The Moorings & Sunsail relocate to Marina Fort Louis in Marigot
Severe damage to The Moorings and Sunsail charter yacht base in Oyster Pond, St. Martin, has led the brands to relocate east to Marina Fort Louis in Marigot. It’s a good move for many reasons. First, the new location is now in one of the most iconic marinas in the Caribbean. With its unique circular shape and striking seawalls, Marina Fort Louis is exceedingly picturesque and often photographed from the historic hilltop fort nearby. Second, though the fort dates to the 18th century, the marina itself is quite modern with WiFi, shower facilities, a dive shop on site, and bilingual staff. Third, the marina is within walking distance to the numerous restaurants and bars on the Marigot waterfront.
“The Moorings offers charters of all types here, including bareboat sailing aboard both monohulls and sailing catamarans, power catamaran charters, and all-inclusive crewed yachts. Yachts in our St. Martin fleet range from 39- to 58-feet LOA,” says Marketing Manager Ian Pedersen. A week’s charter from St. Martin easily includes stops around the island, Anguilla and the Prickly Pear Cays to the north, the offshore islands of Pinel and Tintamarre, and down to St. Barths.
The Moorings & Sunsail announce they’re open for business after hurricanes.
The Moorings and Sunsail, two of the most trusted names in yacht chartering, are pleased to announce the grand reopening of their British Virgin Islands charter base on December 9th, 2017, just three months after the Caribbean’s record-breaking hurricane activity.
Over the past few months, BVI staff members exhibited tremendous strength and dedication, working tirelessly to help restore operations in Road Town, Tortola, and they are eager to invite visitors back to this world-famous sailing destination.
The Moorings and Sunsail are also glad to report a combined fleet of more than 100 yachts ready for chartering. Additionally, an investment of $66.5 million will bring new fleet shipments for both brands with over 130 boats scheduled to arrive in the British Virgin Islands in early 2018.
According to Josie Tucci, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “The road to recovery has not been easy, but we simply couldn’t be more thrilled about reopening our base in the British Virgin Islands, and in such a timely manner. Tucci goes on to say:
“The humanitarian response from customers, partners, and employees following September’s hurricanes was overwhelming, and the tenacity of the local communities has been nothing short of inspiring. We believe it is this heartfelt combination of commitment and resilience that has helped us come back so strong.”
To continue supporting the future of the tourism industry and to assist with long-term hurricane relief efforts, The Moorings and Sunsail recently joined forces to establish the Caribbean Comeback fundraiser. Created in the spirit of uniting sailors everywhere, 100% of all monetary contributions go toward the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Puerto Rico employees, delivering supplies that are needed such as generators, gas stoves, and miscellaneous building materials.
Please consider joining The Moorings and Sunsail in this massive effort. Every contribution, no matter the size, is immensely appreciated. To donate or to learn more about this ongoing campaign, please visit CaribbeanComeback.com
To learn more about best-in-class Sail, Power, and all-inclusive Crewed yacht charter vacations in over 20 dazzling destinations across the globe, visit moorings.comand sunsail.com. The world is waiting and new adventure beckons around every corner. Come aboard, embrace the wind and water, and create your own unforgettable passage.
The Moorings debuts a new Martinique Charters Experience
LOOKING FOR A NEW FLAVOR in Caribbean chartering? Try the Martinique Rum Experience with The Moorings. The French islands aren’t as frequented by Americans as the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, but they certainly should be. The charm is a delightful combination of Old World European elegance meets New World, toes-in-the-sand, sun-drenched tropics. What better way to theme a crewed charter to such a destination than to tour and taste in the world-famous factories where rum has been distilled from the island-grown sugarcane for centuries?
“Martinique represents a new charter destination for The Moorings, which offers a cultural aspect unique from our other Caribbean destinations. To be able to explore all this island has to offer, with the added flexibility of this all-inclusive crewed yacht and the immersive nature of the rum tours ashore, is something we are very excited to share with our guests,” says Ian Pedersen, the Clearwater, Florida-headquartered marketing manager for the Americas. Charters depart from The Moorings’ St. Lucia base at IGY’s Rodney Bay Marina for a cruise north about 50 miles to Martinique aboard a Moorings 4800 or 5800 catamaran.
Alternatively, it’s possible to fly directly into Le Marin, Martinique, to rendezvous with your yacht if you want to get right to the rum-sipping. Charter highlights include a visit to the famed Clement and Neisson rum factories, as well as various cultural stops, such as Saint-Pierre to visit the volcano museum and zoo; La Pointe Marin for its beautiful beach, gourmet restaurants and upscale shops; Grand Anse d’Arlet, known for its half-mile of golden-sand beachfront; and Fort-de-France, where strolling the local markets and botanical gardens is the “must” thing to do.
“The dates for 2017 and 2018 are very flexible and operate in much the same way as any of our other crewed charters in the Caribbean. Guests can depart for five or more days of their choosing, as long as the boat is available for their dates, and will set sail from our marina in St. Lucia to then explore this Martinique charter,” says Pedersen.
After a quarter century of successful jazz concerts that put St. Lucia on the map for great international entertainment, government officials have decided to spread the wealth by now offering visitors six festivals to enjoy from May through November. Soliel kicked off in May with the traditional jazz fest at Pigeon Island National Landmark. The party continues this month with Roots & Soul, June 16-18, featuring reggae, hip-hop and R&B. Then, it’s St. Lucia Carnival, a three-week extravaganza from mid-June to mid-July that revs up to the big Parade of the Bands July 17th and 18th. The tenor takes a notch down to a more laid-back pace from August 24-27 for the St. Lucia Food & Rum Festival. This taste-tempting event features culinary demonstrations, rum and wine tastings, and dining experiences that pay tribute to both St. Lucian and international dishes and drinks. The Country & Blues Festival occurs September 15-17, followed by the monthlong Arts & Heritage Festival in October. This means there’s plenty of fun on this Windward Island all summer long. Even better, summer is slow season in the Caribbean, so anchorages are not crowded.
Plus, it’s easy to find dockage at either of the island’s two big marinas: the 253-slip IGY’s Rodney Bay Marina to the north in Gros Islet and the 42-slip Capella Marigot Bay Marina to the south mid-island. Additionally, Rodney Bay has a full-service boatyard, so it’s possible to haul out and work by day and enjoy six festival’s worth of parties by night. stlucia.org/summerfestivalo.
Best-kept secret Caribbean beaches
What are some of the top off-the-beaten-track beaches in the Caribbean? Global charter yacht company, The Moorings, let the cat out of the bag earlier this year by naming its seven favorites. North to south, the first is Playa Tamarindo, a small coral-strewn beach on Puerto Rico’s offshore island Culebra, where “unspoiled” is truly defined. On the sandbar called Anegada, both Loblolly Bay and Cow Wreck Beach—two of the British Virgin Islands’ (B.V.I.) three beaches—offer a delightful mix of Robinson Crusoe seclusion combined with all the comforts of the tropics, like cold beer and hot grilled lobster. Neighboring Guana Island, home of the luxurious all-inclusive resort of the same name, features the haven known as White Bay. Further south, two islands off Anguilla and St. Martin make the list. One is the duo of Prickly Pear Cays, uninhabited except for a small beach bar manned by day, where the sand is as soft as powdered sugar. The other is Tintamarre, nestled within the St. Martin Nature Reserve. The red clay-like mud here is said to have healing as well as beautifying powers. Finally, there’s Anse du Gouverneur on St. Bart’s—pristine, private and picturesque. Moorings bases in the B.V.I. and St. Martin make this septuplet of best-kept secret beaches easily paradise found. moorings.com
OPTIMIST REGATTA CELEBRATES SILVER ANNIVERSARY
More than 100 junior sailors, ages 8 to 15, from over a dozen nations will set sail in the 25th International Optimist Regatta hosted in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., June 12-18. This family-friendly sailing event features a clinic, team race, and three-day fleet race. Beach parties, fire dancers, and costumed Carnival entertainers put a signature spin on the shoreside activities. Former sailors have gone on to collegiate All-America, World Champion, and Olympic sailing careers.
For more information on happenings in the Caribbean, take a look at these Anguilla Villas!
by Carol Bareuther Southern Boating Magazine June 2017
A couple of diehard sailors cross to the dark side only to discover that it’s not so dark after all.
In a way, it was a double conversion. Not only were we blow-boaters on a stinkpot, but one with two hulls at that. It was going to take some getting used to, all this space and speed and simplicity. Welcoming the chance to review a 2016 model power catamaran, we chartered a Moorings 433—a Leopard 43 with three cabins. We picked up our boat at The Moorings charter base in Tortola, quite possibly the busiest in the world. Our brand-new owner’s version was named Rubis (French for ruby), and she was already hinting at her gemlike qualities.
Eager to head into the Sir Francis Drake Channel, we put the twin Yanmar 220-hp diesels to work and topped out at 20 knots. (The Moorings keeps the engines on their charter fleet governed down to 80 percent.) We settled into a cruising speed of 14 knots that still left us with more than half of our original fuel level at the end of the charter. Besides the fuel-sipping engines, part of this catamaran’s efficiency comes from the stepped hulls. They are narrow at the waterline for better hydrodynamics but flare out with a hard chine to create interior volume for the cabins. Unlike monohulls, cats aren’t dragging a heavy keel through the water and can operate with smaller engines. We found our diesel engines under the aft bunks and noticed they were surprisingly quiet and vibration-free.
The salon layout provides ample storage and enables efficient freedom of movement with natural light for enjoying the outside elements. The door and windows open wide to the aft deck creating a large living area
The Leopard 43 powercat offers the stability and broad foredeck for picking up mooring balls.
Flybridge relaxation, entertaining and sightseeing can’t be beat with a view like this.
The forward door enables convenient centerline access from bow to stern.
Alfresco meals on the aft deck are protected from the occasional tropical shower thanks to the large flybridge.
That first night we experienced one of the greatest benefits of a cat: no rolling at anchor. A cat may wobble in a rough bay but it won’t roll, so flopper-stoppers, gyroscopes, stabilizing fins, and sleepless nights are a distant memory.
The next morning, Rubis schooled us on her many on-deck benefits. Her bow was wide and the hard deck (no trampoline) spanned her entire beam. Picking up a mooring was easy; I could move quickly from side-to-side and brace my hips on the stainless steel railing. I then reached down to work the lines on the cleats with both hands. Once done on the foredeck, I stepped through the full-sized forward door into the salon starting what was going to be our normal traffic pattern around the boat. While open, the door blasted air through the interior and cooled it down much faster than any port or hatch ever could.
Catamarans offer extensive exterior spaces, and people congregate mostly in the cockpit. But the flybridge became our favorite spot when driving, sunning, dining, or watching sunsets. Here, a galley module had a Kenyon electric grill and sink. An option on the Leopard 43 is to add a refrigerator or an icemaker, so the party never has to leave the flybridge. All the way forward was a double sunpad suspended over the forward cockpit. With a railing all around, it was a comfortable and safe place to lounge even when under way.
To starboard was the helm that included a double bench seat and an angled dash with two Raymarine MFDs. The autopilot was mounted behind the wheel and the Fusion stereo head was to the side. A better layout of electronics would have helped the driver and her companion to have easier access to all equipment, including the VHF.
It was best to leave the wheel centered and untouched during slow speed maneuvers like docking and anchoring. Just a light touch, usually with one engine at a time, made Rubis dance; no side thrusters or pod drives were needed. With four-bladed props set 20 feet apart, the boat was ultra responsive and absolutely the easiest I’ve ever driven.
Rubis was so much fun to handle that when we picked up a mooring, we argued as to who got to drive. Often we dropped a mooring right after picking it up in favor of one a few feet over in case the breeze was better. We dropped three times in front of Saba Rock at the Bitter End Yacht Club just because we could.
This 43-foot catamaran felt more like a 52-foot monohull. To maximize the spacious feel, Leopard has flipped the salon layout, with the dinette facing forward and up against the cockpit settee. Open the door and windows between the two to create one large living room. The L-shaped galley in the starboard corner faces forward, and I liked looking ahead when cooking under way. To port was a small navigation desk that we used primarily to store cruising guides. It was also the place for charging phones and cameras since there were four USB ports on the bulkhead.
The master stateroom took up the entire starboard hull. A queen-sized bed aft and a large head forward were separated by a vanity, a chest of drawers and two enormous lockers. I could live aboard this boat without having to give away too many clothes. Two cabins in the port hull shared a head and stall shower. (Something that needed a bit of re-thinking were the head light switches that were not in the heads but rather in the corridors outside.)
Boats are sets of tradeoffs, but I found few things to complain about on the Moorings 433. Being nitpicky, however, I would liked to have had a larger electric winch for the dinghy davit that kept tripping the breaker. The windlass, too, was undersized and tended to spin out. Finally, the boarding ladder on the port transom had a challenging angle and little in the way of handholds on top. But that’s the extent of the complaint list, which is much shorter than just about every other boat I’ve seen.
The B.V.I. are permeated with sailing charter boats. However, power cats are quickly gaining ground. The distances are short and the destinations are plentiful so it’s the perfect place for a powerboat and an even better one for a cat. There was very little wind on our first two days of the trip, and we flew past the sailboats on our way to two and three fun anchorages in a day. We sped to the Baths for an early morning swim, then we SUPed around Sandy Cay near Jost Van Dyke followed by snorkeling at the Indians near Norman Island. We finished up with Painkillers at the Last Resort in Trellis Bay. Did we need to circumnavigate Tortola in a day? No, but we easily could have. One day we even went back for more Painkillers—the best I’ve ever tasted.
The builder, Robertson and Caine, expects to build 30 of these Leopard models per year in South Africa. Some will go to The Moorings since they offer power charters in a dozen locations from the Caribbean to Europe to the Seychelles.
Coming from a world of monohull sailboats, we felt a little guilty about how much we enjoyed our power cat and wondered how we could ever go back to half a boat. This was just too easy, too speedy and way too comfortable. We allowed ourselves to voice the reality. Our boat test was really a try-before-you-buy experiment that succeeded. There, we said it. We’re out in the open now and have fully embraced the dark side, a side with plenty of power and two hulls. Though we fought it for years, we are, in every sense of the word, converts.
—By Zuzana Prochazka, Southern Boating Magazine March 2017
Three of the Caribbean’s biggest regattas take place this month: The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, St. Thomas International Regatta and BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival. Sailors and sailing enthusiasts alike come from around the world to race and watch. It’s an excellent opportunity to join in the fun on sea and shore. New this year, all three regattas offer added racing before their main three-day events.
St. Maarten kicks off with its Gill Commodores Cup March 3-6. Like last year, all classes—not just the racers—are welcome to enter. The St. Thomas International Regatta (March 24-27) launches its first-ever Round the Rocks Race on. The course is a beautiful circumnavigation of the adjacent U.S.V.I. of St. John. The B.V.I.’s Sailing Festival (March 28th-April 3rd), as part of its 45th anniversary celebration, offers two days of warm-up racing.
What make these regattas so great, too, are the calibre of talent and the spectacular yachts. For example, Dutch-based Team Brunel aboard their 65-foot Volvo Ocean Racer is entered in St. Maarten. This sleek, canting keel yacht will be on the dock at the St. Maarten Yacht Club, so it’s easy to get a close up and personal look at this amazing racing machine. An entire class of Gunboats will race in St. Thomas, including the U.S.’s Phil Lotz and Robert Alexander on the GB 60s, Arethusa and Fault Tolerant, respectively, as well as Jason Carroll’s GB 62 Elvin. Over a dozen VX One teams from as far away as Australia will be racing in St. Thomas and in the B.V.I. as part of the inaugural two-leg VX One Caribbean Cup. Most exciting is that all three regattas offer a vibe that isn’t equalled anywhere else in the world and the chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with America’s Cup veterans, Olympic medallists and world champions with free-flowing rum in hand and toe-tapping to a pulsating Caribbean beat. No blue blazers or membership cards required. heinekenregatta.com, stthomasinternationalregatta.com, bvispringregatta.org
Charter by the stateroom in the B.V.I.
If you ever wanted to take a crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean but didn’t have the cash or crowd of family and friends for an entire boat, no worries. The Moorings makes it easy. Now, in the B.V.I. only, you can charter one of three staterooms aboard a Moorings 4600 or Moorings 4800 catamaran. Dates are pre-determined, while meals, beverages (including fully stocked bar), snacks, water sports, Wi-Fi, and housekeeping are included. Prices range from $3,800 to $6,500 for double occupancy, for seven days. “Sail Away Staterooms are still a highly personalized experience, with a professional captain and gourmet chef providing experiences and culinary delights that are designed to meet guests’ preferences,” says Carol Hansen, senior content manager for the Clearwater, Florida-headquartered The Moorings. Another unique advantage is the opportunity to meet new people and experience affordable island-hopping aboard a luxury yacht. moorings.com
By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine March 2016
Island hop this cruiser’s paradise in which scenery, characters and proximity appeal to novice and experienced boaters alike.
The dinghies approached us as if they had suddenly materialized on the water, before we even had a chance to grab onto a mooring. Time to pay up the mooring ball fee, we thought. Instead the men broke out singing. “Oh, what a beautiful morning,” belted out Sacko Sam under the high noon sun. That’s the kind of unforgettable welcome you get in the British Virgin Islands, where the serenity of the islands, majestic sceneries and colorful characters charm and invite you for a new adventure, no matter how many times you’ve cruised their turquoise seas.
In early August the Southern Boating crew composed of my family and friends took off for a seven day cruise aboard two powercats from The Moorings charter fleet, the 514PC and the 393PC. The trip was to give us quality time together, and while one cat would have accommodated all 10 of us, I had an ulterior motive: a learning experience for the younger generation (my children) to learn to navigate, read the waters and charts, monitor the onboard machinery, and master anchoring and mooring techniques. In short, they would man their very own vessel in unfamiliar waters. From the distance of my powercat, I watched (as a proud father, teacher and captain) as they gained confidence and at times took the lead, guiding them when necessary.
After a quick stop in Road Town on Tortola (The Moorings’ base) to pick up our powercats, we departed for this archipelago of 60 islands, where one seemingly hops from island to island—a boater’s cruising paradise (and an ideal learning ground).
First on our journey: an easy and short southeast cruise to Cooper Island less than 7 nm away—a perfect way for the crew to familiarize itself with the vessels, take the dinghies out and relax in the crystal waters.
Skip Allen at the helm of the Mooring powercat.
Majestic mountains and crystal waters await everyone at The Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda Island.
The colorful corals and sea life on the ocean floor of Virgin Gorda Island.
Our home for a week aboard one of The Moorings powercats.
Sacko Sam from Potter’s By The Sea on Anegada Island prepares a succulent dinner of monster lobster.
One of the Southern Boating crew member proudly showing off the large lobster he will eat later.
A typical afternoon on the white sandy beaches of the B.V.I.
On your next trip to Anegada Island, visit Potter’s By The Sea and see the many remembrances from our and other travelers.
The sign marks the spot of famed Foxy’s Bar on Jost Van Dyke’s Great Harbour.
This charter experience created great memories and a stronger bond among the crew.
A Southern Boating “mermaid” during one of the many snorkeling adventures.
A crew member enjoying a stroll through the gargantuan boulders of The Baths on Virgin Gorda.
The bewitching braided trees and stone stacking on George Dog.
A mechanical issue on the 51′ powercat—a fizzling air conditioner due to trapped seaweed in the intake—had us cruising uncomfortably under high temperatures for a bit, yet failed to derail our plans. One of The Moorings’ certified technicians—who are scattered throughout the islands and readily available—quickly met us at our next stop, immediately identified and fixed the common problem as we explored (our minds at ease) The Bath and its gargantuan boulders on the south end of Virgin Gorda Island. The dazzling granite boulders, reminders of the island’s volcanic origins, form natural sheltered pools and scenic grottoes. Take the dinghy around a bit before you pick a spot to start exploring or be prepared for a lot of swimming to go around the boulders. We spent the evening docked at Bitter End Yacht Club, where we feasted at its landmark Clubhouse Steak & Seafood Grille, a favorite rendezvous for visiting boaters for its sea-to-table approach.
It was right as we arrived on Anegada Island—the longest jaunt of our trip—that the serenading men in their dinghies met us, their songs meant to lure us to their eateries and the island’s specialty: lobster. Sam, the jubilant chef of Potter’s By The Sea won us over, and after making our dinner reservations arranged for a taxi to take us to Loblolly Beach on the north shore for an afternoon of snorkeling on the Eastern Caribbean’s third largest continuous reef—where baby octopi, monster lobsters and yellowtail fish inhabit the vibrant corals. We made a quick stop at Flash of Beauty Beach, an improvised shack-like bar with its self-service refrigerator—as if walking into someone’s back porch straight from the seas—where the owner, a woman from Trinidad and Tobago decked out in a muumuu, sandals and head wrap entertained us with tales from the island. Wild goats and cattle roamed the flat and dry terrain, interspersed by marshes, where hundreds of bright pink flamingoes gathered on the road back to Potter’s By The Sea. As the sun came down, the simple and colorful shack house with its wooden picnic tables came to life with strings of lights dangling from the tin ceiling. Sam danced and sang by the grill. T-shirts and flags from previous visitors hang on the roof. We added our own decór contribution and left a Southern Boating shirt behind.
While Great Dog Island was our next intended destination, the lack of available moorings led us to Kitchen Point on George Dog. There, the trees’ long branches shot out and seemingly braided with one another to form natural trellises, where visitors left balanced stacks of rocks behind—we added our own. We docked at Scrub Island Resort & Marina on Scrub Island, reveled in their salt water two-level infinity pool—the slide takes you from the top level with pool bar right to the bottom—and shopped at the many boutiques before enjoying a scrumptious dinner of fresh seafood at Tierra! Tierra! under the stars. Back at the docks, a real spectacle awaited us as jellyfish and tarpons glided in the waters lit by colorful underwater lights.
We encountered yet another character on Brewers Bay on the northern coast of Tortola. Miss Lou, a petite woman in her 70s with weathered skin and a knack for captivating anecdotes, owned yet another small bar along the white sandy beach. It was as we sat enjoying our drinks, taking in the view of the mountains and recounting Miss Lou’s stories that we almost lost one of our dinghies—not pulled nearly far enough on the sand, it gave in to the waves that took it hundreds of yards away. (It does happen to the most experienced of boaters.)
We moored on Jost Van Dyke’s Great Harbour and strolled along the waterside road with its bars, gift shops, dive shops, small markets, and a fresh drink at Foxy’s Bar. The next day we moved westward to White Bay, home of the famed Soggy Dollar Bar, where patrons linger to play a game of ring toss. We finished our cruise with a visit to Norman Island known for its legends and tales of pirates and treasures, where more snorkeling awaited us within the dark caves of Treasure Point.
The laid-back vibe of the B.V.I. and the proximity of the islands invite you to abandon your agenda and just go with the flow. Whether the lack of moorings, the weather, your crew’s change of heart—or their newly gained confidence—allow yourself to hop from islets to cays and coves, take in the scenery, and discover the B.V.I again and again through the eyes of its most colorful characters.
Our final day was was sad just like any other last day of a fun-filled vacation. The morning was consumed with cleaning what we called home (power cat) for the past 7 days. We also gathered all of our left over provisions and searched the dock for departing sailors who may appreciate these treasures, like aluminum foil, charcoal, eggs and butter. We were in luck and met a very nice family just one slip over who were from England and taking the journey for the first time. Once we finished The Moorings departing brief we were on our way back to the Road Town fast ferry that would return us to the Charlotte Amalie, U.S.V.I. port and then one final taxi to the airport. We had a few more laughs before our flight back to Miami but it was obvious that our hearts were heavy with the yearning for one more cruise.
Day Six: White Bay, Sandy Cay, and Norman’s Island
We departed Great Harbor on Jost Van Dyke, anxious to explore more of the turquoise waters. We started the morning snagging our first mooring ball at White Bay, home of the famous Soggy Dollar bar and grill where patrons sign the guest book and linger with cold drinks, play a game of ring toss or just relax in the shallow waters with the provided chairs. What a fun way to start the day. Our next stop was a tiny island named Sandy Cay where the waters were crystal clear and the beach was inviting. We anchored for a quick swim and checked out the shoreline and then moved on cruising south to Normans Island. We settled on a mooring location in the Bight for a well-protected evening stay. Once we settled in we jumped in the dinghy’s for late day exploration before a yummy dinner onboard.
Anchored for the evening at Bight on Norman’s Island.
Some of the Southern Boating crew checking out the offerings at Soggy Dollar.
The beautiful Soggy Dollar beach.
The many remembrances of previous visitors to Soggy Dollar.
Alexandra snorkling in Sandy Cay.
A reminder of what every boater should do when cruising—explore.
Day Seven: Privateer Bay, Soldier Bay, and Tortola
Our final day on the water was a bit sad knowing our vacation was coming to an end but we made sure to maximize our time on Norman Island. After a quick breakfast we moved our boats a little further to the west to Privateer Bay to set up our day anchorage to get closer to the snorkeling that included several caves at Treasure Point. They were a little eerie but we loved it! We further explored the coast in our dinghy’s to the farthest western point named Carvel where the waves crashed between the rocks and created quite a spectacle. From there we moved on to Soldier Bay to see what else we could find. We had a nice lunch on the aft deck and then suited up for our final snorkel excursion. A few hours later, as much as we hated to, we were headed back to The Moorings base on Tortola. We finished off the evening with a dip in their pool, so nice after a long day in the salty waters.
Our view during our lunch time.
A pelican, a distant cousin to the Southern Boating mascot, on a rock at Treasure Point in Privateer Bay.
Approaching Carver Bay at Soldier Bay island.
Ashley’s view of the world when the wind is blowing from behind.
Alexandra, Andrew, Ashley, and Mike selfie.
Waiting for the rest of the crew to go exploring in the caves at Treasure Point.
The Southern Boating crew enjoying their diving experience at Treasure Point.
We departed Scrub Island at a leisurely pace and headed west along the northern coast of Tortola. After 40 minutes of cruising we arrived at our first destination of the day, Brewers Bay. This small, well-protected cove provided a picture perfect backdrop for our day filled with snorkeling, swimming and exploring the beach. We visited the small bar along the sand and met the local patrons and owner, Miss Lou who told us more about the history of the area and sprinkled in a little gossip too. We hated to leave but were anxious to get to our next destination, Great Harbor on Jost Van Dyke. We carefully selected our mooring ball to get the most protection from the strong winds common in this area and then quickly launched our dinghy so we could explore the famous little village. We strolled along the waterside road that is home to several small bars, restaurants, a gift shop, small market and dive shop. The strip is anchored by the well-known Foxy’s Bar where we popped in for a cold drink and took in the scenery of hundreds of T-shirts hung by patrons from around the world. Our evening ended with a fabulous meal and great conversation on the aft deck of our boat, doesn’t get much better than that.
How the Southern Boating crew gets around from boat to boat and island to island.
Sunset at Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke
Dive shop at Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke.
Sunset at Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke.
Brewer’s Bay Beach, BVI.
Mike napping on a hammock in front of the famous Foxy’s Bar on Jost Van Dyke.
Foxy’s Bar sign.
Mike looking for the beer at the internationally known Foxy’s Bar on Jost Van Dyke.
Bar menu at Cool Breeze Bar on Jost Van Dyke Island.
We left Anegada and arrived an hour later at a cluster of islands known as “the Dogs.” There were no open moorings at Great Dog Island (you can’t anchor because it’s a national park) so we decided to head over to George Dog Island, where we had a great time and saw some beautiful reefs—beware of the thousands of baby jelly fish! The lush vegetation on the tiny beach we visited formed what seemed like a personal natural hideaway. Under the hideaway, visitors have left behind balanced stacks of rocks, we added to the tradition and created our own.
Scrub Island.
George Dog Island Cove with a little beach.
Southern Boating’s men enjoying their last bit of sun in Scrub Island’s top-level infinity pool.
Alex and Ashley taking a selfie in front of Scrub Island’s beautiful view from the top-level of the infinity pool.
From George Dog we headed out and cruised to Scrub Island Resort & Marina on Scrub Island, our next home for the night. Once all docked and the boats hosed down, we opted for some pool-side relaxing time. We lost ourselves in the vast blue of the horizon from the infinity pool and sat back in the saltwater jacuzzi—the cherry on top. The luxurious property offers multiple villas, hotel rooms, a dive shop and market—yet has the feel of a small and intimate property. Taken by the island’s natural beauty, we chose to have dinner at Tierra! Tierra! their outdoor restaurant. We enjoyed a large spread of foods ranging from jerk chicken wings, ribs to red snapper ceviche and fresh caught grouper as we listened to the rhythmic sound of steel drums—island music par excellence.
Red Snapper cerviche at Tierra Tierra Restaurant at Scrub Island.
Scrub Island sunset view from just below Tierra Tierra Restaurant.
Grilled Jerk Chicken Wings at Tierra Tierra Restaurant at Scrub Island.
Ashley making a balance rock stack under natural trellis.
Today, we cruised to the island of Anegada, whose highest point on the island is only 28 feet and has a population of only 250 people. Upon arriving we were greeted by several dinghy boats driven by locals, serenading and promoting their many services including dinner reservations, taxi cabs, fishing charters, and nightly entertainment. Each local was more creative than the next in trying to score our business. The one that stuck out the most was Sacko Sam (“with a capital S,” he says) as he approached the boat singing his own made up tunes to what a beautiful morning it was! He arranged for a taxi ride to take us from his restaurant to Loblolly Beach (north shore of the island), which boasts the best snorkeling on the island. We opted for the more local spot and were brought to Flash of Beauty Beach—a shack like building/restaurant run by a woman from Trinidad. Our taxi driver was very engaging and knowledgeable. He gave us a bit of a history lesson on our ride to the beach, showed us the local flamingos, wild goats, cows, and where sharks come to give birth. He was filled with fun facts! Did you know that certain fibers extracted from the leaves of an agave plant can be used to stitch your sail or even your skin? Fun facts aside, the snorkeling was amazing as strong currents kept us on the move allowing us to see a good portion of the reef.
Not only is he a taxi driver, he is also a great tour guide.
The adventure begins with our great taxi/ tour guide.
Skip’s got his lobster picked!
Flash of Beauty.
Follow the rainbow to paradise. Oh, right we’re here.
Dinner gets it’s own paragraph because the entire experience was that spectacular! We decided to eat at Potter’s by the Sea, which is where Sacko Sam prepared a fabulous lobster dinner for 10. The lobsters are unlike any other I’ve ever seen before for consumption (especially in the United States). Sam brought what looked like an 8-10 pound lobster to tease us for what we were in store for at dinner. The meal was prepared Caribbean-style complete with grilled lobsters prepared a la Sam. After dinner, dancing under the stars and limbo began. Before departing Anegada we left our mark at Potter’s, southern boating style, leaving behind our vacation shirt and signing our names with Sharpies! So, bring your sharpies and leave your mark too!
It’s Sharpie time! Southern Boating is leaving it’s mark with the aid of Mike.
Southern Boating leaving a team t-shirt as “flag” marking their visit.
Our first full day on the boat was a great one! We threw “ structure” out of our day and just went with the flow—what an amazing feeling. We woke up and started cruising to our next destination before we even had breakfast; we just couldn’t wait! This kind of laxity isn’t something you get to experience on a daily basis, but how easy would it be to get used to.
Our first stop was Virgin Gorda to see The Baths. The gargantuan boulders lie on the sands like marbles a giant left behind. Our first suggestion to everyone visiting The Baths, is to make sure you pick the right spot to start exploring. We made the mistake of unloading all of our gear too far north and ended up having to do a lot of extra swimming to circumvent some of the spots with boulders. The only way we would have been able to get around was by jumping from boulder to boulder (!). We could have stayed there all day, it was stunning.
Matt squeezing through the entrance to The Baths.
Ashley Allen in awe of the size of the boulders at The Baths.
A selfie shot at The Baths by some of the Southern Boating’s youngest crew.
The Women of the trip having a blast at The Baths.
Our second and last stop for the day was at Bitter End Yacht Club. We slowly cruised up the coast from The Baths to BEYC. First thing on our agenda as we arrived at the club was frozen drinks at the pool—so refreshing. We had dinner at one of their restaurants (The Clubhouse Steak & Seafood Grille); they couldn’t have sat us at a better table—just a foot away from the water. The property and service are top notch.
Not much to report on after-dinner activities as we are starting to notice a trend: Staying up past 9PM is proving to be very difficult after a day full of fun in the sun!
Skip Allen finally taking a moment to relax in The Baths cove.
Ashley and Stacey going through a crawl-through, with David and Matt photobombing.
A scenic view of our anchorage at The Baths.
Cute picture of Alex and Andrew, plus David as the photobomber!
Cruising day one of our great vacation has come and gone! It began with finishing up provisioning for both of our boats, so we can start cruising towards Cooper Island. The journey was short with beautiful views including the spectacular multiple-shades of blue water. The most difficult decision of the afternoon was definitely picking out which moorings to tie up to, just kidding!
USVI Aerial
St. Thomas, USVI Landing
Southern Boating Crew at The Moorings Base before leaving the docks
