.

Go to Great Harbor. It’s the bay where Foxy’s restaurant/bar is. Put your sailboat on a mooring ball. Then take your dinghy to the next bay north, which is White Bay, where the Soggy Dollar is. It’s an easy dinghy ride, and the boat will be moored to a mooring ball for peace of mind.

White Bay is just a fun place to hang out. Very beautiful. I wouldn’t miss it.

this x10

soggy dollar and the area is epic.

just grab a ball in the harbor at foxy's.......another iconic must see place. you can either dingy over to SD or take a 5 minute cab ride.

 

[pkrrvr619]

Here is the “easy way” to go to Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke if you are nervous about anchoring in White Bay.

Go to Great Harbor. It’s the bay where Foxy’s restaurant/bar is. Put your sailboat on a mooring ball. Then take your dinghy to the next bay north, which is White Bay, where the Soggy Dollar is. It’s an easy dinghy ride, and the boat will be moored to a mooring ball for peace of mind.

White Bay is just a fun place to hang out. Very beautiful. I wouldn’t miss it.

My charter company won’t let us anchor in white so looks like that is going to be our plan.

 

[baja-chris]

We just got back a couple weeks ago from a crewed power cat trip in bvi for 7 days. Absolutely fantastic vacation. You will love it.
We used Marine Max and an Aquila 545. Both the captain and chef were amazing. Best dinners were on the boat and that included Saba Rock etc.

 

[pkrrvr619]

Long travel day but made it to our air bb to relax before getting the boat tomorrow.

 

[mbrown2]

Amazing place...enjoy! we normally go without captain and chef and I skipper the boat and we split up other duties and meals... have done the 47, 51 and last was the 58-6 cabin sailboat... its amazing sailing the boats around down there.... best run I recall is leaving Anegada around 10am and making a straight shot to JVD to get painkillers at Soggy Dollar in the early afternoon...fun times...

 

[Instigator]

We just got back a couple weeks ago from a crewed power cat trip in bvi for 7 days. Absolutely fantastic vacation. You will love it.
We used Marine Max and an Aquila 545. Both the captain and chef were amazing. Best dinners were on the boat and that included Saba Rock etc.

Baller.
Happy for you guys. Im sure you had a ball. That is as close to being on the Below Deck show as you can get.
It would.be super fun to do that program but it is way outta my league. Being poor and having to rough it and bè our own captain and crew is just fine with me.

 

[Outdrive1]

That’s sounds like the trip of a lifetime! Enjoy!

 

[pkrrvr619]

Provisions and boat checkout. Almost underway.

 

[lakemadness]

We just got back a couple weeks ago from a crewed power cat trip in bvi for 7 days. Absolutely fantastic vacation. You will love it.
We used Marine Max and an Aquila 545. Both the captain and chef were amazing. Best dinners were on the boat and that included Saba Rock etc.

Agreed 100%. Our crew was awesome, the chef put together dinners that were better and more enjoyable than restaurants, including Saba.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

@pkrrvr619 - keep an eye out!! Would be cool to see!

 

[pkrrvr619]

View attachment 1347088


@pkrrvr619 - keep an eye out!! Would be cool to see!

Will do thanks for the tip!

 

[pkrrvr619]

Day 1:

Had a checkout captain show up late and got off the dock later than expected so we motored to Norman after proving we could sail the boat.

Got a mooring in norman bay and headed to the caves to snorkle and then get pain killers and jump off the Willy t.

Back to boat to shower for dinner and take dinghy to pirates bite for dinner after watching the sun set over the Atlantic.

Crew was wiped so it we all turned in early.

 

[Instigator]

Ans so the adventure begins.
Dilly Dilly

 

[Joker]

This looks like a great time. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Tooms22]

BVI is our favorite vacation spot too

Mods, please delete thread if OP continues to give us blue balls with only 4 pictures per day.

 

[Spudsbud]

Sir Francis Drake Channel is a bucket list cruise.
They dont call it Billionaires Alley for nothing.
Did twice, 30 years ago. Have your batteries % extra CF cards ready !
Good luck !

 

[Spudsbud]

Do you scuba dive ? Definately dive the wreck of The Rhone. Incredible wreck & story.

 

[Taboma]

Spent a week there 34 years ago on a bareboat 43' mono-hull, amazing experience.
Although the number of boats plying those waters in 1990 were but a fraction of today, sanitary pollution of the waters in some popular moorage bays, was nasty.
I read an article from just four years ago suggesting new laws regarding holding tanks and areas off limits to discharge were being implemented, but there were essentially almost no pump-out facilities.

Has this problem been addressed ?


Most all of my pics burned, but got this one from my buddy's wife who we shared the boat with.

Wille T, Circa 1990, which I do believe was lost and later replaced.

 

[pkrrvr619]

Day 2:

Woke up early headed to the Indians for coffee, breakfast, and some snorkeling.

Hoisted the sails for a beat up the channel and landed in scrub island marina for the afternoon and evening.

Awesome facilities and the pool on the beach on the north side of the island was a welcome from a days sailing and hike to the beach.

Dinner at the resort steakhouse to ready for a long sail day tomorrow to anagada.